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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Some of the changes made on the road during the Orange Line month-long shutdown are here to stay. Mayor Michelle Wu and Chief of Streets, Jascha Franklin-Hodge announced on Tuesday that several street changes made to help the public get around the city during the shutdown will be made permanent following the Orange Line reopening on Monday.
Priority bus lanes, pop-up bike lanes, added Bluebike docks, and parking restrictions on the Orange Line route that helped to improve the flow of traffic will remain.
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“Over the last 30 days, our City teams have been focused on measuring what’s working so we could ensure continual improvement during a stressful time of the Orange Line shutdown,” Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement. “We’re keeping in place some of the changes that have helped with traffic flow and transit access, so that commuters will see lasting benefit above ground even as the subway comes back online. I’m so proud of the Boston Transportation Department for their hard work during this unprecedented event, and grateful to commuters across the region for their patience and input.”
The following changes will remain in place:
- Chinatown MBTA SL4 bus stop.
- Copley Square area bus lanes.
- South End loading zones and drop-off zones and reduced double parking in the unprotected bike lane.
- Jamaica Plain pavement marking and signage such as "Don't Block the Box."
- Boylston Street one-way for vehicles between Amory and Lamartine.
- Huntington Avenue bus and bike priority lane added.
- Columbus Avenue pop-up bike lane will remain until early December and close for the winter season.
- Bluebikes parking and docks added.
The pop-up bike lane added on Boylston Street will be removed after September 26. The city recently announced they are working to design a permanent bike lane that is going to be installed there in the spring. The Boston Transportation Department is looking into designing additional bike lanes, pedestrian zones, bus lanes, and other safety improvements around the city that were in place during the shutdown, according to The City of Boston.
WBZ's Karyn Regal (Karynregal) has more:
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