Letter to the Editor
We urge the Brookline Transportation Board to support implementation of a pilot to test dedicated bus lanes along Washington Street, better known as Route 9, from High Street to the Boston line at River Road.
The proposed bus lanes, part of the Gateway East project, are an important opportunity to improve quality of life for those who live, work, and shop in and near Brookline. The proposal prioritizes movement of people, encourages sustainable modes of travel, and aims to reduce the number of cars and amount of fossil fuel emissions in Brookline.
The proposal is consistent with a growing trend in Brookline, as expressed through initiatives such as the 2019 Town Meeting Warrant Article on sustainable transportation, that the town’s transportation decision-making should prioritize social and climate justice. Bus lanes make our roads more just and inclusive. A high proportion of bus passengers in Gateway East are people of color, women, and from low-income households.