Board recommends removing most eastbound Boylston bus lane, keeping westbound lane

Town and MBTA staff summarized the Gateway East pilot, which ran bus‑priority treatments along Boylston Street. Presenters said the westbound lane and a short eastbound queue‑jump (Station Street → Boylston/High Street) functioned as intended; the longer eastbound bus‑only lane (High Street → town line) experienced widespread noncompliance and geometry conflicts that reduced the lane’s efficacy.

Staff recommended three final configuration elements: (1) remove the eastbound bus‑only lane from Boylston Street between High Street and the town line, (2) retain the westbound bus lane from the town line/River Road to Station Street, and (3) retain the eastbound queue‑jump segment from Station Street to Boylston/High Street. The presentation noted the MBTA and town will need an MOU and updated traffic control agreements with MassDOT to implement changes.

Public commenters urged caution and, in some cases, argued enforcement should be tried before removal. One commenter asked whether enforcement or different geometry would have improved compliance. Board members weighed the pilot data and public feedback and ultimately voted to forward staff’s recommendation to the Select Board for final action and implementation planning. Staff said removal of the marked pavement and materials would require capital delivery coordination and a construction contract if removal involves durable red surfacing.

The board’s recommendation will go to the Select Board; final implementation will require agreements and coordination with MassDOT and MBTA.