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MBTA crosstown bus routes

(Redirected from Route CT2 (MBTA))

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) began operating three specially designated crosstown bus route in the Boston metropolitan area in 1994. Intended as a limited-stop bus connecting major points, the weekday-only routes largely paralleled MBTA bus local routes, but with fewer stops to reduce travel times. Only one of the three routes – route CT3 – still operates.

Geographic map of MBTA crosstown bus routes as originally introduced. The CT1 is colored aqua, the CT2 navy, and the CT3 peach.

The three crosstown routes – CT1, CT2, and CT3 – began operation in 1994. Eight additional routes numbered CT4 through CT11 were proposed in 2001 as part of an interim phase of the Urban Ring Project to provide circumferential service bypassing the crowded downtown subway stations, but were never put in service. Route CT1 was merged with route 1 in 2019. Route CT2 was merged with route 85 in 2026. Route CT3 is planned to be replaced by a new route 12 in the late 2020s.

System development

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The need for better circumferential transit in Boston was raised by the 1972 Boston Transportation Planning Review.[1][2]: 1–2  The 1989 Circumferential Transit Feasibility Study began planning for the Urban Ring Project, which was to be a high-capacity circumferential line connecting hubs including Logan Airport, Kendall Square, and the Longwood Medical Area (LMA) outside downtown Boston.[3]: 6 [2]: 1–2, Fig. 1-2  In December 1993, an MBTA report recommended the operation of Kendall Square–Ruggles station and LMA–Andrew station bus routes as an interim step.[2]: 1–2, Fig. 1-3 [4] The MBTA announced plans for a three-route pilot program in May 1994. It was to include two previously proposed routes plus a Central Square–Boston Medical Center route, all operating with limited stops.[5]

The three crosstown routes began operation on September 26, 1994.[6][7] The Central–Boston Medical Center route was designated CT1, the Kendall–Ruggles route CT2, and the LMA–Andrew route CT3.[8][9] In January 1995, governor Bill Weld vetoed several sections of a transportation bond bill, including a truck ban on MDC parkways. The ban would have also applied to buses, affecting the crosstown bus routes.[10]

Eight additional routes numbered CT4 through CT11 were proposed in 2001 as part of an interim phase of the Urban Ring Project to provide circumferential service bypassing the crowded downtown subway stations, but were never put in service.[11]

CT1

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Route CT1
A white and yellow transit bus on an urban street
A southbound route CT1 bus at Central Square in 2015
Overview
GarageAlbany Garage
Began serviceSeptember 26, 1994
Ended serviceSeptember 1, 2019
Route
LocaleBoston and Cambridge, Massachusetts
StartCentral Square, Cambridge
EndBoston Medical Center
Length
  • 3.2 miles (5.1 km) southbound
  • 3.4 miles (5.5 km) northbound
Daily ridership1,994 (2018)

Route CT1 (internally coded 701) ran between Central Square in Cambridge and Boston Medical Center (BMC), mostly along Massachusetts Avenue. From Central Square, it ran southeast on Massachusetts Avenue through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus and across the Harvard Bridge into Boston. It continued southeast through the Back Bay and South End neighborhoods. It turned northeast on Albany Street and looped through the BMC campus on East Newton Street, Harrison Avenue, and East Concord Street. The majority of its route, save for the BMC loop, was a limited-stop version of route 1.[12]

Service was not substantially modified after its 1994 inception.[6] The 2018–19 MBTA review found that route CT1 had poor reliability; it had limited frequency and was not coordinated with route 1, leading to the routes being duplicative rather than complementary.[13] The review recommended that route CT1 be discontinued in favor of increased service on route 1 in order to provide more consistent service across the corridor.[14] The MBTA board approved the changes in May 2019.[15] The two routes were merged on September 1, 2019, resulting in increased frequency on route 1.[16][17]

At the time of its discontinuance, route CT1 ran from about 6:00 am to 7:00 am on weekdays only, with headways varying between 20 and 35 minutes. Scheduled one-way running times ranged from 20 minutes in the early morning to 45 minutes in the afternoon peak.[18] The route operated with standard 40-foot (12 m) transit buses based at Albany Garage in Boston.[19] Daily ridership was 1,994 in 2018.[13]

