BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will be adding more than a dozen miles of new bus lanes in multiple cities around Boston.
The MBTA said the main goal of its Rapid Response Bus Lanes Program is to create 14 miles of new bus lanes by the end of next Spring through Boston, Everett, Somerville, and Chelsea.
According to Wes Edwards, Assistant General Manager of the MBTA Services Department, the COVID-19 pandemic has made them focus in on what they think will benefit commuters the most in the new year.
"At the height of the pandemic, we were seeing most of our ridership was on the bus network," Edwards said. "What we know that really indicates is that there are a lot of our essential and service workers who are really reliant on the bus. Those are the people the bus lanes will most impact."
Throughout fall and spring, several bus lane projects will be implemented including on Columbus Avenue in Boston, on Broadway in Chelsea, on Washington Street in Somerville, and around Sweetser Circle in Everett.
Click here to see more about the MBTA's bus lane plans.
The new bus lanes could cost around $20 million, which would cover direct construction and reimbursements for city-initiated projects.
WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas reports:
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(Photo: Mario Jarjour/WBZ NewsRadio)