It’s been almost a year since the big MBTA bus community meeting happened at the Tynan. At the meeting, service, bus routes and new bust stops – with some stops being eliminated were discussed. So now that 12 months have passed, has anything changed? No. Not one thing. If anything, taking the bus in Southie has grown to insanity level.
We’ve all see the crowds at the bus stops. Some neat and organized lines others just disorganized packs. Literally between 50-100 people wait at the bus stops in the City Point neighborhood during the morning rush hour. You can sometimes see commuters trying to beat the crowds by walking to the next bus stop a block away, closer to the MBTA bus barn hoping to get on the bus. By P Street, most buses are filled to capacity. If you’re waiting a L and Broadway and you want to take the 7, well, you’re shit out of luck.
So with more South Boston real estate development in the works, not to mention the giant project that will take over the old Edison powerplant, how will the MBTA prepare and accommodate the amount of residents that rely on the bus. If it can’t handle the current population of commuters waiting in crowds for the #7, then how do we expect it to handle more people.
At last year’s community meeting, the MBTA was asked if there could be more buses to which they replied, “No. There physically aren’t enough buses.”
But the city continues to develop more condos, which equals more residents, more cars, more traffic, more people taking the MBTA and less parking. So how do we fix it?
We’ve been talking about this issue for years! Yes, years. Last week, one Southie resident went to far to issue a bus challenge to our elected officials:
We encourage you to reach out to our community leaders.
- State Representative Nick Collins – 617-722-2080 Email: [email protected]
- State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry – Phone: 617-722-1150 Email: [email protected]
- City Councilor Bill Linehan – 617.635.3203 – [email protected]
- City Councilor Michael Flaherty – 617.635.4205 [email protected]
- John Allison– Office Of Neighborhood Services for the City of Boston 617.635.2680 – [email protected]
The MBTA bus system in Southie is broken. It needs to be fixed, as to how and when, well, that’s for our public officials to figure you. We’d love to see one of our elected officials champion this issue. #DoYourJob
So buy more buses! F-in idiots!!! The ridership is obviously there!
I realize the MBTA is a State run agency but the City of Boston HAS to be raking in revenue from all the new property taxes that all these new units are generating in Southie. The basic services need to grow proportionally to serve all these new residents and I doubt there is any comprehensive plan to make that happen. At the same time they are asking for MORE property tax revenue via the Community Preservation Act CPA, (Vote NO please) and the proposed 2% alcohol tax. (Vote NO please). We have to stop feeding the monster. There is a spending/allocation problem – not a resources problem in the city. Buy more buses, buy double decker buses, but the T has to do something–we are paying our fair share for our City services and we are not getting them and this is a glaring example–time for the politicians to come through and own this issue.
I’ve been taking the #7 bus for 10 years. The cost of service keeps rising, yet service is perpetually worse. It’s horrible! The stop light at Summer & Atlantic is part of the problem, letting only 2 or 3 cars through before turning red. It’s maddening. CaughtinSouthie.com should draft a correspondence (link it to all articles regarding this matter) that allows readers to handwrite their name and mail to all city employees listed above.
Amen! It must take the 7 at least 20-25 mins to get from South station going inbound, back to South Station outbound. The lights around South Station are a mess, and the lack of parking enforcement directly in front of South Station (constantly a line of double parked cars right in front) makes that intersection a disaster.
Routinely, there are police officers directing traffic at Congress & Atlantic and, for some odd reason, posted near Smith & Wollensky’s by Dorchester Street. Why the heck isn’t the Dot guy at South Station instead?!
Also, why isn’t there an Express #7 bus?
I’d suggest each new property development poll their residents and determine if there is a business or location in connection to provide shuttle services. Considering some have a go-green feel or all you need right here type of thing.
Bridj just started service to City Point a few weeks ago, and so far it is everything the MBTA isn’t: fast, clean, and reliable.
The MBTA can’t figure out how to solve the simplest problems so a business is swooping in to fill the need. I would rather my money goes to the MBTA so it can provide better service for all. Unfortunately, I still have to get to work and can’t wait for them to wake up!
Express # 7 bus from E. Broad & M to Dorchester Ave. No stops between. More trips, faster, from SAME AMOUNT of buses.