Reimagining Public Transit in Worcester - Route 0131, aka "The Loop"

Today we take a look at reimagining the WRTA's existing bus routes Route 1 - City Hall to Mt. St. Ann via Providence St. and Route 31 - City Hall to Lincoln Plaza via Grove & W. Boylston Sts.

Current Bus Routes 1 and 31 Reimagined and Overlaid (Blue) on the proposed AIRLINE BRT System (Red), Visitor Trolley (Green) and other Proposed Bus Routes (Purple)

Routes 1 and 31 Reimagined and Overlaid (Blue) on the proposed AIRLINE BRT System (Red) and Visitor Trolley (Green). Other Proposed Bus Routes deleted for clarity

 The proposed combined routes 1 and 31 function as "The Loop," connecting a number of bus lines running in all directions out of downtown and serving to compliment the connecting services provided by the proposed Route 0716 - "South Loop."

The proposed route follows the same route as the current route 1 bus with the exception that it does not provide service between Union Station and City Hall. The current route 31 bus provides service from City Hall to Lincoln Plaza via Grove, West Boylston, and East Mountain Sts. The proposed route builds on the current outer loop service provided on East Mountain St. by extending the east side service southward to UMASS Memorial - University Campus and on to Rice Square via Plantation St. and shifting the current West Boylston St. service west and creating a west side loop via Assumption and Worcester State University.

On the east side of Worcester, the route diverts from the existing route at the intersection of Clark and East Mountain Sts., where the proposed route continues southeast along NE Cutoff until it intersects with Boylston St. The route then travels briefly inbound on Boylston St. (connecting service to Lincoln Plaza via Route 2633) until it intersects with Lincoln St., where it then heads outbound on Lincoln St. to Plantation St. The Route then heads south on Plantation St., providing service to UMASS Memorial - University Campus and the AIRLINE East BRT service.

Detail of NE Segment of Proposed Bus Route 0131

After crossing Belmont St./Route 9, the route continues south on Plantation St., intersecting with Hamilton St. (Route 0716), and terminating at Rice Square (Route 0205 and Route 0622).

Detail of East Side Segment of Proposed Bus Route 0131

On the west side of Worcester, the route diverts from the existing route 31 at the Summit where it then heads west onto West Mountain St. and turns left onto Pullman St., serving Price Chopper. The route then continues south on Brooks St. where it serves Showcase Cinemas Worcester North.

Detail of NW Segment of Proposed Bus Route 0131

Presently, all auto traffic and buses serving the cinemas have to turn around and exit the cinemas via Brooks St. north to West Mountain St. as Brooks St. dead ends at the cinema.

Section of City Tax Map Tile M08 Showing Abutting Brooks St. Dead Ends, the Showcase Cinemas Building is Shown in Yellow

However, it appears that Brooks St. south did at one time continue straight through to Ararat St., and it may be possible to construct a bus only connection between the abutting dead ends to allow for bus only through traffic. (I assume the dead ends were created when the cinemas were built so as to prevent auto traffic form overwhelming the more residential in nature south end of Brooks St. I agree that auto traffic should not be permitted on this segment of Brooks St., and a gate or other access control device should be installed so as to limit access to WRTA buses only).

The route then travels the I-190 access roads between Ararat St. and Shore Dr., and turns west on Shore Dr. to serve the west entrance to Norton, the Greendale YMCA and the Bancroft School.

Detail of Shore Drive Stops for Proposed Bus Route 0131

The route then turns south down Holden St. and turns west onto Nelson Place immediately before Holden St. intersects with Grove St. Nelson Place currently connects to the back of the campus of Assumption College.

Detail of Assumption College Connections for Proposed Bus Route 0131

While the connection does currently exist, it does not appear to be in use with any regularity. I believe the connection is gated and the end of Nelson Place is unimproved (private street?) and was in pretty rough shape about a year ago when I was exploring the area.

Section of City Tax Map Tile J15 Showing Unimproved Section of Nelson Place and Connection to Assumption College at Left

Like the dead ends on Brooks St., it appears that the gate exists to prevent Assumption College auto traffic from overwhelming the primarily residential street. In addition to improving Nelson Place for through bus traffic, a gate or other access control device should be installed so as to limit access to WRTA buses only.

From Assumption College, the route travels along Flagg and May Sts., serving Worcester State University and crossing a number of radial routes out of downtown including Pleasant St. (Route 0324), Chandler St. (Route 0622), June St. (Route 0716), Park Ave. (Route 2327) and Main St. (Route 2633).

Detail of West Side Connections for Proposed Bus Route 0131

 At Main St., the route continues along Hammond St. to Southbridge St., where it then heads downtown on Southbridge St., skirting the near east side of downtown along New Salem St. where it connects with the AIRLINE BRT System at the Junction District Station. The line then continues along McGrath Blvd. where it then connects to Union Station.

Detail of Downtown Segment for Proposed Bus Route 0131