Commute

MBTA announces new bus lanes into downtown Boston

“These improvements mean that people riding buses and bikes from Roxbury can get to job opportunities and services faster, safer, and more reliably."

A new dedicated bus lane on Washington Street, along with a bike lane on the other side of the street. MBTA

July 6, 2020

Bus trips from Nubian Square into downtown Boston potentially just got much faster.

In a press release Monday, the MBTA announced nearly a mile of new 24-hour dedicated bus lanes from the South End through Chinatown into downtown Boston.

After installing bus-only lanes along most of Washington Street in 2002 for the Silver Line 4 and Silver Line 5 — as well as other MBTA bus routes — through the South End, the changes close a remaining “gap” in the transit corridor to Roxbury. According to T officials, the new lanes will shorten trips by up to 12 minutes for the 24,000 bus riders who commute downtown from Nubian Square.

“These improvements mean that people riding buses and bikes from Roxbury can get to job opportunities and services faster, safer, and more reliably,” Steve Poftak, the MBTA’s general manager, said in a statement.

Effective immediately, the long-planned changes Monday run along a congested stretch of Washington Street from Herald Street to Temple Place, a block from Boston Common and Downtown Crossing.

Between Herald and the intersection of Stuart and Kneeland streets at the Tufts University School of Medicine , the right general traffic lane was replaced with a bus- and bike-only lane. Parking and other curbside lanes along the stretch will remain.

North of the intersection, where Washington becomes a one-way northbound street, the right curbside lane was replaced by a bus lane. On the left side, officials installed a bike-only lane, which will “soon” have protective flex posts.

The improvements were done in partnership with the City of Boston and are a “key part” of the city’s long-term transportation plan, according to Mayor Marty Walsh.

The changes also include more concentrated loading zones. According to officials, disorganized loading is a major cause of congestion on Washington Street. As part of the street improvements Monday, a new, block-long loading zone was installed between Boylston Street and Avery Street.

“These improvements on Washington Street are a critical part of our commitment to making our city streets safer and more equitable for everyone,” Walsh said.