Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE–Friday, November 15, 2019 ~ OP-ED ~ Everett leading the way on mobility N By Mayor Carlo DeMaria ot quite three years ago, on a cold morning in early December, I directed my DPW and parking staff to begin placing orange cones down the side of Broadway, kicking off what was meant to be a week-long experiment to speed up the rides of thousands of Everett residents taking the bus each day to work and school. The Broadway bus lane was so successful that week that we quickly made it permanent and it has operated nearly every day since. Successful because over half of all people moving down Broadway during rush hour are on a bus and more Everett residents are on a bus during those hours than are in cars on Broadway. We were the first City in the Boston region to give priority to bus riders in this way. With a half dozen projects in Boston, Cambridge, Arlington and Somerville launching since then, Everett started a revolution. Cities from around the country and beyond have looked to us for guidance with their own similar projects. But what we really did that morning was to no longer look at our transportation problems as a congestion problem, but a MOBILITY problem. Because, after all, whether you’re trying to get to work, to school, or to your favorite lunch or coffee spot, what’s most important is your ability to get there quickly and efficiently, not whether you drove, rode a bike, walked, or took the bus. Using mobility as a lens we are continuing to lead the way locally and regionally. The success of the Broadway bus lane is now developing into a vision and action plan to develop gold standard Bus Rapid Transit all the way down Broadway. Fast frequent bus service running in unobstructed lanes from Malden to downtown Boston. My own advocacy with Mayor Walsh in Boston on this issue has led to a commitment for inclusion of bus lanes on Rutherford Avenue in Charlestown as part of a major reconstruction effort beginning next year. In Everett, we’re working with MassDOT and Encore Boston Harbor to include dedicated bus lanes through Sweetser Circle and down Lower Broadway as part of future redevelopment efforts. We’re also beginning design this winter on an extension of the Silver Line bus rapid transit system from Chelsea through Everett to Sullivan Square. Commutes that today take 45 minutes or more from Everett to Boston would be reduced to as little as 15 minutes. Regional advocacy is key. OP-ED | SEE PAGE 16 For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net
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