MBTA Service Changes with the Most Impact on Watertown

The full list of changes, system-wide, can be found at https://www.mbta.com/forging-ahead

There will be no suspension on any active service routes in Watertown.

Watertown bus routes with 20% reduction in frequency effective Spring 2021:

57 – Watertown Square – Harvard Station

59 – Watertown Square via Needham St - Needham Junction via Needham St

70 – Market Place Drive or Waltham Center – University Park

71 – Watertown Square – Harvard Station

Watertown bus routes with 5% reduction in frequency effective Spring 2021:

554 – Waverly Square – Newton Corner

558 – Riverside Station – Newton Corner

Watertown bus routes to be consolidated effective March 2021:

Consolidate bus routes 502 to 504 – Watertown Via Copley and Newton Corner Express

Subway – Changes effective March 2021:

Frequency will be reduced by 20% on the Red, Green and Orange Line. This means that during peak travel, the wait time between trains will increase to 5 ½ minutes from the current 4 ½ minutes. Frequency on the Blue Line will be reduced by 5%.

Commuter Rail – Changes effective January 2021:

Service on all Commuter Rail Lines will be reduced. On weekdays, service will end at 9pm. In January, weekend service will be suspended for the Fitchburg Line serving Belmont and the Lowell Line serving West Medford. Five Stations (non in the greater Boston area) will close due to low ridership and available alternatives.

The Ferry – Changes effective January 2021:

Charlestown service will be suspended. Direct service Boston – Hingham will be suspended. Hingham/Hull service will be reduced.

The Ride – Changes effective Spring 2021:

Some trips will need to be booked 40 minutes ahead of time vs. the current 30 minutes. In addition, some RIDE trips may become premium trips, though the RIDE service boundaries would not change, and the premium service hours will be adjusted to match Commuter Rail hours of operation.