Professor Justin Hollander Discusses Feasibility of Rapid Transit in Worcester: A Vision for Safer, More Reliable Transportation

Is a new rapid transit system feasible for Worcester? Not to replace the WRTA but to use existing infrastructure to deliver on time, reliable, transportation to common destinations around the city such as colleges, universities, employment areas, and commercial centers. Professor Justin Hollander of the Urban Attitudes Lab at Tufts University called into the Talk of the Commonwealth to explain how it would work. Hollander and his students, along with a coalition of community partners including Strong Towns Worcester, the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association, the Riders Action Council, Center for Living and Working, feel that this will add to the safety of the citizens of the city. Hollander says the express buses would stop at designated stations that contain built-in platforms, making it so users can board the bus at the level of the doors without having to climb stairs. The system also employs off-board fare collection and priority at traffic lights, decreasing interruptions and delays to bus routes. The implementation of Bus Rapid Transit would give transit riders access to a system of buses that stops at hubs every 10 minutes–far more frequently than current bus systems, which currently run every 40 minutes during peak times.

Photo – Tufts students working on BRT Campaign (From left to right: Owen Lawler, Nyapal Chuol, Emilia Arabbo, Vaishnavi Kanakamedala, James Rochberg. Source: Emilia Arabbo)