Boston's buses are slowing down — again
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Bus speeds on the MBTA system slipped in 2024 and buses bunched more — marking a setback for riders who rely on the service most, according to a new report.
Why it matters: The slowest routes serve transit-dependent, inner-city communities, and as congestion worsens, those riders face longer trips — eroding reliability and equity.
- The study says a 0.3 mph decrease adds 1.7 hours per mile annually for a rider commuting five days a week.
What they found: The 10 slowest T bus routes averaged 6.52 mph in 2024 — down from 6.83 mph in 2023 — a 5% decline.
Bus-bunching — when buses end up close together along the route and mess up the schedule — climbed from 14.1% to 15.8%, according to TransitMatters' second annual Pokey/Schleppie Awards that analyzed October 2024 data.
- Route 1, which covers Mass. Ave. from Harvard to Nubian Square, remained the reigning champion of slow bus routes at 6.03 mph, down 8% from a blistering 6.55 mph in 2023.
- Route 28, serving Roxbury and Mattapan, slowed to 6.70 mph while bunching increased to 14.2%.
The biggest buncher was Route 23, Ruggles to Ashmont down Warren and Washington Streets, at 19.3%, up from 16.2% the year before.
State of play: Seven of the 10 routes highlighted in last year's "Pokey" list returned to the hall of shame for 2024.
- Routes 1, 23, 28 and Silver Line 4 and 5 appeared on both the slowest and most bunched lists.
- New additions include Route 45 (Ruggles to Franklin Park Zoo, 6.62 mph), Route 10 (Park Plaza to City Point, 6.65 mph) and Route 32 (Forest Hills through Hyde Park, 15.0% bunching rate).
The big picture: TransitMatters attributes declining performance to increased regional congestion, insufficient bus priority infrastructure and the T's dispatching, which they say worsens bunching.
What's next: With automated bus-lane enforcement rolling out and General Manager Phillip Eng pushing headway-based operations, the MBTA faces its toughest test yet: translating tools and policy into faster, more reliable rides.
The bottom line: Despite new tools for automated enforcement and improved bus infrastructure, the city's increasingly horrible congestion means improvements haven't yet translated into faster service for riders who need it most.