MBTA bus route 87

MBTA bus route 87
Name	Route 87
Operator	MBTA
Locale	Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts
Start	Central Square, Cambridge
End	Maverick Square, East Boston
Via	Massachusetts Avenue, Broadway, Chelsea Street
Length mi	6.4
Opened	1920s
Depot	Cabot Yard
Route number	87

MBTA bus route 87

MBTA bus route 87 is a public transit line serving Cambridge, Massachusetts, Chelsea, Massachusetts, and East Boston. It connects major nodes such as Central Square (Cambridge), Kendall Square, and Maverick Square while linking with rapid transit stations including Red Line and ferry terminals like the Boston Harbor ferry services. The route traverses corridors important for employment centers, residential neighborhoods, and regional connections to Logan International Airport and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Route description

Route 87 begins near Central Square (Cambridge) adjacent to Harvard Square-area corridors, proceeding east along Massachusetts Avenue and serving stops near Kendall Square, MIT, and the Charles River. It continues through Somerville, Massachusetts-bordering streets before entering Chelsea, Massachusetts via Broadway and Chelsea Street. The line terminates at Maverick Square in East Boston, providing transfers to Maverick station on the Blue Line and connections to surface routes serving Logan International Airport. Along the corridor, Route 87 interfaces with bus lines such as MBTA bus route 64, MBTA bus route 116, and MBTA bus route 111 and passes near institutions like Tufts University, Boston University, and cultural sites including Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston.

History

Service along the Route 87 corridor traces back to streetcar and early bus operations in the early 20th century when transit companies such as the Boston Elevated Railway and later the Metropolitan Transit Authority expanded surface lines. The modern 87 designation emerged in the mid-to-late 20th century as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority reorganized bus numbering after the formation of the MBTA in 1964. Infrastructure projects such as the construction of the Callahan Tunnel and the expansion of the Big Dig influenced routing and service patterns, while local redevelopment in Kendall Square and Chelsea changed demand. The corridor has been affected by regional events including the 1979 oil crisis and policy shifts under administrations like those of Massachusetts governors such as Michael Dukakis and Deval Patrick that supported transit investment.

Service patterns and schedule

Route 87 operates with headways that vary by time of day, offering frequent peak service to accommodate commuters traveling to employment hubs like Kendall Square and educational institutions including MIT and Harvard University. Off-peak and weekend schedules align with MBTA-wide service standards, providing transfers to heavy rail at stations such as Central and Maverick. The route’s timetable coordinates with seasonal adjustments associated with maritime events on the Boston Harbor and with airport schedules at Logan International Airport, and it is subject to service advisories issued by MBTA management during weather events like Northeastern United States blizzards and during public events in Cambridge, Massachusetts or Boston, Massachusetts.

Fleet and equipment

Buses assigned to Route 87 are maintained at MBTA yards such as Cabot (MBTA) and include low-floor, ADA-compliant vehicles from manufacturers like New Flyer Industries and Gillig Corporation. The MBTA’s procurement and replacement programs, influenced by funding sources such as federal grants from the Federal Transit Administration and state capital budgets overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, have introduced hybrid and clean-diesel models on comparable urban routes. Equipment includes real-time passenger information systems compatible with the MBTA’s CharlieCard and mobile fare payment initiatives, and vehicles are outfitted for winter operations amid conditions like Nor'easter storms.

Ridership and performance

Ridership on Route 87 reflects commuter flows between residential neighborhoods in Chelsea, Massachusetts and employment and educational concentrations in Cambridge, Massachusetts and East Boston. Performance metrics reported by the MBTA—such as on-time performance, passengers per revenue hour, and farebox recovery—are influenced by congestion on corridors like Massachusetts Avenue and traffic patterns near interchanges with Interstate 93. Comparative analyses reference system-wide trends seen on trunk routes including those connecting to the Red Line and Blue Line, and ridership has responded to regional developments like expansions in Kendall Square and shifts in commuting during public health events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Future plans and proposed changes

Proposals affecting Route 87 have been considered in MBTA planning documents and regional transit studies coordinated with agencies such as the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s service planners. Potential changes include adjustments to stop spacing to improve travel times, implementation of bus priority measures like bus rapid transit lanes on segments of Broadway or Massachusetts Avenue, and fleet electrification consistent with goals set by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Community engagement processes involving stakeholders from Cambridge City Council, Chelsea City Council, neighborhood groups, and institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology inform service redesigns, while capital projects tied to Reconnect the City-style initiatives and federal infrastructure funding influence long-term investments.

Category:MBTA bus routes