At the time when Transport Kendall was originally published, bus service provided a third of all MBTA rides in the Boston Area, generating approximately 450,000 bus trips each weekday. While buses offer the opportunity to make connections outside the core rail system, In 2022, the MBTA adopted the Better Bus Network which seeks to improve some of the gaps noted in Transport Kendall, including the planned introduction of the T101 rapid bus service between Lechmere and Kendall/MIT before the end of the decade.

Additionally, as recommended in Transport Kendall, in January 2026 the MBTA extended service of route 64 to Kendall Square and re-introduced weekend service.

It has become increasingly challenging for Kendall Square businesses to attract the employees they need without increasing traffic. These gaps could be filled by new and improved bus services, more efficient use of the area’s private shuttle services, or by other incentives that make bus transit more robust and attractive.

ACTIONS

• Study bus priority treatments —Lechmere to Kendall Square

• Improve CT2/85 frequency and reliability

• Extend 64/70/70A into Kendall Square

• Increase EZRide shuttle service

• Implement new CT4 service

KSTEP: Expanded & Fare Free EZRide Service 

In 2024, the Kendall Square Transit Enhancement Program (KSTEP) supported the Charles River TMA by funding a pilot for all-day service for the EZRide shuttle in East Cambridge. This initiative is the result of a collaborative effort within the KSTEP Working Group, which provided $1 million to bring this vision to life. The EZRide connects commuters throughout East Cambridge to the Green Line and North Station, and previously only ran on weekdays during the morning and evening rush hours. With the commitment from KSTEP, the two-year pilot will extend the current schedule to include midday and weekend service and guarantees the continuation of free fares for all users. The pilot evaluation period began in June, 2025 and will run through the spring of 2027.