Conclusion

An equity analysis of MBTA bus routes based on measures of reliability, dropped trips, and overcrowding over the period 2015 - 2017 shows mixed results. In general, minority and low income bus routes show consitently worse performance for reliability and dropped trips, but these differences do not exceed the MBTA’s thresholds for determing disparate or disproportionate impacts. In contrast to the latter measures, overcrowding appears to be about equal or even less for minority and low income lines.

These systemwide patterns do not describe all routes. Route 111, an important transit connection for Chelsea with high percentages of minority and low income riders, shows better than average reliability, but is among the worst in terms of dropped trips and overcrowding.

The results of this analysis should be interpreted with caution. This analysis is based on the most recent data made available by the MBTA, but this data is incomplete. Ridership demographics - the basis of equity determiniations - are derived from the MBTA’s 2015-17 Rider Survey, which likely undercounts minority riders. Because of inadequate survey data collecton along a number of routes, the MBTA collapsed bus routes with high percentages of minority riders into a smaller number of aggregated routes. In addition, responses from non-English speakering riders, many of whom are likely to be minority, were almost completely absent from the survey. For a full and accurate account of the experiences of minority riders, and to determine whether vulnerable groups are experiencing disparate or disproportionate impacts, this data is needed.

Questions about this analysis should be directed to:
Marcos Luna, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Geography
Coordinator, Geo-Information Sciences Graduate Program
Salem State University
352 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970-5353
mluna@salemstate.edu
978-542-6487 (office)
978-542-6269 (fax)