Stop listing

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CT2

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Route CT2
A white and yellow transit bus on an urban street
A route CT2 bus at Union Square, Somerville, in 2024
Overview
SystemMBTA bus
GarageAlbany Garage and Cabot Garage
Began serviceSeptember 26, 1994
Ended serviceApril 5, 2026
Route
LocaleBoston, Cambridge, and Somerville, Massachusetts
StartSullivan Square station
EndRuggles station
Length
  • 6.5 miles (10.5 km) northbound
  • 6.3 miles (10.1 km) southbound
Daily ridership2,000 (2018)[20]

Route CT2 (internally coded 747) ran between Sullivan Square station in Charlestown and Ruggles station in Roxbury – both in Boston – via parts of Cambridge and Somerville. The southern part of the route roughly paralleled route 47.[12] From Sullivan Square, it ran west on Washington Street to Union Square, then south to Kendall Square via Webster Avenue, Windsor Street, Hampshire Street, and Broadway (paralleling route 85). It continued west on Main Street, Vassar Street, Amesbury Street, and Memorial Drive through the MIT campus, then turned south to cross the Charles River on the Boston University Bridge. The route followed Mountfort Street, Park Drive, and Brookline Avenue south to the Longwood Medical Area, then Longwood Avenue, Huntington Avenue, and Ruggles Street east to Ruggles station. Sullivan-bound buses used parallel streets at several locations.[21]

Route CT2 began operating between Ruggles and Kendall/MIT station in 1994. In June 1998, Ruggles-bound buses began using Amesbury Street rather than the westernmost portion of Vassar Street. In September 2000, the route was extended to Sullivan Square via Union Square in Somerville, following the routings of routes 85 and 91. In December 2018, the Kendall Square stop was moved from Kendall/MIT station to Ames Street, eliminating a loop at the station.[6]

By February 2022, the route had 25-minute headways at morning peak hour, 40-minute headways at afternoon peak hour, and 60-minute headways middays. It did not have evening or weekend service.[22] In May 2022, the MBTA released a draft plan for a systemwide network redesign, which called for route CT2 to be discontinued. Portions of the route would be covered by extensions of routes 109 and 39 with higher frequency.[23] A revised proposal in November 2022 called for route CT2 to be replaced by route 85. It would follow the existing CT2 routing between Ruggles and Union Square, then continue to Assembly Square via Cross Street and Broadway.[24][25] Route CT2 was replaced with route 85 on April 5, 2026. Unlike the 2022 proposal, the new 85 follows the existing CT2 routing between Union Square and Sullivan Square, and terminates on Grand Union Boulevard rather than at Assembly station. It also makes all stops rather than the limited stops of the CT2.[26]

Stop listing

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CT3

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Route CT3
A white and yellow transit bus on an urban street
A route CT3 bus on Brookline Avenue in 2012
Overview
GarageAlbany Garage and Cabot Garage
Began serviceSeptember 26, 1994
Route
LocaleBoston, Massachusetts
StartLongwood Medical Area
EndAndrew station
Length
  • 4.4 miles (7.1 km) inbound
  • 3.9 miles (6.3 km) outbound
Daily ridership1,280 (2018)[28]
TimetableCT3

Route CT3 (internally coded 708) operates between Longwood Medical Area (LMA) and Andrew station entirely within the city of Boston, roughly paralleling route 8. From Andrew station, it runs west on Southampton Street (some trips via Newmarket Square) and northeast on Albany Street to Boston Medical Center, then southwest on Harrison Avenue and west on Melnea Cass Boulevard to Ruggles station. It continues west on Ruggles Street and Fenway, then makes a one-way clockwise loop through the LMA on Avenue Louis Pasteur, Longwood Avenue, Brookline Avenue, and Fenway. As of April 2026, the route has 22-minute headways at peak hours and 70-minute headways midday; it does not have evening or weekend service.[29] The route operates with standard 40-foot (12 m) transit buses based at Albany Garage and Cabot Garage in Boston.[30]

The CT3 route originally operated between Andrew and the LMA; it was extended to Logan Airport in December 1998. The extension (internally coded 709) was dropped due to low ridership in March 2002. Two early morning trips were kept as route 171, running from Dudley to Logan. They are through-routed with route 15 trips.[6] In January 2005, some rush hour service was rerouted to serve Newmarket Square.[6] The May 2022 draft network plan called for route CT3 to be discontinued. It would be largely replaced by a new Brookline Village–Courthouse route running via Huntington Avenue, Ruggles station, Andrew station, and D Street.[23] The November 2022 revised plan rerouted the replacement route via Brookline Avenue, Roxbury Crossing station, and Nubian station.[24][25]

