MBTA Announces Opportunities for Riders to Learn about Phase 1 of Bus Network Redesign

Riders are invited to participate in an Open House, visit community information sessions, or stop by at in-station events to hear more about new service improvements, stops, and schedules.  

This notice serves as a reminder of the upcoming Phase 1 launch previously announced on October 7.

The MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign is a major initiative aimed at improving bus service reliability, frequency, and connectivity throughout the region. The initiative’s first phase will go live on December 15. The service changes and frequency improvements will affect Route 86, Route 104, Route 109, Route 110, and Route 116/117 in Chelsea, Everett, Revere, Malden, Somerville, Cambridge, Allston, Brighton, and East Boston. Preparations and outreach for the rollout of these changes to implement more frequent service and better routes are underway.

The MBTA is providing many ways to support riders as they learn about these improvements. Outreach events will be taking place at bus stops, in stations, and at information centers. Team members will ride on-board several bus routes throughout the fall to inform riders about changes that will begin on December 15.  

Community Open House

Project staff are hosting an Open House about the service increases and changes coming to Bus Routes 104, 116, and 117. Riders can attend the November 7 Open House at East Boston High School to learn more about service changes to routes that travel through East Boston:

• Find out about a NEW Frequent Bus Route 104 that will travel between Malden, Everett, Chelsea, and East Boston.
• Learn more about increased frequencies of the NEW Route 116, which will be combined with Route 117 and become a Frequent Bus Route. 
• Weigh in on planned stop changes along Meridian Street to help speed up future 116 service. 
• More information about the Open House:
   
  • Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024
  • Time: 5:30 PM – 7 PM 
  • Location: East Boston High School (Small Cafeteria), 86 White St, East Boston, MA 02128 

In-Station Events

Throughout November, there will be informal, pop-up events at stations for riders to learn more about Phase 1 service changes. Additional in-station events will take place in December prior to launch. The dates and times for November in-station events are:

• Malden Center: 
  • November 18, 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM 
  • November 20, Noon – 2 PM
  • November 21, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
     
• Wonderland: 
  • November 18, Noon – 2 PM
  • November 20, 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM
  • November 22, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM 
     
• Maverick: 
  • November 18, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM 
  • November 19, Noon – 2 PM 
  • November 22, 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM
     
• Airport: 
  • November 19, 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM 
  • November 20, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
  • November 21, Noon – 2 PM
     
• Sullivan Square: 
  • November 19; 7:30 – 9:30 AM
  • November 21, 3:30 – 5:30 PM
  • November 22, Noon – 2 PM
     
• Harvard Station: 
  • November 19, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
  • November 20, Noon – 2 PM
  • November 21, 7:30 – 9:30 AM

Information Sessions

The team is hosting information sessions throughout the Phase 1 service area and invites riders to stop by. 

• Malden Public Library: 
  • Date: Wednesday, November 13
  • Time: 2 PM – 4 PM
  • Location: Malden Public Library, 36 Salem Street, Malden, MA 02148
     
• East Boston Senior Center: 
  • Date: Thursday, November 14
  • Time: 11 AM – 1 PM
  • Location: East Boston Senior Center, 7 Bayswater St, Boston, MA 02128
     
• Allston/Brighton Neighborhood Opportunity Center: 
  • Date: Wednesday, November 20
  • Time: 11 AM – 1 PM
  • Location: Allston-Brighton NOC, 640 Washington St. Ste 202/201 Brighton, MA 02135
• Somerville East Branch Library: 
  • Date: Thursday, November 21
  • Time: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Location: Somerville Public Library East Branch, 115 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145

Additional community events may be added. Events may be rescheduled due to weather or other circumstances. Members of the public can visit MBTA.com/events to get the latest information.

Bus Network Redesign team members will visit stops along Routes 86, 104, 109, 110, 116, and 117 as well as ride on-board some of these bus routes. If riders see them during your travels, please say hello and talk with them about Phase 1 service.

Sign up for T-Alerts

Riders are encouraged to visit the T-Alerts website to subscribe to text or email alerts for service changes and visit the Bus Alerts page to see the upcoming service changes related to Phase 1.

Phase 1 Materials Available in Multiple Languages 

The  Phase 1 Rider Booklet will soon be available in multiple languages here. The graphic booklet describes why and how routes are changing and improving. It includes easy-to-read route maps and schedules.

For printable information about the upcoming service changes, download the Phase 1 flyer in your preferred language.

• English
• Arabic | العربية
• Khmer | ខ្មែរ 
• Simplified Chinese | 汉语
• Haitian Creole | Kreyòl Ayisyen
• Italian | Italiano
• Portuguese | Português
• Spanish | Español
• Russian | Русский
• Vietnamese | Tiếng Việt

Stay Connected

To stay informed about the progress of the Better Bus Project and its initiatives in the meantime, members of the public can visit mbta.com/BetterBus and sign up for emails here.

More Information