Bus Priority

In 2022, the Pioneer Institute released a comprehensive report on the costs and benefits of bus rapid transit in Greater Boston. This report provides an overview of their study which concluded that bus rapid transit can offer cost-effective benefits as shown through the success of pilot programs. 

Read the report: Bus Rapid Transit - Costs and Benefits of a Transit Alternative

In 2021, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council released the "Get it Rolling" guidebook. This is a framework aimed to help transportation stakeholders improve their bus systems and infrastructure, launch pilot programs, and ensure community engagement. 

Read the guidebook: Get it Rolling - A Brief Guide to Mobilize Bus Improvements in Greater Boston

In 2019, the Transportation Research Board's Transit Cooperative Research Progam published Report #207: Fast-Tracked: A Tactical Transit Study. This study is a snapshot of the quick-build strategies that cities have used to improve travel for people on buses and streetcars. This report included both bus priority projects in Cambridge.

To read this report, visit the report's webpage.

The Barr Foundation funded part of the City's Mount Auburn Bus Priority pilot project. The Barr Foundation and partners at StreetFilms reported on the successes of various projects in the Boston area. Click below to watch the StreetFilm

• StreetFilms: "Boston-area BRT pilots move region closer to BRT" - https://vimeo.com/303249500

A bus lane is a part of the street that the City has dedicated to buses. To make this clear, we have added markings and traffic signage to the street. The markings and signage are to make it clear that the lane is dedicated to buses. You will see solid white lines to mark the edges of the bus lane, red lane markings in the bus lane, "Bus Only" text markings, and black and white traffic signs that say "Right Lane Bus Only". Some bus lanes may also allow bicycles; we have installed lane markings and signs that indicate that. At certain locations, motorists can enter a bus lane for a short distance. See the question below for more information on how we mark those locations.

Bus lanes make bus routes more reliable and make bus trips faster, especially during times when streets are congested. At other times, a bus lane can be helpful in keeping speeds lower if a street has one bus lane and one lane for general travel. In Cambridge, this means improvements for riders who use MBTA Routes 1, 62, 64, 67, 70, 71, 73, 76, 77, employer and campus shuttles, Longwood Collective/MASCO M2 buses, and Charles River TMA/EZRide buses. We create bus lanes because the City's transportation and citywide mobility plans say regular, reliable bus travel is important. We have also studied bus delay and unreliability to identify locations of concern and install bus lanes at these locations.

Blocking bus lanes delay buses and reduce bus reliability. Blocking bus stops also creates safety and accessibility issues for riders.

The Cambridge Police Department does in-person bus lane enforcement and education with traffic stops.

Beginning in 2026, the MBTA will also begin ticketing vehicle owners for standing or parking illegally in bus lanes or at bus stops. The MBTA will add a camera system to buses that will capture the license plate of violators. They will then send a ticket to the owner of the car after reviewing the photo or video evidence of the violation. The MBTA’s fines will range from $25 to $125, increasing for repeat violations.

For more information, visit the MBTA’s project overview website here. The MBTA also presented general information about their automated enforcement program here.

Bus priority at traffic signals is sometimes called transit signal priority (TSP) or bus signal priority. This is a tool to modify the signal timing at a signalized intersection to reduce delay and unreliability for bus riders. This can mean a longer green light for buses or a shorter red light for buses. Sometimes, we can also modify traffic signals to have standard timing patterns that makes bus travel less delayed or more regular.

Bus lanes in Cambridge are for MBTA buses, shuttle operators, school buses, and emergency vehicles. Some dedicated bus lanes are also shared bus-bike lanes with cyclists sharing the bus lane with bus and shuttle operators.

See the City Traffic Regulations for more information.

Motorists can enter a bus lane to access a dedicated parking lane or driveway and to turn right at the next intersection.

Where motorists need to access a driveway or parking lane to the right of a bus lane, motorists should enter the bus lane no farther than 50 feet from the driveway or open parking spot. Motorists must yield to buses and cyclists in the dedicated bus lane when making this movement. Motorists entering a driveway should double check for cyclists in the bike lane, too. We do not modify the bus lane markings or signage for these locations.

Where motorists need to make a right turn to enter a side street, we have designated a place for motorists to enter the bus lane about 100 feet from the intersection. We show that location by breaking the solid white lines and red markings and using a right-turn arrow marking. Motorists must yield to buses and cyclists in the dedicated bus lane and can only turn into the side street at those intersections. Motorists making a right turn should not enter a bus lane until they are at a broken or dashed white line.

Motorists can enter a bus lane to access the general travel lanes from a driveway or side street. Motorists should not drive in the lane.

In most cases, a motorist cannot park, load, or stop in a bus lane.

On Massachusetts Avenue between Alewife Brook Parkway and Dudley Street, there are times of day when you may park or load in the bus lane on the southbound/Porter Square direction side of the street. Street signs will show the hours when parking and loading is allowed.