Stop listing

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Stop Major connections[29] MBTA bus connections[29]
Avenue Louis Pasteur 8, 19, 47
Children's Hospital 8, 19, 47, 85
Beth Israel Hospital 8, 19, 47, 60, 65, 85
Ruggles Street at Huntington Avenue Green Line (MBTA) Green Line (E) 8, 19, 39, 47, 85
Ruggles station Orange Line (MBTA) Orange Line, MBTA Commuter Rail 8, 15, 19, 22, 23, 28, 43, 44, 45, 47, 85
Washington Street Silver Line (MBTA) Silver Line (SL4, SL5) 1, 8, 19, 47, 171
Harrison Street (Boston Medical Center) 8, 10, 47
Boston Medical Center 8, 10, 47, 171
Albany Street (Boston Medical Center) 1, 8, 10, 47
Magazine Street (limited service) 8, 10
Andrew station Red Line (MBTA) Red Line 10, 16, 17, 18, 171

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "G: Conclusions and Recommendations". Circumferential Transit Report. Boston Transportation Planning Review. Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Construction. October 1972. pp. 120–122.
  2. 1 2 3 Major Investment Study of Circumferential Transportation Improvements in the Urban Ring Corridor. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. July 2001.
  3. ↑ Euchner, Charles C.; Flint, Anthony (July 22, 2003). "Coming Around" (PDF). Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston.
  4. ↑ Palmer, Thomas C. Jr (February 18, 1994). "Circular city transit route is no longer a pipe dream". The Boston Globe. pp. 25, 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Palmer, Thomas C. Jr (May 24, 1994). "With fall MBTA routes, you can take a crosstown bus". The Boston Globe. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). Boston Street Railway Association. pp. 248–250. Page numbers are accurate to the April 4, 2026 version.
  7. ↑ Palmer, Thomas C. Jr. (September 26, 1994). "MBTA inaugurates 'Crosstown' buses". The Boston Globe. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Crosstown Express". The Boston Globe. September 27, 1994. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Crosstown express routes". The Boston Globe. October 2, 1994. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Keeney, Michael (January 15, 1995). "The Political Trail". The Boston Globe. p. City 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Attachment 2: Detailed Descriptions, Plans, and Schedule of the Proposed Project by Phase". Circumferential Transit Improvements in the Urban Ring Corridor: Expanded Environmental Notification Form (ENF) (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. July 2001. pp. 1–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 8, 2001.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2018 System Map" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. April 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2020.
  13. 1 2 "Route CT1" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. December 2018.
  14. ↑ "Better Bus Project Route Proposals" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. January 2019. pp. 1, 2.
  15. ↑ "Board Approves 36 Bus Route Updates" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. May 29, 2019.
  16. ↑ "See How Your Bus Route Changed on September 1". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. September 9, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Bus Schedule Changes for Fall 2019". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. August 15, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Central Square Cambridge -BU Medical Campus/Boston Medical Center" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. June 23, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 15, 2023.
  19. ↑ Belcher, Jonathan (January–February 2018). "MBTA Vehicle Inventory as of February 28, 2018". Rollsign. Vol. 55, no. 1–2. Boston Street Railway Association. pp. 1, 28. ISSN 0035-7898.
  20. ↑ "Route CT2" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. December 2018.
  21. ↑ "2025-26 System Map" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. December 14, 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 31, 2026.
  22. ↑ Belcher, Jonathan (January–February 2022). "MBTA Vehicle Inventory as of February 28, 2022". Rollsign. Vol. 59, no. 1–2. Boston Street Railway Association. p. 27.
  23. 1 2 "Draft Bus Network Redesign Map" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. May 2022.
  24. 1 2 "What we changed from the May 2022 Proposal" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. November 7, 2022.
  25. 1 2 "Revised Bus Network Fall 2022" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. November 3, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Spring 2026 Better Bus Network Service Changes". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. February 2026.
  27. ↑ "CT2 Sullivan Station – Ruggles Station" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. August 29, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 9, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Route CT3" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. December 2018.
  29. 1 2 3 "Spring 2026 System Map". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. April 5, 2026.
  30. ↑ Belcher, Jonathan (January–February 2025). "MBTA Vehicle Inventory as of February 28, 2025". Rollsign. Vol. 62, no. 1–2. Boston Street Railway Association. pp. 19, 23. ISSN 0035-7898.
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