Malden, Somerville Partner With MBTA On Bus, Transit Upgrades

MALDEN, MA — The cities of Malden and Somerville are among six communities partnering with MassDOT and the MBTA on a series of bus priority projects that will build up to 4.8 miles of bus lanes and other pro-transit infrastructure upgrades across metro Boston this summer.

The partnership also includes Boston, Brookline, Revere and Lynn. These quick-build projects are designed to address transit delay on some of the region's most congested roadways in order to improve bus travel time and reliability.

Several of the projects received funding through the Baker-Polito administration's Shared Winter Streets and Spaces grant program, which aims to improve traffic and transit conditions in support of public health, safe mobility and renewed commerce across the state.

"Malden Center is the heart of our city," Malden Mayor Gary Christenson said. "The quick-build improvements coming to Centre Street, Main Street, and Eastern Ave., in addition to those made last fall on Florence Street, will make it easier and more reliable for our residents to travel by bus, bike, or walking to essential businesses, services, and connections there."

Projects in Malden and Somerville will build on recently completed, adjacent projects, further building a network of bus priority facilities in communities that have seen durable transit ridership throughout the pandemic.

"The last year has made clear to all of us the deep inequities that threaten our region’s well-being," Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone said. "These bus lanes will greatly benefit some of our city’s most at-need residents living in environmental justice communities like East Somerville while enhancing access to safe transit, reducing commute travel times, and improving air quality for all."

See below for a complete list of projects: