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ArlingtonBRT

The #77 bus route runs along Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington, a vibrant and historic town located six miles northwest of Boston. Also, it serves as the key connector from Arlington to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Red Line.

Many Arlington residents rely on the bus and the Red Line to reach major employment centers including Harvard, MIT, Massachusetts General Hospital, and UMass Boston. 

In collaboration with the MBTA, the Town of Arlington led a pilot on the #77 bus route testing various features of BRT.

RESULTS

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Bus riders in Arlington saved up to 10 minutes on their commute. Riders’ median trips through the Arlington pilot area were 41% faster between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. and 53% faster between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. compared with regular service.

Buses were also more reliable during rush hours, meaning riders were more certain about the length of their commute and arrival time at their destination.

Because the bus lane runs parallel to an existing bike lane, cyclists also benefit from the pilot improvements and enjoy a safer, more enjoyable ride. 

Sixty-seven percent of survey respondents reported satisfaction with the dedicated bus lane pilot.

More than 70% of survey respondents indicated support for the bus lanes being made permanent, with 58% of respondents expressing that the bus lanes should be extended.  

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In October 2019, following a vote of the Select Board, the Town of Arlington permanently installed the dedicated lane tested during the pilot.

The lane now operates with bus priority from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on weekdays on the eastbound section of Massachusetts Avenue between Varnum Street and Alewife Brook Parkway. 

Process for Promotional Art Installations

To promote the pilot, create an experience, and raise awareness, BostonBRT, in partnership with Arlington, commissioned 4 artists to create installations at several bus stops. The project also had a component of murals, stencils on pavement, and other linked 2D or 3D elements.

At the launch event, BostonBRT distributed postcards and t-shirts to attendees, bus riders, and gave the local community pedicab rides to visit the bus stop installations. At one of the bus stops a harpist serenaded participants to complete the audio-visual experience.

Who was involved

JURORS

  • Lorri Berenberg, APA member, former Director of Outreach and Education at the

    MFA/Boston; Director/Berenberg Gallery, Trustee, DeCordova Museum

  • Susan Berstler, Curator and Founder of the Nave Gallery, Windows Art Project, Project

    MUM, Phone Box Art Project and other public art initiatives in Somerville.

  • Adrian Gill, Principal, Ad Hoc Industries, a creative brand strategy, communications and design firm that created the branding, concepts and activations for the BRT Pilots in Arlington, Cambridge, Watertown and Everett.

  • Marc Gurton, Owner/Founder of 13FOREST Gallery, a fine art gallery located in Capitol Square

  • Jan Whitted, president of the Capitol Square Business Association and owner of ArtBeat, a creativity store which sells art supplies and runs family-oriented art workshops.

  • Janet Oberto, Experiential Design/External Relations/Brand Strategy, Selbert Perkins Design Collaborative, a multidisciplinary international environmental design studio with an office in Arlington.

CURATOR/PROJECT MANAGER

  • Cecily Miller, Arlington Public Art

PROJECT PARTNERS

  • Ali Carter, Economic Development Coordinator, Town of Arlington/Planning and Community Development

  • Jenny Raitt, Director, Town of Arlington/Planning and Community Development

  • Julia Wallerce, LEED Green Associate, Boston Program Manager at Institute for Transportation and Development PolicyArtist Outreach/Number of Artists selected

  • Adrian Gill, Principal, Ad Hoc Industries

PROCESS

  • Selection of project partners and Project Manager/Curator

  • Project partners, Project manager/Curator, and Agency partner write brief for artist outreach and criteria for submittals

  • Artist outreach (to 9 artists)

  • Proposal review by jurors + juror vote to elect 4 finalists (with 1-2 alternatives)

  • Review and approval by MBTA

  • Installation by artists

  • Launch event to promote the project