LPS reopening info, MBTA services to increase, Commuter Rail fare lowered, & updates from Mayor McGee | June 10, 2020

Lynn Zone 1A Pilot:  Fares at Lynn Commuter Rail Station Lowered to Zone 1A Effective July 1 through August 31

Building off similar efforts during the recent Blue Line shutdown in May, Zone 1A fares will again be accepted at Lynn Station beginning July 1 for two months to promote additional travel options and to promote social distancing efforts.

BOSTON – The MBTA today announced that Zone 1A fares will again be temporarily accepted at Lynn and Riverworks Commuter Rail Stations on a pilot basis effective Wednesday, July 1, through Monday, August 31. This step is being taken so the MBTA may provide additional travel options for North Shore customers, ease crowding on nearby bus routes, and to allow the MBTA to collect ridership data related to the effects of temporary fare changes on relieving crowding.

“We’re excited to again offer this option to riders traveling between Lynn Station and Downtown Boston for the same price as a subway fare,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “We’re continuing this temporary zone change pilot for two months starting July 1 with the goal of reducing crowding and promoting social distance on buses, and we encourage our North Shore riders to consider this Commuter Rail option.”

Zone 1A fares were temporarily accepted at Lynn from May 22 to May 31 in an effort to provide additional travel options for customers affected by the Blue Line shutdown from Bowdoin to Airport and so that MBTA staff could begin to gather ridership data related to temporary fare changes. Though data on Commuter Rail and relevant bus route ridership was inconclusive given the short length of the May offering, the MBTA hopes a longer two-month pilot will allow customers to learn about the Commuter Rail option so that additional data can be collected.

Customers heading inbound from Lynn or Riverworks to North Station and outbound from North Station to Lynn or Riverworks can purchase a Zone 1A ticket on mTicket, at a fare vending machine, onboard, or at a ticket window at North Station. Zone 1A monthly passes printed on CharlieTickets or CharlieCards or on mTicket will also be accepted. The MBTA will continue to closely monitor ridership levels with fourteen additional inbound trains (twenty-eight total) to be added to the Newburyport/Rockport Line as part of Phase 2 of the Commonwealth’s Re-Opening Plan. A one-way Zone 1A commuter rail fare is $2.40, which is the same as a CharlieCard subway fare. Bus Routes that stop at Lynn Station include Routes 426, 429, 435, 436, 441, 442, and 455.

In compliance with the Commonwealth’s Reopening Massachusetts Report, riders are also reminded that face coverings are required while onboard MBTA service and within stations.

For more information, please visit mbta.com or connect with the T on Twitter@MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA.

From Mayor McGee’s office: The Lynn Public Health Department has confirmed that as of today, the number of active, confirmed positive COVID-19 cases is 1,368 with 3 new cases today. 2,074 Lynn residents have recovered and 95 have died. The total number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Lynn since March 21, 2020, including those who have died and recovered, is 3,537. Please visit the new City of Lynn COVID-19 Data Dashboard which is updated daily at http://arcg.is/aiiWu.

The City of Lynn License Commission will still be accepting applications for extensions to licensed premises for outdoor, on premise consumption at eligible restaurants, cafés, coffee shops or other similar places of public accommodation offering food, beverage or alcoholic beverages. The License Commission’s second meeting this week is scheduled for Thursday, June 11th at 4:00PM to review and approve such applications.

The deadline to submit an application for the second meeting is Thursday, June 11th at 2:00PM. Food and Beverage establishment owners may visit http://www.lynnma.gov/covid19/reopening.shtml for more information on how to apply.

We will continue to provide regular updates on COVID-19 through the City website (www.lynnma.gov), social media, and the Smart 911 emergency notification system (sign up at www.smart911.com).

MBTA Services to Increase
Significantly This Month

Well ahead of anticipated rises in passenger volume, MBTA will increase
service for all subway lines and add weekday service for nearly sixty bus routes.

Commuter Rail trips added and all MBTA ferries resume limited weekday service.

