MBTA and WSP present ADA upgrades for Boston Ave bus stop near Tufts; council approves moving design forward

The Medford City Council on Aug. 5 heard a presentation from MBTA consultants and WSP on a proposal to relocate and upgrade the bus stop at Boston Avenue near the Tufts Garage to improve accessibility and safety for riders. Katie Moulton, a WSP consultant, described the plan to move the southbound stop nearer the Boston Ave/College Ave intersection, replace non‑compliant curb ramps and detectable warnings, and construct an ADA‑compliant landing area so buses may deploy ramps reliably.

Moulton outlined the preferred dimensions for the boarding area — an 8‑by‑10 foot landing with a clear zone behind the bus door — and showed a design intended to avoid impacts to a nearby right‑turn lane, accessible parking and Tufts property. She said all work would occur within the city right‑of‑way and would include sidewalk repaving and minor landscaping restoration.

MBTA project manager Ben said Newport Construction, the on‑call contractor, is the intended builder and that construction could be accelerated and completed by late summer or early fall. "Once this work has been completed, MBTA service planning would come back and deactivate the existing location. They would put up all the signs...and make sure that riders are notified in advance of this change," he said.

Councilors asked whether lighting or audible installations were planned (none were proposed), and requested clearer outreach for neighbors. The presenters said the contractor typically posts flyers and sandwich boards and provides a contact phone number for questions during construction.

Vice President Collins moved to approve the design and proceed with outreach and coordination; the motion passed on roll call with one councilor opposed and one absent. Work is expected to take roughly two to three weeks and include posted notices for affected riders and abutters.