Western Washington St. Rapid Response Bus Priority Project

Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 2 City Councilor J.T. Scott, and City staff invite you to a virtual community meeting to discuss a pilot project that would install quick-build bus and bike lanes this fall on Washington Street between Beacon Street and Union Square.

In partnership with the MBTA, the City seeks to deploy low-cost mobility solutions to quickly improve bus service for essential workers and other transit riders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dedicated bus lanes can help meet current public health needs by shortening ride times and reducing crowding.  

The Route 86 bus, which travels on the western portion of Washington Street in Somerville, has sustained high ridership throughout the coronavirus emergency. To build safer facilities for all users in this corridor, City and MBTA staff have developed plans for a pilot project that includes:

• New bus-priority lanes that let buses bypass waiting traffic at busy intersections. 
• Protected bike lanes along sections of the corridor.
• Narrowed travel lanes to deter speeding and improve safety for all road users.

The proposed bus-priority lane could require the repurposing of up to 66 on-street parking spaces, or about half the available inventory in that section of Washington Street. City staff will develop a final plan based on feedback from community stakeholders.

Click here to register to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the webinar. For more information about this project and other quick-build bus and bike lanes, visit somervoice.somervillema.gov/quick-build-bus-lanes.