Arlington To Improve Bus Route With $100K Pilot Program Grant

ARLINGTON, MA — Arlington, which has one of the highest riderships in all of the MBTA bus system, is about to up its bus game, thanks to a recent grant from a philanthropy.

The Barr Foundation, a Boston-based philanthropy awarded a $100,000 grant to Arlington so that it can begin testing bus-only lanes and traffic signals that give buses priority at busy intersections, the foundation announced Tuesday, as soon as next year.

Arlington will use the money for its one-month test to improve service on Mass. Avenue during rush hour, and is slated to include transit signal prioritization, bus queue jumping at traffic signals, and a dedicated bus priority lane.

“Arlington is excited to be part of this innovative pilot program to improve bus service in town,” said Arlington Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine. “Buses are essential to Arlington commuters and our goal is to shorten the ride and get Arlington residents to the Red Line faster. We hope this will result in more people taking the bus, fewer people driving to work, and reduced congestion and pollution in the community.”

In collaboration with the MBTA, Arlington will conduct a one-month pilot of several BRT elements on the three-mile #77 bus route along Massachusetts Avenue. Mass Ave has the highest ridership in Arlington and is rated one of the top 15 highest-ridership routes in the overall MBTA bus system. The pilot will operate Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

The Barr Foundation gave grants totaling $300,000 Tuesday to Arlington, Everett, and Watertown and Cambridge.

Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch