Reimagining Public Transit in Worcester - Route 0716

Today we take a look at reimaging the WRTA's existing bus routes Route 7 - City Hall to Washington Heights Apartments and Route 16 - City Hall to Lincoln Plaza via Hamilton St. & Lake Ave.



Current Bus Routes 7 and 16 Reimagined and Overlaid (Blue) on the proposed AIRLINE BRT System (Red), Visitor Trolley (Green) and other Proposed Bus Routes (Purple)

The proposed combined routes 7 and 16 function as a "South Loop" connecting a number of bus lines running east, south and west of downtown and connecting Union Station to Webster Square via the Canal District and South Worcester.

The current route 7 bus follows a twisted path southwest out of City Hall and provides front door service to the Family Health Center of Worcester on Queen St. (route 6 also serves the Family Health Center at Chandler St., 2 blocks away). Route 7 then travels south down Park Ave. (the only current bus route that travels any segment of Park Ave.) to Mill St., ending at Washington Heights Apartments.

The proposed 0716 preserves the Mill St. segment and extends this line further out Mill St. to June St., where it then travels the entire length of June St. to Newton Square.
 

Detail of West Side Segment of Proposed Bus Route 0716 (Blue) and Other Proposed Bus Routes (Purple)

 At Park Ave., the line is rerouted through Webster Square and then travels along Cambridge St., through Brosnihan Square and then along Harding and Water Sts. to Union Station. 



Detail of Webster Square to Union Station Segment of Proposed Bus Route 0716 (Blue) and Other Proposed Bus Routes (Purple)

Heading east out of Union Station, the line follows the current path of the route 16 bus up Grafton St. to Billings Square, east along Hamilton St., then north along Lake Ave. The proposed line terminates at the Lake Quinsigamond stop of the AIRLINE BRT system. The current route 16 bus continues on from here to Lincoln Plaza via Plantation St. I am working on a "North Loop" that will incorporate this segment.

Detail of East Side Segment of Proposed Bus Route 0716 (Blue) and Other Proposed Bus Routes (Purple)