Community Corner

One MBTA Proposal Eliminates 51 and 60 Bus Routes [POLL]

The MBTA has proposed two different service scenarios, one of which could eliminate the 60 bus route. Public meetings to be held in Jamaica Plain (Feb. 1) and Newton (Jan. 17).

Do you rely on MBTA buses to get around the Brookline area?  may affect your commute around and outside of Brookline. 

The MBTA has proposed two service scenarios, the first of which doesn't impact Brookline's four main bus routes: the 51, 60, 65 or 66. Scenario two suggests eliminating the 60 bus route entirely. Commuters leaving Brookline, however, may still see some impacts--such as those traveling to neighboring communities like  or .

According to the MBTA's impact analysis, the first scenario looks to eliminate bus routes that are not meeting a "cost standard", or a cost that is greater than three times the MBTA's average net cost per customer. This scenario eliminates 23 weekday routes, 19 Saturday routes and 18 Sunday routes.

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To review the MBTA's full cost analysis, check out the .pdf to the right. 

In addition, the first scenario proposes raising rates by 35 percent, which would increase bus fares from $1.25 to $1.50 on a Charlie Card.

Find out what's happening in Brooklinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The second scenario will eliminate and change routes to save an estimated $60 million. Those service eliminations will be based on cost and coverage area, the cost analysis says. 

In exchange, the second scenario looks to improve frequencies of the remaining bus routes by 10 percent.

The second scenario also increases fares by 43 percent, which would put bus Charlie Card fares at $1.75. 

Overall, the bus route cuts in the first scenario will affect 2 percent of riders system-wide, remove 48 buses and eliminate 110 MBTA jobs. The second scenario will affect 24 percent of the MBTA bus riders, remove 261 buses and eliminate 564 MBTA jobs, according to the analysis.

The MBTA will be holding 20 public meetings throughout the state over the next couple of months to hear feedback and questions about the proposed fare increases and service cuts. There is no meeting planned in Brookline, but those concerned can attend one held in Newton on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the War Memorial at , or in Jamaica Plain, Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hennigan School.

Below is a list of proposed changes under the MBTA's scenarios, and how they affect the Brookline area.


Scenario 1 Scenario 2

51 Bus

No proposed changes Weekday, Saturday & Sunday service eliminated 60 Bus No proposed changes Weekday, Saturday & Sunday service eliminated 65 Bus No proposed changes No proposed changes 66 Bus No proposed changes No proposed changes Bus Fare  CharlieCard: $1.75
CharlieTicket: $2.25  CharlieCard: $1.75
CharlieTicket: $2.25
Green B Line No proposed changes No proposed changes Green C Line No proposed changes No proposed changes Green D Line No proposed changes No proposed changes Green E Line

Weekend service eliminated
No proposed weekday changes

Weekend service eliminated
No proposed weekday changes
T Fare CharlieCard: $2.40
CharlieTicket: $3.00 CharlieCard: $2.25
CharlieTicket: $3.00


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