Cambridge commissions 12-month study of municipal shuttle options to fill transit gaps

The Joint Transportation and Public Utilities and Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning committee of the City of Cambridge voted to adjourn after a detailed discussion about launching a 12-month Shuttle and Transit Gap Study to identify service gaps and options for a municipal shuttle pilot that would augment MBTA and private open‑door shuttles.

The study, which staff said will run about a year if contracted this summer, will document the existing bus and private shuttle network, analyze gaps and peer-city models, run data and community engagement, and produce recommendations on potential routes, branding, financial feasibility and partnerships. "We're very anxious to get started work on this shuttle study," Commissioner Brooke McKenna said during the meeting.

Why it matters: Cambridge is densely populated and has more jobs than residents, creating complex travel patterns that councilors said are not fully met by existing MBTA service or private shuttles. The study aims to identify where residents, workers and visitors lack reliable one-seat connections to neighborhood business districts, grocery stores, parks and employment hubs; and to test consolidation or coordination between private open‑door shuttles and a potential municipal service.

City staff described the analysis and public outreach plan. Andy Reeker, Transit Program Manager, said the team will combine location‑based travel data, on‑the‑ground…