Today, the MBTA and the Town of Brookline announced the launch of a Dedicated Bus Lane Pilot in Gateway East on Washington Street, extending from Station Street to the Boston city line.

The pilot is set to run for a year and is funded by the MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces grant. As part of this collaborative effort, one eastbound and one westbound general-purpose travel lane will be converted into a bus-only lane, and transit signal priority will be implemented to get MBTA buses through intersections faster.

The bus-only lanes will serve MBTA Routes 60, 65, and 66, carrying nearly 15,000 daily riders, providing essential connections to the Longwood Medical Area, Green Line, and other transit services. Emergency vehicles and Longwood Collective shuttles will also be permitted to use the bus lane.

Installation of the bus-only lanes is scheduled to begin June 24, with completion anticipated within the following few days (weather depending). The pilot addresses a critical need for bus priority improvements identified by the MBTA in their Transit Priority Vision and uses design guidance from the MBTA’s Transit Priority Toolkit.  

“Dedicated bus lanes like this one being piloted in Brookline, lead to efficient service and a more pleasant ride for our customers,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “The Shared Streets and Spaces Grants funding will help to make a difference in the lives of those who live, work and travel in this community.”

“We’re thankful to the Town of Brookline for their partnership as we jointly strive to meet the Town’s sustainability goals with improved bus service. This pilot will reduce travel times for our existing riders, and we anticipate that it will attract new riders as we make travel times more reliable,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “The 60, 65, and 66 are vital bus routes for thousands of riders making connections to the Longwood Medical area, the Green Line, and beyond, and we look forward to reviewing the results of the pilot as it moves forward. Thank you as well to our partners at MassDOT for funding important transportation projects through the Shared Streets and Spaces program, the Town of Brookline for their continued collaboration, and the MBTA Transit Priority Group for spearheading these projects alongside the communities we serve.”

“Efficient, reliable public transit for all riders is essential to Brookline’s well-being and prosperity,” said Brookline Town Administrator Chas Carey. “This collaboration demonstrates our shared commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and innovative solutions that address the needs of the MBTA’s ridership in Brookline and beyond.”

The Gateway East dedicated bus lane pilot builds upon the recent corridor reconstruction completed in 2021, which rebuilt the street and sidewalks and added new protected bike lanes and other safety measures. The pilot aims to enhance and encourage more public transit use in the area and support the sustainability goals of the Town of Brookline.

These goals prioritize the safe, space-efficient, and energy-efficient movement of people and goods over the movement and parking of private vehicles. Public outreach for the pilot began in December 2020 to gather input and support for the one-year pilot, which was authorized by the Brookline Transportation Board in 2021.

During the yearlong pilot, the Town of Brookline will actively seek input from the community, bus riders, car drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and micro mobility users to gain insights into their experiences with the bus-only lanes. Data will be collected every three months to monitor and assess the pilot’s progress and help the Town make informed decisions on permanent bus-only lanes. Comments on the Dedicated Bus Lane Pilot can be e-mailed to gatewaybus@brooklinema.gov.

The MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces Grant funds quick-build projects to help transit authorities and municipalities quickly implement improvements to public spaces. These include sidewalks, curbs, streets, bus stops, and parking areas to support public health, provide safe mobility, and strengthen commerce.

The MBTA Transit Priority Group is part of the Better Bus Project, which aims to transform bus service throughout the MBTA system. The group is responsible for designing and implementing transit priority infrastructure defined in the MBTA’s Bus Priority Vision and working with municipalities and fellow state agencies. To date, the group has delivered more than 40 miles of bus lanes and activated transit signal priority at more than 80 locations in 12 municipalities.

For more information, visit mbta.com/BNR or connect with the T on X (the site formerly known as Twitter) @MBTA and @MBTA_CR, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, Threads @thembta, or TikTok @thembta.

The Conservation Commission and Open Space Plan Committee have scheduled an additional public forum to solicit feedback as the Town shapes its 2025 Open Space & Recreation Plan during a series of listening sessions.

A hybrid forum will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., in the Municipal Service Center, 870 Hammond Street, Brookline, MA 02446.