BOSTON – Although ridership remains low, the MBTA is preparing to significantly ramp up service across all modes as part of Phase 2 of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan. Effective June 21, regular weekday service will operate on the Blue Line; increased weekday service will operate on the Red, Orange, Green, and Mattapan Lines; and service will increase for nearly sixty bus routes. On June 22, Commuter Rail service will be increased and ferry service will resume on weekdays.

While passenger volume continues to be just a fraction of pre-pandemic levels, the MBTA will continue to closely monitor ridership and undesirable crowding in excess of recently-adopted thresholds and, when possible, make adjustments. Weekday service will be added to nearly sixty high-demand routes, including Routes 1, 22, 23, 28, 57, 66, 111, 116, 117, and dozens more. Bus service has also been tailored to specifically allow for operational flexibility, giving dispatchers the ability to make adjustments in response to changing ridership demands and to alleviate crowding. The MBTA will operate a full complement of buses, including 30% reserved to be deployed where there is increased demand for service. Crowding will be closely monitored with these flexible buses deployed as needed.

“As the Commonwealth continues its reopening phases and we begin boosting service for all modes, we will continue to protect the riding public and our workforce through enhanced safety protocols, including cleaning and sanitizing our stations and vehicles,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “Thank you to MBTA riders for their patience during these challenging times and for wearing face coverings while using the system. I also want to reiterate my deep appreciation to our frontline workforce, who have come to work every day throughout the pandemic in order to provide essential transit services.”

On March 17, the MBTA implemented service changes that mimicked limited, modified Saturday schedules for most modes with ferry service temporarily canceled in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

“While service is increasing significantly, providing safe transit during the coronavirus pandemic is a shared responsibility among the MBTA, its customers, employers, and cities and towns,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack.

Customers should continue to make efforts to distance and are reminded that face coverings are required while onboard vehicles and within the MBTA system. The MBTA urges area employers to continue to allow telecommuting and to consider staggered work schedules to promote social distancing on public transit. The MBTA also encourages cities and towns to assist in this effort be expanding available space at historically busy bus stops and working with the MBTA to implement dedicated-bus lanes.

Service by individual mode will update according to the following as staffing permits effective June 21 and June 22:

Subway and Light Rail:

Effective Sunday, June 21, regular weekday service will operate on the Blue Line with increased weekday service on the Red, Orange, Green, and Mattapan Lines as staffing levels permit. Additional service on weekends will also be added on the Mattapan Line.

Customers should note that rear-door boarding on Green Line and Mattapan Line trolleys at street-level stops will continue during Phase 2 with removable barriers installed onboard trolleys in support of social distancing efforts. These measures protect the health and safety of the MBTA’s workforce and customers. Anyone needing to use the front door, including seniors and people with disabilities, may continue to do so.

Customers should also note that planned service diversions are currently taking place on the Green Line:

• On the Green Line, shuttle buses are replacing service between North Station and Lechmere Station through spring 2021 in support of the Green Line Extension project.
• On the D branch, the first of two full nine-day closures between Kenmore and Riverside Stations began June 6 through June 14 with the second beginning June 20 through June 28. Local and express shuttle buses are replacing service.
• On the C branch, shuttles are expected to replace service between Cleveland Circle and Kenmore Stations for the entirety of July 2020.
• On the E branch, shuttles are expected to replace service between Heath Street and Prudential Stations for the entirety of August 2020.

Bus:

Effective Sunday, June 21, MBTA buses will operate on a modified, increased Saturday schedule for nearly sixty bus routes, which has been designed to allow for operational flexibility and the ability to make adjustments in response to changing ridership demands. Modifications include more service on high-demand routes; many bus routes beginning service earlier than typical Saturdays and resembling the start of service on weekdays; and 30% of MBTA buses to be deployed every day based on analysis and reporting on where there is increased demand for service in Phase 2. All available buses will operate with service concentrated on about 80% of bus routes.

Weekday service will be added to over fifty high-demand routes, notably Routes 1, 22, 23, 28, 31, 32, 57, 65, 66, 70, 104, 109, 111, 116 and 117.  Route 39 will now also operate with 60-foot buses all day for additional capacity. Routes resuming service that were previously not operating are Routes 19 and 245, which serve key medical and hospital areas.

