Transit & getting around
Better bus, rail, ferry, bike-share and parking options for moving around the city.
Residents consistently ask for comfortable, weather-protected bus stops, more places to park, easier bike access, and more frequent, better-connected transit.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
197 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 74 | 6.1% | 5 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 65 | 5.4% | 5 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 58 | 4.4% | 11 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
Shelters, benches and weather protection at bus stops
Residents want seating, roofs and heat or cold protection at bus and T stops, especially for older adults, disabled riders and children waiting in extreme weather.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
More public and resident parking
Residents in East Boston, Chinatown, South Boston and other crowded areas ask for more parking lots, garages, spaces and meters, and say shortages hit low-income residents hardest.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Affordable bike access and secure bike parking
Residents ask for free or cheaper Bluebikes access, more stations and e-bikes, and covered, secure bike parking to make cycling a practical alternative to driving.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
More frequent service and expanded rail and bus links
Residents ask for more buses, more consistent service, new bus routes and rail extensions, such as the Orange Line to Hyde Park, Roslindale and West Roxbury, so neighborhoods have better connections.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Real-time arrival information
Residents want digital signs or timers at stops and stations showing when buses and trains will arrive, so riders can plan trips reliably.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
2024–25
Ideas ranged widely, with many requests for free parking lots near the T and in East Boston, bus stop amenities, Blue Hill Ave 45 bus detour fixes, and large rail and bus-route proposals.
2025–26
Heated, cooled and shaded bus shelters and parking requests (East Boston, Chinatown) were most common, alongside new ideas such as pedicab rides, a harbor circulator ferry pilot and free public transit.
2026–27
Benches and seating at bus stops stayed prominent, with new interest in quick-build bus platforms, more e-bikes in Bluebikes, EV chargers and ferry or shuttle pilots, while the theme fell to rank 11 of 20.
New in 2026–27
New or growing asks include quick-build floating bus stops and platforms, public EV chargers for renters, more e-bikes in Bluebikes, a pilot East Boston–Charlestown ferry, an Aquarium–Seaport electric shuttle, and lower fares.
Funding so far
The 2024-25 winning bench project addresses the recurring bench request, but full weather shelters, parking, bike-share and bike parking, real-time arrival information and more frequent service have not yet been addressed by a winning project.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
Install Benches at High Ridership Bus Stops
2024–25 · $150,000
This proposal will allow the City's Transportation Department to install benches at high-ridership bus stops across the City.
Departments that often lead this work
- Boston Transportation Department
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Transit & getting around
197 ideas
2024–25: 74 · 2025–26: 65 · 2026–27: 58
- Lower public transportation pricesResident asks for lower public transit prices to benefit the whole community.2026–27Dorchester
- Public EV charging stations in underserved neighborhoodsThe resident asks to use part of the budget for public EV charging stations in neighborhoods with limited access, especially for renters and multifamily residents without home charging.2026–27City-wide
- More seating at bus stopsResident asks for more seats at bus stops so people can sit while waiting.2026–27City-wide
- Paint parking spaces on resident parking streetsResident asks the City to paint marked parking spots on resident parking streets to remove awkward gaps, fit more cars and cut time spent searching for parking.2026–27City-wide
- More free parking lotsResident asks for more free parking lots so people can get around the city more easily.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- More handicapped parking spacesResident asks the City to create more accessible parking spaces for people with disabilities.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- More parking on Commonwealth AveResident asks for more parking along Commonwealth Avenue in Allston and Brighton.2026–27Brighton
- Quick-build floating bus stopsResident asks for quick-build floating bus stops to speed up buses, noting Black and brown residents benefit most from faster service.2026–27City-wide
- More buses and security on busesThe resident asks for funding for more buses and security staff because buses are often overcrowded and can feel unsafe, especially in underserved neighborhoods.2026–27City-wide
- Bus passes for students living outside the cityThe resident asks that schools provide M7 bus cards to students who live outside the city so they can get around.2026–27City-wide
- Task force on neighborhood parking concernsResident asks for a task force to address increasing parking problems in more crowded neighborhoods across the city.2026–27City-wide
- Free bikes and low-cost e-bikesResident proposes free bikes and e-bikes priced like manual bikes, with card holds for tracking and theft, to increase exercise, reduce traffic and ease strain on transit.2026–27City-wide
- Build benches at transit stops lacking seatingResident asks the City to use $2M to build benches at transit stops without seating, so less mobile residents can rest while waiting.2026–27City-wide
- Weather-protective shelters for 57, 86 and 65 bus stopsResident asks for heat and cold protective shelters at stops on the 57, 86 and 65 routes in Allston-Brighton, since all riders need shelter while waiting.2026–27Brighton
- More non-weaponized benches near Allston-Brighton bus stopsResident asks for more benches without anti-homeless design features near bus stops in Allston and Brighton.2026–27Brighton
- Insulated bus shelters with seating and native plantsResident asks for bus shelters that are heat and cold insulated with comfortable seating, surrounded by planters of native pollinator plants.2026–27City-wide
- More public transportationResident asks for more public transportation.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- More train service areasResident asks for more areas served by train transportation.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- More Bluebikes stations and larger existing stationsAdd Bluebikes stations and increase capacity at overfull ones to give underserved communities low-cost, sustainable transportation.2025–26City-wide
- Short-term garage parking at meter-like ratesResident asks the City to partner with parking garages to offer short-term rates comparable to street meters, easing limited parking and encouraging social gatherings in Boston.2025–26City-wide