The Urban Ring

The Urban Ring is an integrated system of public transportation services that connects to the existing radial MBTA system. It is intended to provide direct connections and transfers for destinations in a fast-growing corridor located roughly one to two miles outside the downtown Boston core. The Urban Ring is proposed for implementation in three phases:

Phase 1 includes a set of limited-stop bus routes through the Urban Ring corridor. The MBTA’s Crosstown bus routes (CT1, CT2, and CT3) are the existing elements of Urban Ring Phase 1.

Phase 2 is the subject of the current stage of Urban Ring planning and environmental review. Phase 2 would add a series of bus rapid transit (BRT) routes through the Urban Ring corridor, along with expanded bus routes in the corridor and new transfer connections where the Urban Ring crosses commuter rail lines. The BRT services would connect to all of the MBTA's radial rapid transit lines and commuter rail lines, as well as major bus hubs. The BRT routes would overlap to provide riders with improved transit accessibility throughout the corridor and maximize the connections to the spokes of existing transit lines. BRT travel speeds would be enhanced by dedicated lanes, exclusive roadway segments, and traffic signal priority where appropriate.

Phase 3 would preserve the BRT route and add rail rapid transit service in the western portion of the corridor. The Phase 3 rail service would run generally from Assembly Square at the northern terminus through Sullivan Square, North Point, Kendall Square, Cambridgeport, the Kenmore / Boston University area, the LMA, Ruggles Station, and Dudley Square. There are three preliminary alternatives for Phase 3, comprising either light rail or heavy rail transit options, as well as differing routes.

The project team is currently working to complete the next milestone in satisfying the planning and environmental review process: preparing the Urban Ring Phase 2 Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report / Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RDEIR/DEIS). The Revised DEIR/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will address issues raised in previous stages of review, and it will analyze such options as a BRT tunnel in the Longwood Medical Area; additional sections of exclusive busway; and connections to Harvard University’s Allston Initiative.