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Better Bus Project Includes 47 Proposals to Existing Routes, Including Combining 34/34E

Last updated on February 16, 2019

It’s been close to a decade since the MBTA made significant changes to its bus network, but changes are coming, and they’d like to hear from you about the proposed changes.

MBTA buses

The Better Bus Project was created to provide “long-overdue changes” to “update and modernize existing routes.” The goal is to create a bus network that will provide more frequent and reliable service, as well as better connect riders to today’s Greater Boston area.

There are 47 proposals that would affect 63 routes, but there is only one major one that would affect bus lines servicing inside of Jamaica Plain. There is a proposal to combine the 34 and 34E bus routes into one route. The proposed line would include new service to Legacy Place.

In the MBTA’s analysis the positives of this new route would be:

  • Simplification of Route 34/34E to 3 main route variations: Dedham Mall, Legacy Place, and Walpole Ctr./East Walpole
  • About a 12-minute walk eliminated for 273 (8%) Route 34E riders for Legacy Place
  • About a 5-minute shorter wait time for 123 (4%) Route 34E riders between Dedham Line and Elm St.
  • 94 new passenger hours saved and 384 new passenger trips each weekday

The trade-offs would be:

  • About a 5-minute longer wait time for 770 (23%) Route 34E riders between Elm St. and Walpole Ctr.
  • Remove service along Route 1A and to Upland Woods, Xaverian Brothers, and Old Navy in the Dedham Mall

The MBTA would like feedback provided through mbta.com/BBPfeedback, which will be open through March 13, 2019. 

Feedback to proposals will be presented to the MBTA board in April, and if approved, changes could begin as early as this fall. The combining of the 34 and 34E would take effect on Sept. 1, 2019.

In total there are currently 20 buses that have some portion of their route go through Jamaica Plain, but only the proposed combining of 34 and 34E would affect the JP portion of any routes.

Below are the 20 routes that include some portion inside Jamaica Plain with the streets they service inside JP:

  • Route 16 (Forest Hills – Andrew): serving Route 203 and Circuit Dr
  • Route 21 (Forest Hills – Ashmont): serving Route 203
  • Route 22 (Ruggles – Ashmont): serving Columbus Avenue and Seaver Street
  • Route 29 (Jackson Sq – Mattapan): serving Columbus Avenue and Seaver Street
  • Route 30 (Forest Hills – Mattapan): serving Washington Street south of Forest Hills
  • Route 31 (Forest Hills – Mattapan): serving Route 203
  • Route 32 (Forest Hills – Wolcott Sq): serving Hyde Park Avenue
  • Route 34 (Forest Hills – Dedham Line): serving Washington Street south of Forest Hills
  • Route 34E (Forest Hills – Walpole Center): serving Washington Street south of Forest Hills
  • Route 35 (Forest Hills – Dedham Mall): serving Washington Street south of Forest Hills
  • Route 36 (Forest Hills – Millennium Park): serving Washington Street south of Forest Hills
  • Route 37 (Forest Hills – Baker & Vermont Sts): serving Washington Street south of Forest Hills
  • Route 38 (Forest Hills – Wren St): serving South Street and Centre Street
  • Route 39 (Forest Hills – Back Bay): serving South Street, Centre Street, and South Huntington Avenue
  • Route 40 (Forest Hills – Georgetowne): serving Washington Street south of Forest Hills
  • Route 41 (JP Monument – JFK/UMass): serving Centre Street
  • Route 42 (Forest Hills – Dudley): serving Washington Street north of Forest Hills
  • Route 44 (Jackson Sq – Ruggles): serving Columbus Avenue and Seaver Street
  • Route 50 (Forest Hills – Cleary Sq): serving Washington Street south of Forest Hills
  • Route 51 (Forest Hills – Reservoir): serving Washington Street south of Forest Hills
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