Medford residents share concerns about the MBTA Better Bus Project

By Crystal Yormick

The MBTA concluded its public engagement process for proposed alterations to bus routes 67, 80, 94, 96 and 305, which serve areas in Medford, Cambridge, Somerville and Arlington. The considerations are a part of the agency’s Better Bus Project, which aims to provide better bus services in the Greater Boston area. 

The comment period followed pushback from the public about the original plan announced in 2022, which would have combined Route 80 with Route 350, discontinued Route 94, and had Route 66 run on Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington. It included in-person open houses in Medford and Danvers, Zoom meetings, surveys and pop-up events at bus stops and on the buses themselves to inform residents and hear their concerns.

Three alternate packages are now being considered for the Medford routes and surrounding areas. Package A would extend Route 80 to Arlington Heights, keep existing paths for Routes 67 and 350 and increase frequency on Route 80 to the red and green line. Package B would keep Route 94 and combine its service with less frequent Route 80 service. Package C proposes restoring Route 96 on Boston Avenue. 

The MBTA can do one or a combination of all three of the packages depending on what the best option is for residents, said MBTA Senior Director of Bus Transformation Justin Antos. The agency is aiming to make the process collaborative to hear the concerns of riders and the community, he said. 

“We know we can’t do it all, but we’ll try to do our best,” Antos said and added later, “Everything’s on the table today.”

The city supports Package B, which would retain Route 94. It also supports benefits like increased bus service funding and high frequency services to Medford, adding new connections and restoration of originally proposed reductions, according to a letter from the mayor read by Medford Communications Director Steve Smirti at the MBTA Open House on July 30 at Medford City Hall.

Residents discuss concerns

Residents’ concerns include how the changes will affect various parts of their lives from doctors' appointments to grocery shopping to work. Safety concerns, people not knowing about the changes, and inconvenience are other factors they are taking into account. 

About 50 residents showed up to the July 30 open house, where they could speak with MBTA representatives working on the project. The meeting included several boards with questions asking residents about their preferred routes and giving them an opportunity to write down and share their specific concerns, which included reductions in frequency and removing former routes.

Medford resident Anita Nagem said she was “astonished” when she saw the 2022 plan. She went around bus stops in town to put up signs about the open house collecting signatures for a petition in hopes of saving the 94 and receiving better service on Medford Square and to Boston Avenue. Route 94 is part of the reason she and her husband moved to Somerville, she added. 

“It’s not going to be perfect for Medford but getting the 94 back would serve a lot of people on High Street,” Nagem said. 

Because of the meeting, Medford also looks like it will receive better service than it would have, Nagem added. 

Long-time Medford resident Angela Murphy said the announcements about the project came too late for residents to respond. There should be no changes to the current bus routes, just increased frequency, she said. 

“Anytime they change or take off a bus route, they are inconveniencing someone,” Murphy said. 

Apart from personal concerns, residents are also worried about how the changes might affect various populations in the city like elderly, disabled and low-income communities. 

West Medford resident Meg Wickham, who has long COVID, said any of the changes made will impact some area of her life because she chose a lot of her providers and social circles based on the current bus systems She said it is a problem a lot of people will experience. 

Wickham also attended the meeting because she feels responsible to advocate as a member of the disabled community and for the residents in the retirement home and two housing projects she lives near. 

“Sometimes I can’t walk the half mile to get to the 95 like they want us to,” Wickham said.

The final decision for the routes will be made towards the end of 2026 and will need to be approved by the MBTA Board of Directors. After that, the changes will be rolled out over the next few years with the rest of the Better Bus Project, most likely beginning in 2028. 

“It probably won’t be everything we want,” Nagem said. “But at least it will be better.”