Elimination of MBTA bus routes to West Newton

[Ann Dorfman]

I read in the TAB that the MBTA is seriously looking at discontinuing a number of the buses between Boston and West Newton.  The commuter rail is a great service, but is accessible only to those that commute primarily during rush hour and can get to the station. The busses provide transportation to people that live further from West Newton center and who need transportation mid-day.

West Newton Busses that are affected are:

Scenario 1 eliminates the 554 (hourly from Waltham Center to West Newton, then Washington Street to Newton Corner, and Express to Boston), and 555 (express between Boston and Riverside).

Scenario 2 eliminates 500, 505,& 555 (Express bus riverside – downtown via Mass Pike),  553 & 554 (every 30 min from Waltham Center to West Newton, then Washington Street to Newton Corner, and Express to Boston), 556 (Waltham Center to Newton corner via Craft St, then express to Boston).

I’ve pasted the full list of proposed cuts below.  You can read the article at  MBTA cuts could slash Newton bus services - Newton, Massachusetts - Newton TAB

You can read the full report at http://www.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/About_the_T/Fare_Proposals_2012/Potential%20MBTA%20Fare%202012%20Impact%20Analysis.pdf

I regularly ride the 553 and 554, as these provide the only reliable non-rush-hour public transportation between West Newton and Boston. Are there others that ride these busses that would be negatively impacted by their elimination? The article says that Residents can voice their opinions on the plans at a public meeting with MBTA representatives Jan. 17 at City Hall but does not list the time.

Ann

Newton bus routes that could be eliminated:

Scenario 1

52 – Weekday and Saturday service

59 – Sunday service

170 – Weekday service

500 – Weekday service

553 – Saturday service

554 – Weekday and Saturday service

555 – Weekday service

Scenario 2

52 – Weekday and Saturday service

59 – Weekday, Saturday and Sunday service

60 – Weekday, Saturday and Sunday service

170 – Weekday service

500 –Weekday service

502 – Weekday service

505 – Weekday service

553 – Weekday and Saturday service

554 – Weekday and Saturday

555 – Weekday service

556 – Weekday service

558 – Weekday service

Read more: MBTA cuts could slash Newton bus services - Newton, Massachusetts - Newton TAB

[Anthony Salvucci]

Meeting is from 530 to630 in the war memorial.  Sal

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[Jky19550817]

When they say eliminate service - does that mean all service on the routes so no buses are running or just eliminating some of the times but there will still be some service but more spread out?

[dorfm...@comcast.net]

They mean eliminate the route completely. However, With the 553/554 one comes on the hour and the other on the half hour, so eliminating just the 554, as in scenario 1, would result in a decrease in frequency since the 553 would continue to run once an hour. In scenario 2 both routes would be eliminated so there would be no service at all.

Ann
V: 617-244-9321
C: 617-413-4901

[Margaret Albright]

They are also talking about eliminating the 59 which goes from Watertown Square to Dedham and is a connection between Newton North and Newton South.

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[Ted Hess-Mahan]

Thanks, Ann.

The Board of Aldermen, too, will be sending a letter to DOT opposing the
elimination of bus routes in Newton. As Ann notes, many people on the north
side of Newton, and particularly in West Newton, rely upon the express buses
(500, 505, 553, 554, 556, 558) to get downtown to work and on the weekends. I
used to use both the commuter rail and the express buses when I worked downtown.
The problem with the commuter rail was that it was chronically late and had
limited runs other than rush hour. The buses, on the other hand, run on the
hour and half hour, with some added runs during rush hour. Even of they were
running late, you could count on there always being another one coming along in
15-30 minutes. And during rush hour these buses were always PACKED.

My concern is that the elimination of these bus routes is not only an
inconvenience, but that it will force many commuters into their cars and
dramatically increase backups near the Pike on and off ramps at Rt 128, West
Newton and Newton Corner, and everything that comes with increased traffic
congestion. Add to that the fact that DOT will begin a multi-year project of
adding lanes to Rt 128/US95 progressing north up to Route 9 and we are going to
have a real mess on our hands.

I understand that public transportation is subsidized and that raising fares and
reducing routes is the only solution DOT sees to close a budget shortfall. But
it bespeaks a lack of political will on Beacon Hill to adequately fund public
transportation while subsidizing vehicular transportation at the expense of
public transportation. How many millions will be spent on expanding Rte 128 and
other roadway improvements/expansions that, coupled with reductions in public
transportation routes, will only invite more people to use their cars, thereby
justifying the need for MORE roadway improvements/expansions, and so on, and so
on?

Sincerely,

Ted Hess-Mahan
Alderman-at-Large Ward 3
871 Watertown Street
West Newton, MA 02465
508-847-4855
thess...@newtonma.gov

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On Thu, January 12, 2012 6:11 pm, Ann Dorfman wrote:
> I read in the TAB that the MBTA is seriously looking at discontinuing a
> number of the buses between Boston and West Newton. The commuter rail is a
> great service, but is accessible only to those that commute primarily during
> rush hour and can get to the station. The busses provide transportation to
> people that live further from West Newton center and who need transportation
> mid-day.
>
> West Newton Busses that are affected are:
> Scenario 1 eliminates the 554 (hourly from Waltham Center to West Newton,
> then Washington Street to Newton Corner, and Express to Boston), and 555
> (express between Boston and Riverside).

> Scenario 2 eliminates 500, 505,& 555 (Express bus riverside - downtown via

> Mass Pike), 553 & 554 (every 30 min from Waltham Center to West Newton,
> then Washington Street to Newton Corner, and Express to Boston), 556
> (Waltham Center to Newton corner via Craft St, then express to Boston).
>
> I've pasted the full list of proposed cuts below. You can read the article
> at MBTA cuts could slash Newton bus services - Newton, Massachusetts -
> Newton TAB

> <http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/news/x449149686/MBTA-cuts-could-slash-New
> ton-bus-services>

> You can read the full report at
> http://www.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/About_the_T/Fare_Proposals_2012/Potential%
> 20MBTA%20Fare%202012%20Impact%20Analysis.pdf
>
> I regularly ride the 553 and 554, as these provide the only reliable
> non-rush-hour public transportation between West Newton and Boston. Are
> there others that ride these busses that would be negatively impacted by
> their elimination? The article says that Residents can voice their opinions
> on the plans at a public meeting with MBTA representatives Jan. 17 at City
> Hall but does not list the time.
>
> Ann
>
> Newton bus routes that could be eliminated:
> Scenario 1

> 52 - Weekday and Saturday service
> 59 - Sunday service
> 170 - Weekday service
> 500 - Weekday service
> 553 - Saturday service
> 554 - Weekday and Saturday service
> 555 - Weekday service
>
> Scenario 2
> 52 - Weekday and Saturday service
> 59 - Weekday, Saturday and Sunday service
> 60 - Weekday, Saturday and Sunday service
> 170 - Weekday service
> 500 -Weekday service
> 502 - Weekday service
> 505 - Weekday service
> 553 - Weekday and Saturday service
> 554 - Weekday and Saturday
> 555 - Weekday service
> 556 - Weekday service
> 558 - Weekday service

>
>
> Read more: MBTA cuts could slash Newton bus services - Newton, Massachusetts
> - Newton TAB

> <http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/news/x449149686/MBTA-cuts-could-slash-New
> ton-bus-services>

>
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "West
> Newton Community" group.
> To post to this group, send email to westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> westnewtonneighbo...@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/westnewtonneighborhood?hl=en.
>
>
>

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