The committee held one public forum on April 8, 2024, and will host additional events on Monday, May 6, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., in Town Hall, Room 111, 333 Washington Street, Brookline, MA 02446, and on Thursday, May 23, 7:00 p.m., in the Brookline Senior Center, 93 Winchester Street, Brookline, MA 02446.

All residents are welcome to attend.

Meetings will provide an opportunity for community members to offer input, share issues, and discuss opportunities with regard to parks, nature sanctuaries, and other open spaces in Brookline.

All meetings will be held in a hybrid format. Those who cannot attend in person are encouraged to join via Zoom by following the registration links on the Open Space Plan website.

The meetings will include a brief introduction and informational session on the existing Open Space Plan, published in 2018, including what it is, how it is utilized, and why it needs to be updated. An open discussion will follow so that the Open Space Plan Committee may hear the community’s desires, concerns, and ideas as it pertains to the 2025 update.

Residents also are encouraged to fill out the 2025 Open Space Plan survey by visiting here.

For further information, please visit the Open Space Plan website or call Conservation Administrator Tom Brady, at 617-730-2088.

The Town of Brookline announces that increased parking rates will begin to go into affect in mid-March.

Rates are increasing to $2 per hour. 

On January 30, 2024, the Select Board voted to approve an increase in the Town’s parking meter rates, the first increase in over eight years. Rates were last increased in 2016 and, while scheduled to be increased in 2019/2020, were put on hold due to the pandemic.

Brookline’s current rate of $1.25 is significantly below standard parking meter rates in the surrounding area. Of the 2,288 meters in Brookline, 1,716 are currently set at $1.25 per hour, 135 meters are already set at $2 per hour, and 415 are set at $.75 per hour. The rate of $2 per hour aligns with the parking meter rates around the Town of Brookline, including adjacent neighborhoods such as Cleveland Circle, Commonwealth Avenue, Allston, and the Longwood Medical Area.

The Town estimates that the new rate will generate approximately $1.4 million in new revenue that can be used to replace the increasing number of meters that have reached their life expectancy and to further the Town’s sustainability goals.

The Town will roll out the new rate within the next few weeks. Parking meters in Brookline accept quarters, credit cards, and payments via the Passport Parking app.

Poorly maintained dumpsters with holes, missing or loose lids, or overflowing trash are some of the worst violations of the Town’s Solid Waste Regulations. These oversights create an easily accessible food source for rodents, thus exacerbating an already challenging problem for the town. Poor storage and maintenance practices of regular trash and recycling toters also violate the state sanitary code and local regulations.

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The Brookline Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Brookline Department of Public Works highlight new language in the Solid Waste Regulations that modifies dumpster use and maintenance standards within the Town of Brookline.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to review and adhere to the updated regulations and, in doing so, help the community address an important health issue. Violators will face potential enforcement actions and monetary penalties. The updated Solid Waste Regulations can be downloaded here. 

Here are some highlights of the changes specific to dumpsters:

• Regular maintenance and upkeep must occur for each dumpster.
• Direct action must be taken to ensure the dumpsters remain sanitary and free of pests.
• There shall be no holes in the dumpsters themselves, and they must remain covered with a tight-fitting, heavy lid.
• The Brookline Department of Public Health may require that specific dumpster sites be completely enclosed. 

These measures prevent odors and further mitigate rodent activity.

The updated regulations also require the name, address, and contact information of the owner, as well as the name of the permitted private hauler who services the dumpster, to be affixed on one side of every dumpster. All dumpsters must be placed on flat areas with smooth concrete or asphalt. They cannot be located on sites that block the view of traffic or on public property without prior approval.

Finally, dumpsters have to be large enough and serviced as frequently as necessary to prevent any likelihood of overflow or attracting pests. If the Brookline Department of Public Health deems a larger dumpster or more frequent pickups necessary, the change must be made promptly.

John King, the Town’s Environmental Health Supervisor, is available to answer any questions about the updated Solid Waste Regulations. He can be reached via e-mail at jking@brooklinema.gov or by phone at 617-879-4908.