Town comments on bus proposals

In response to the MBTA’s proposed elimination of several stops along the Route 71 bus line to improve travel times, the Watertown Town Council last week submitted a letter advising against several of the agency’s proposals. The council said the Russell Avenue outbound and Franklin Street inbound stops should be preserved because they serve a church, large neighborhoods on both sides of Mount Auburn Street, and the town’s high school; the Parker Street inbound and Marshall Street outbound stops should stay because they also serve the high school as well as small businesses and an elderly housing complex; and the Lloyd Road stop is vital because it serves the Coolidge Square business area. The council doesn’t object to eliminating the Oakley Road stops. The council also had several suggestions for improving traffic flow, such as adding more Charlie Card kiosks in Watertown; posting maps inside buses to make stops clearer; and improving lane and curb markings for bus stops. The Town Council said pedestrian and bike lane improvements are in the works, and all MBTA changes should be coordinated with Watertown’s efforts. According to the MBTA, the plan will be finalized in the coming months, with changes slated for next spring. Updates on the project can be found at www.mbta.com/keybusroutes. - Megan McKee