Labor Shortage, Access Plans Drive MBTA Meeting Tonight

Arlington MA

13 December, 2021

12:37 PM

Description

Your Arlington Last Updated: 13 December 2021 Written by Patch, BostonGlobe.com, town website A national labor shortage, driven by the pandemic, is hitting home. A virtual public meeting is set for 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, to discuss proposed busing changes affecting the stop at Park and Wachusett. This is one change among many planned by the MBTA to address improvement for the disabled, which are set to take effect a week later. Reports by BostonGlobe.com and Patch cite labor shortages in Massachusetts, part of a national trend, resulting in fewer drivers and causing an effort cut service. MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo told BostonGlobe.com that after Dec. 19, three bus routes will operate with more scheduled frequency, 31 with less scheduled frequency and 40 others will have changes in their scheduled timing. Town planning has arranged for Monday's meeting. The aims are to share information and gather feedback about planned changes to bus stops at Park Wachusett. MBTA officials, including their design consultant, will present information about the proposed changes and take questions and comments. The MBTA has notified the town of a proposal to complete accessibility upgrades and potentially relocate, eliminate and consolidate bus stops within the town as part of the MBTA's Bus Stop Accessibility and Safety Improvements Program. The MBTA has reviewed the bus stops for Routes 78 and 62/76 along the Park Ave corridor between Mass. Ave. and Route 2, as well as along Wachusett, as part of the MBTA's goals to address major access barriers at bus stops and improve bus service along these corridors. To create safe and accessible stop locations for all riders that meets the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as improve bus service and reliability, the MBTA proposes to make changes to the existing bus stops, including improving bus stops for ADA-access, consolidating bus stops too close to one another into new stops and eliminating high-barrier and low-ridership stops. After receiving feedback, MBTA staff plans to make recommendations to the Select Board at a later date. The MBTA requires concurrence from the Select Board to make these changes. To register for Monday's meeting, click here >> (meeting ID: 813 5042 2749) After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. YourArlington.com has provided news and opinion about Arlington, Mass., since 2006. Publisher Bob Sprague is a former editor at The Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Arlington Advocate. Read more at https://www.yourarlington.com/about.