To see if the Town will vote to endorse a resolution calling for improvements to service provided to the Town of Arlington by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority; or take any action related thereto.

(Inserted at the request of Paul Schlichtman and ten registered voters)

(3 - 0 - 1)
Mr. Diggins abstained and Mr. Helmuth recused himself.

The majority of the Select Board supports this resolution registering the Town’s concerns with the reductions in Arlington Bus service even as the Greenline expands its service elsewhere in the MBTA system.  The Town pays a significant annual assessment as an MBTA member community and has demonstrated its commitment to public transit, yet the MBTA continues to pare back what service Arlington receives, which will also render the Greenline extension less accessible to Arlington. Mr. Diggins supported the general sense of the resolution, but expressed reservation about the efficacy of a resolution in this instance.

That Town Meeting does and hereby resolves as follows:

Whereas, the last streetcar from Arlington Heights to Harvard Square ran on November 18, 1955; and

Whereas, the last MBTA train from Arlington to North Station ran on January 10, 1977; and

Whereas, the last 79 bus from Arlington Heights to Alewife ran on March 12, 2021; and

Whereas, on December 18, 2022, six days after the Green Line Extension opened to Tufts-Medford, the MBTA reduced service on the 80 bus that connects Arlington Center with the Green Line Terminus; and

Whereas, despite challenges faced by Arlington commuters and student pass holders due to poor service, the MBTA reduced service on the 77 bus on December 18, 2022; and

Whereas, the Town of Arlington’s MBTA assessment of $3,208,065; and

Whereas, the Town of Arlington is committed to amending our zoning for the purpose of increasing the number of transit-friendly residential units; and

Whereas, the Town of Arlington and the City of Cambridge have built bus lanes to facilitate the movement of buses along Massachusetts Avenue;

Now therefore be it resolved, the Town of Arlington asks the MBTA to provide frequent, reliable service along Massachusetts Avenue with convenient connections to the Red Line; and

Be it also resolved, the Town of Arlington asks the MBTA to provide frequent, reliable service from Arlington Heights, through Arlington Center, and along Medford Street and Boston Avenue with convenient connections to the West Medford commuter rail station and the Tufts-Medford terminus of the Green Line Extension; and

Be it also resolved, the Town of Arlington seeks a partnership with the MBTA to plan significant improvements to the transit infrastructure in Arlington.