Community members gathered at Boston Arts Academy Monday night to discuss the changes that will be made to MBTA Bus Route 57 over the next two years.
As a part of the MBTA Key Bus Route Improvement Program, MBTA is seeking input from members of the community that will be affected by the changes. The line, which runs from Kenmore down Comm Ave and to Watertown, is among one of the 15 bus lines that are a part of the Key Bus Route Improvement Program.
MBTA has received $10 million in grant funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. They plan to use the funding to help reduce trip times, improve accessibility, enhance customer comfort, and make the Route 57 as well as others more reliable and cost effective.
Senior Associate Ralph DeNisco discussed proposed changes with community members who voiced their concerns. Around 12 members of the community were present at the meeting. While some say that they are excited by certain changes, such as a stop being moved closer to their homes, or in a more accessible area, some believe that other things should be left the way they are. MBTA is hoping to reduce the now 44 outbound stops and 42 inbound stops to 30 outbound stops and 29 inbound stops. Some stops that exist on the route from Kenmore to Watertown are closer than 320ft from each other, which causes congestion and less ease-of access, DeNisco says.
MBTA hopes to implement trash barrels, shelters, and new benches at most of their stops in order to improve customer comfort. Within the areas that will most highly affect BU Students, only small changes were proposed. Hopefully, within the next couple years the 57 will become a speedy, easily accessible route for both students of BU and other community members.
