MBTA Bus Cuts Would End 48 Route, Among Others Affecting JP [POLL]

Do you rely on MBTA buses to get to and from the JP area? will likely affect your commute. 

The MBTA has proposed two service scenarios; in both cases, service cuts are made to bus lines that run through JP including the 29, 37, 38, 40, 48, 50 and 51.

According to the MBTA's impact analysis, the first scenario looks to eliminate bus routes that are not meeting a "cost standard", or a cost that is greater than three times the MBTA's average net cost per customer. This scenario eliminates 23 weekday routes, 19 Saturday routes and 18 Sunday routes.

To review the MBTA's full cost analysis, check out the attached .pdf. 

In addition, the first scenario proposes raising rates by 35 percent, which would increase bus fares from $1.25 to $1.50 on a Charlie Card.

The second scenario will eliminate and change routes to save an estimated $60 million. Those service eliminations will be based on cost and coverage area, the cost analysis says.

Both scenarios would end E-line streetcar service to Heath Street and South Huntington on weekends.

In exchange, the second scenario looks to improve frequencies of the remaining bus routes by 10 percent.

The second scenario also increases fares by 43 percent, which would put bus Charlie Card fares at $1.75. 

Overall, the bus route cuts in the first scenario would affect 2 percent of riders system-wide, remove 48 buses and eliminate 110 MBTA jobs. The second scenario will affect 24 percent of the MBTA bus riders, remove 261 buses and eliminate 564 MBTA jobs, according to the analysis.

Perhaps the most vulnerable route is the little-used JP Loop (the 48 Bus). It has been the target of previous T cuts but has managed to survive. It has among the highest "subsidies" of any bus route, with a net cost per passenger of $6.14.

The MBTA will be holding 20 public meetings throughout the state over the next couple of months to hear feedback and questions about the proposed fare increases and service cuts. A meeting will be held in JP on Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hennigan School.

Below is a list of JP area MBTA buses that are facing cuts:

* Currently no Sunday service