MBTA is Adding 2 Morning Runs to Harvard Square on the 73 Bus to Meet Growing Demand

The MBTA will run a diesel bus on two morning runs on the 73 bus route from Waverley Square to Harvard Square beginning Sept. 6 to meet growing demand on the route, which runs along Belmont Street, which runs along the Watertown/Belmont line on the route.

Steve Magoon, Watertown's Director of Economic Development and Planning, received a letter this week from Jeremy Mendelson from the MBTA's Service Planning department, announcing the change.

"Route 73 has has been experiencing significant ridership growth in recent years," the MBTA letter reads. "As a result AM peak trips are often very crowded and sometimes are forced to leave passengers behind."

Mendelson adds that the afternoon rush is not as crowded as the morning rush.

Harvard Square traffic has also become more congested, the letter reads, making it harder for buses to stay on schedule.

The route is normally serviced by electric buses, but the extra bus will be a diesel bus because all the "trackless trolleys" are in use.

The buses will leave Waverley Square at 7 a.m. and 8:12 a.m., but will not carry passengers from Cambridge to Waverley Square, according to the letter.