Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) — Better Bus Project

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The MBTA Better Bus Project is another example of a packaged set of bus improvements. The Better Bus Project is part of an $8 billion, five-year capital investment plan that began in 2018, and it describes a multi-pronged effort to improve and expand bus services. The major emphasis of the project is redesign of the bus network. Other improvements include bus transit priority, bus stop improvements, bus modernization and improved passenger information. Bus stop accessibility improvements is a universal goal of local transit operators.

MBTA has 7,500 bus stops, all of which were evaluated for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, and many of which were identified as high priority for improvements. The MBTA identified 130 stops with critical accessibility barriers and completely reconstructed them. The next round of improvements is focused on 600 bus stops with significant barriers to access. Upgrades include landing areas where buses can deploy boarding ramps, lengthened bus stops to allow buses to pull next to the curb, updated bus stop signs and bus stop pavement markings. The MBTA is also investing $3.4 million in solar-powered electronic ink signs for train stations and bus stops. These signs will display real-time information about transit schedules.

View Project

This tool is best used on desktops and laptops.

Step 2: Add your amenities to your bus stop

  • Click the “Amenity Library” button to open the Library:
    • Scroll through the Amenity Library on the right to drag and drop your chosen amenities or use the “Add” button.
    • You can add, move, rotate, scale, and delete any amenity. You can also add as many as you like.
    • NOTE: All amenities may not be appropriate for all sidewalk widths. Consider amenities like the Lean Bar for narrower sidewalks, whereas amenities such as Shelters are more appropriate for wider sidewalks.


Step 3: Save your design

  • Choose the “Finalize & Save” button, then fill out the brief Contact Form.
    • You’ll then be taken to a unique link to your design; keep it on file for viewing later at any time.

Using the Builder to design your bus stop

This tool is best used on desktops and laptops, and when the background image you choose below is viewed straight on

Step 1: Find your background image

  • via the map below on the left, you can go to the bus stop you wish to design, then drag the gold Google “Pegman” (in the map below, lower right corner) to where your bus stop is on the map, or
  • via the “Upload Background” button, you can upload an image of the bus stop from your local device (it works best if your image is square), then you’ll be taken to Step 2 right away, or
  • you can type in an address or street corner and city via the search field, then click the “Search” button and then drag the gold Google “Pegman” (in the map below, lower right corner) to the red location Pin.


NOTES: It’s possible Google hasn’t created a Street View for some bus stops. If this is the case for the bus stop you want to add amenities to, you may want to consider taking a smartphone photo of that bus stop and uploading it here via the “Upload Background” button (crop your image square). Per Google Street Map View compliance rules, it is not possible to edit the lighting or shading of a Google Street View background, so choose thoughtfully or upload your own image.

Once you have your chosen bus stop background on the right, select the “Design Bus Stop” button to go to the next screen to then add amenities.