Updates

Years later, Transport Kendall continues to influence and guide transportation improvements in Kendall Square.

See some of the area’s recent projects and changes.


Bright Ideas from MIT Pedestrian Modeling Class

In 2025, the CRA partnered with MIT Professor Andres Sevtsuk to explore new ideas for improving Kendall Square with students from the course Modeling Pedestrian Activity in Cities. Students presented a variety of futures with an improved Kendall Square, with ideas ranging from a reimagined Main Street to creating new opportunities for nightlife. Browse through the students' final presentations below and get inspired!

This student team focused on making Kendall Square a whole-day and weekend destination for diverse users.

Team Members: Adeposi Adeogun, Angela Lei, Emily Canales, Joanna Chen, Olivia Avelino

This student team focused on turning Main Street into a "shared street" between Ames St and Broadway and enlivening the ground floors along its edges.

Team Members: Tyler Barron, Sheyla Chevarria, Nathan Klima, Joshua Oki, Facundo Soraire

This student team focused on envisioning a Grand Junction rail corridor and changes to the built environment around new stations.

Team Members: Becky Xu, Matthew Jarrell, Anna Morgan, Aaron He, Sophie Green, Victor Gabriel Dominguez

This student team focused on improving pedestrian connectivity between parts of the greater Kendall Square area.

Team Members: Erin Chen, Noel Loo, Takumi Kitamura, Deena Darby, Cameron Dougal, Anna Savino


Expanded & Fare Free EZRide Service

In 2024, the Kendall Square Transit Enhancement Program (KSTEP) collaborated with the Charles River TMA to fund a pilot for all-day service for the EZRide shuttle in East Cambridge. This groundbreaking 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 free fares for all users. The new service schedule launched in June, 2025.

State & local officials celebrate the launch of the now expanded and fare-free EZ Ride Shuttle Service.


Cover Image of the Grand Junction Transit Feasibility Study

Cover of the Grand Junction Transit Feasibility Study.

Grand Junction Transit Feasibility Study

In fall 2024, the CRA published its Grand Junction Transit Feasibility Study. The study directly forwarded one of Transport Kendall's main priorities.

The study provides a review of existing conditions and previously published studies, identifies feasible vehicle technology and frequency options for future commercial service, and outlines a conceptual two-tracked rail alignment compatible with the corridor's future multi-use path. The study also identifies conceptual station locations within the City of Cambridge and concludes with a summary of operational alternatives and approximate “order of magnitude” costs for each option.


MBTA Bus Network Redesign

The MBTA is currently implementing its first Bus Network Redesign plan in many decades. The first round of route changes occurred in December, 2024.

See the MBTA project page for the most recent updates.

Changes to the Bus Route 86 as of December 15, 2024


Cover image of A Better City’s ‘Positive Signals’ Report

Cover image of A Better City’s ‘Positive Signals’ Report.

Positive Signals

In February of 2022, A Better City (ABC) released the report Positive Signals: A Framework for Advanced Signals & Control for the MBTA Red & Orange Lines. The report examines the positive impact investing in signal infrastructure will have for riders and the MBTA in terms of reliability, safety, ridership, economic growth, and climate resiliency.


Transport Kendall was published in 2017. This page has been updated as of March, 2026.