MBTA’s 77 Bus Route Getting Several Improvements

The MBTA’s 77 bus route, which runs along Mass. Ave. from Arlington Heights to Cambridge’s Harvard Square, is in for several improvements, according to the town.

The improvements, which will be between the Heights busway and Pond Lane, include:

• Installation of benches, trash receptacles and solar compactors at bus stops where the sidewalk is wide enough to accommodate them.

• Installation of four bus shelters, at Appleton Street, Quincy Street, Newman Way and Lockland Avenue. All are at eastbound stops, toward Cambridge. There are four additional shelter locations that are part of the Mass. Ave. Corridor Project in East Arlington.

• Consolidation of the bus stops at Pine Court and Robbins Road into a single stop at Quincy Street.

• New signage and pavement markings.

• Some bus stops will be elongated in order to allow the bus to pull completely off the road. This allows for the use of handicapped accessible lifts, and also helps with traffic flow, according to the town.

The MBTA received federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to make improvements to 15 bus routes, including the 77.

The area between Pond Lane and the Cambridge city line was not included in the project because of improvements slated in the Mass. Ave. Corridor Project, according to the town.

Construction for the improvements will begin in late July or early August and be completed by Aug. 31. 

The MBTA held a public hearing and a public meeting on the improvements in 2011. The improvements were then approved by the Board of Selectmen, after review by the Transportation Advisory Committee, Planning Department and Department of Public Works, according to the town.