MBTA Moving 87 Bus Layover In Arlington

ARLINGTON, MA — The MBTA will move the Route 87 bus layover from Broadway Plaza to 283 Broadway in front of Play Time, Inc. starting Dec. 16, according to the town. A layover occurs at the end of the route when the bus waits to start its next route. The Select Board approved the relocation Sept. 9 after a study conducted by the Arlington Parking Advisory Committee and the MBTA.

The existing layover at Broadway Plaza has inadequate length, and it is difficult for bus drivers to get the bus aligned with the curb, according to the town. As a result, the bus encroaches into the travel lane and blocks access to three parking spaces, including a handicapped space, during the layover.

Additionally, traffic coming from Broadway exiting to Mass Ave often has difficulty maneuvering around the parked bus, and the bus stop itself is inaccessible due to several obstructions directly in the bus stop footprint, including a granite wall, a tree with a granite tree collar and the sign post for the bus stop itself.

During summer and winter months, the bus usually idles so the driver and any passengers on board during the layover can avail themselves to heat or air conditioning depending on the weather. The idling is a disturbance to passersby and patrons of the food establishments with outdoor seating on Broadway Plaza, town officials said.

Moving the layover to 283 Broadway will impact two unmetered parking spaces, the lowest number of spaces impacted out of all possible options, according to the town. The relocation also impacts three businesses, one of which has a private parking lot. The new layover spot is approximately 500 feet from Broadway Plaza. Sidewalks in Arlington Center are slated for repair in the spring of 2020, which is intended to make the walk safer and more accessible for pedestrians.

The layover at 283 Broadway will be a drop-off only stop. The stop at Broadway Plaza will continue to operate as an on-boarding only bus stop with no layover occurring there. This will allow the bus to keep the same route. The accessibility issues at the Broadway Plaza stop will also be addressed by the sidewalk work planned for Arlington Center, which will include removal of the obstructions at this stop.

The MBTA has already implemented signs to alert passengers of the layover relocation. For more information, please contact Daniel Amstutz, Senior Transportation Planner, at damstutz@town.arlington.ma.us or 781-316-3093.