In a recent decision, Mayor Wu’s administration has opted to remove a dedicated bus lane from North Washington Street, situated between Haymarket and the North Washington Street Bridge.
This removal will impact approximately 15,000 daily bus riders, predominantly lower-income and Hispanic individuals, who will now have to endure longer waits in traffic.
The North Washington Street is vital for commuters utilizing MBTA bus routes 92, 93, and 111, which serve as essential transportation for many in the community.
Last week, as part of a repaving project, the City of Boston eliminated all lane markings on this section of the road.
Despite the roadwork, a spokesperson for the city confirmed that the northbound dedicated bus lane would not be reinstated.
Instead, the inbound (southbound) bus lane is set to be restored, as conveyed by the City Hall spokesperson.
The removal of the bus lane sparked outrage among many advocates, who claim the decision disproportionately affects low-income and Hispanic bus riders.
Statistics reveal that around 63 percent of riders on the 111 route identify as Hispanic or Latino, while 90 percent of its users fall below the low-income threshold, according to MBTA rider surveys.
Mónica Elias-Orellana, the Director of Health Equity and Mobility for Chelsea-based GreenRoots, commented on the broad impact of this decision, stating, “This decision doesn’t just hurt Chelsea; it affects riders from Everett, Charlestown, Revere, East Boston, and neighborhoods across Boston who rely on fast, reliable bus service for work, school, and medical appointments.”
She emphasized that the City of Boston missed an opportunity to promote equity, reduce emissions, and enhance public transportation services for those who rely on them the most.
Reggie Ramos also voiced his discontent, questioning the lack of public engagement in this decision-making process, which he deemed “highly problematic, and quite frankly, inequitable.”
The city’s shift comes amid ongoing concerns over traffic congestion.
This alteration marks the third time in less than a year that the Wu administration has removed a dedicated lane for buses.
Previously, a dedicated transit lane for the 7 bus in the Seaport neighborhood was taken out in response to immense pressure from local developers and quasi-public organizations like Massport.
Moreover, in February, the administration removed a section of a dedicated bus lane on Boylston Street in Back Bay.
The northbound North Washington Street bus lane, designed during Mayor Marty Walsh’s administration, was established in the summer of 2021 through funding from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Shared Streets and Spaces program.
MBTA officials noted that the effectiveness of the bus lane had been hindered by ongoing construction on the Bill Russell Bridge, which funneled northbound traffic into a single lane and caused significant delays at the entrance to the bridge.
Earlier this spring, the bridge’s five-lane deck was officially opened, which included a new southbound dedicated bus lane after nearly seven years of overhaul.
An MBTA representative remarked, “We never had a chance to observe the bus lane under normal traffic conditions.
We don’t have data to show how the lane would perform now that the bridge is back in full operation.”
The timing of this decision comes just as the MBTA is set to roll out an automated bus lane enforcement system designed to improve bus service, yet it will only apply to existing bus lanes.
North Washington Street had been prioritized as an early target for this camera-based enforcement system because of its high usage by bus riders.
Due to the lane’s design, it has been deemed particularly vulnerable to blockages, prompting its initial inclusion for early enforcement action.
StreetsblogMASS reached out to city officials to acquire data that supported their decision-making but received no response to that request.
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