My Support for the Summer Street Bus Lane Pilot

Dear Councilor Flynn,

As your constituent, I'm incredibly disappointed to hear your stance on the Summer Street bus lane project— an important project that should've been piloted a decade ago. You have made pedestrian and traffic safety a priority for your office but we cannot have safe streets without considering cyclists or public transit riders. Equity is an important consideration when designing streets for all road users. Historically in South Boston, transportation infrastructure has been designed with the needs of drivers prioritized over other road users, leading to a lack of safe and accessible options for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit riders.

As a long-time resident of South Boston who has relied on the 7 bus for the past 15 years, I have witnessed the challenges commuters face every day. One of the major issues with the 7 bus is its frequency, leading to long lines and dangerously overcrowded buses. If things weren’t bad enough, the MBTA moved to cut the frequency of the 7 bus this past December making the commute even more miserable.

After years of frustration, I decided to try cycling as an alternative. Cycling turned out to be a more reliable and efficient way for me to get to work. I was able to cut my commute time from 25 minutes on the bus to just 8 minutes on a bike. Not only did this save me time, but it also gave me a sense of freedom and control over my commute.

However, I recognize that cycling is not a viable option for everyone, and that many residents still rely on public transportation. That is why I urge you to support both the bus & truck lane pilot as well as improvements to cycling infrastructure on Summer Street. By providing dedicated lanes for buses and trucks, we can reduce congestion and improve travel times for commuters while also moving important freight from the Conley Terminal. This study could benefit those who use public transit but also help to reduce emissions from vehicles, improving air quality.

The pilot program would allow the city to test and study the effectiveness of dedicated lanes and gather data to inform future transportation planning decisions in and around our neighborhood of South Boston. I understand that you and other South Boston elected officials may not regularly use public transit or cycle yourselves, but I urge you to consider the needs of your constituents who rely on both every day.

Thank you for your consideration.

Your Neighbor, Corey