CambridgeBRT & WatertownBRT
Mount Auburn Street is a key thoroughfare between Cambridge and Watertown.
It connects residents to locations like Harvard University, Mount Auburn Hospital, and Watertown Square.
Riders make more than 12,000 daily trips on Mount Auburn bus routes #71 and #73.
In 2018, Cambridge and Watertown partnered with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to pilot numerous BRT elements for these routes on Mount Auburn Street west of Fresh Pond Parkway.
RESULTS
MBTA bus riders will save 36,000 hours of travel time on Mount Auburn Street in one year, with no measurable impacts on driving.
During the AM rush hour, bus riders saved 4-5 minutes on an average trip. At the same time, riders felt that time savings were even more significant, with more than half surveyed reporting they saved 7-10 minutes. 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.
Of people walking, cycling, driving, and taking transit surveyed using Mount Auburn Street, 57% are satisfied with the way Mount Auburn Street works now. Before the project, only 19% of the people surveyed were satisfied with the function of the street.
Due to its overwhelming success, all elements of the pilot have become permanent and both cities (Cambridge and Watertown) continue to pursue street improvements that benefit bus riders and all people using the street.
The City of Cambridge has installed an additional dedicated bus lane on a busy segment of Massachusetts Avenue serving MIT, and Watertown is continuing to reconstruct their portion of Mount Auburn Street to better prioritize buses through their Complete Streets project.
More information on these projects is available here:
To promote the pilot and create a more pleasant experience for people in the area, BostonBRT, in partnership with Cambridge, installed an 150ft fence wrap adjacent to the Mount Auburn Cemetery bus stop and four large posters at two bus stops. At the launch event, BostonBRT distributed postcards and t-shirts to attendees, bus riders, and the local community.
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