Bus routes will also continue run their regular schedules on Saturdays and Sundays.

Select express bus routes 325, 326, 351, 352, and 501 that were previously operating will no longer operate beginning June 21 with customers encouraged to instead utilize alternative bus routes and/or rail lines operating in these areas where possible.

Customers should note that rear-door boarding on MBTA buses will continue during Phase 2 with removable barriers installed onboard buses in support of social distancing efforts. These measures protect the health and safety of the MBTA’s workforce and customers. Anyone needing to use the front door, including seniors and people with disabilities, may continue to do so.

Customers should also note that work on the Harvard Busway is scheduled to restart on June 21 as part of planned Harvard Station Busway Improvements.

Ferry:

Effective Monday, June 22, limited ferry service to Hingham and Hull and to Charlestown will resume on weekdays to about 75% of normal schedules. Weekend ferry service remains suspended.

Ferry schedules and more information will be made available soon at mbta.com.

Commuter Rail:

Effective Monday, June 22, all Commuter Rail Lines will operate increased weekday service with the Fairmount Line also beginning full and complete service schedules as part of the Fairmount Line Weekday Service Pilot. This increase in Commuter Rail service is about 85% of normal schedules with regular midday trains operating and increases to the number of trains during morning and evening peak periods.

Commuter Rail schedules are available at mbta.com.

The RIDE:

The MBTA will continue to operate full service on the RIDE. All trips must continue to be booked 1-3 days in advance. Trips will continue to be limited to one customer plus their Personal Care Attendant (PCA) or guest per trip (no shared trips) with the RIDE making every effort to eliminate transfer trips in order to reduce customer interaction with multiple drivers. Customers can also continue to temporarily book trips for their PCAs throughout Phase 2.

The RIDE Eligibility Center (TREC) also continues to be closed until further notice.

Enhanced Decontamination, Cleaning, Disinfecting, Social Distancing, and More:

In addition to encouraging good hygiene practices and social distancing, the MBTA is continuing its enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols. This includes:

• Stations and facilities: disinfecting touch points in high-traffic facilities twice a day; disinfecting touch points on surfaces such as handrails, fare gates, and fare vending machines in subway stations once every four hours; and hiring additional vendors for disinfecting using chemical fogging, electrostatic sprayers, and manual disinfecting wipes/solutions.
• Bus and rail vehicles: decontaminating all vehicles nightly with disinfecting wipes; performing mid-day decontamination at layover locations daily by wiping down operator cabs and high-touch locations; wiping down cabs, fare boxes, and entrances for first/second shift bus pullbacks; performing electrostatic fogging for 100% decontamination every two weeks for all bus vehicles; isolating and electrostatic decontamination of any vehicle reported as operated by an employee who tested positive for COVID-19.

The MBTA has also deployed messaging through social media and within stations, bus terminals, and vehicles that encourages social distancing. Crowding threshold standards have also temporarily been lowered for each bus and subway fleet to accommodate social distancing measures.

In compliance with the Executive Order that went into effect on May 6, riders are also reminded that face coverings are required while onboard all MBTA vehicles, on shuttle buses, and at stations and stops. The Executive Order that went into effect on May 6 does include an exemption for individuals with certain medical conditions, but does not require a person who is so exempt to produce documentation of their condition. The MBTA has issued internal guidance to its operators consistent with the Executive Order, though the MBTA expects all customers will comply.

The MBTA continues to follow guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health with the MBTA encouraging its riders and the public to:

• Practice social distancing at all times when leaving the home for essential trips;
• Stay home if sick and avoid close contact with others;
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least twenty seconds;
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizing gel with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available;
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth;
• Clean areas that are frequently touched with sanitizing spray or wipes;
• Cover coughs and sneezes, and use a tissue or the inner elbow, not hands.

For more information, please visit mbta.com/coronavirus,mass.gov/COVID19, or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook/TheMBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA.