Brookline is studying whether a town-wide shuttle could help residents who don't drive reach medical appointments, jobs and town services.
The Planning and Community Development Department hired transportation firm Stantec Consulting to explore service models and operating costs for a community shuttle, according to a town announcement posted Oct. 15. The study is funded by a State Housing Choice Grant available only to municipalities that comply with the MBTA-Communities Act.
Residents can weigh in at a virtual Mobility Needs Assessment Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. Registration is available through the town's Community Shuttle Study page. An online survey is also open through Saturday, Oct. 31. Paper copies are available at the Planning Department Office in Brookline Town Hall.
Planning Director Kara Brewton said shuttles could be a practical way to connect gaps in transit service, helping people who don't drive or own a car reach destinations like medical appointments, schools and workplaces. The study, she said, will help the town understand the extent of those gaps and possible solutions.
Stantec will estimate ridership, prepare sample routes that balance coverage with frequency, compare different service operations models and identify potential funding sources. The firm will also explore expanding existing shuttle services and scope out the staffing or board structure needed to manage a shuttle program.
The grant funding the work totals $49,000, according to the town's Oct. 15 announcement. The town's shuttle study webpage lists the budget at $49,900. Brookline earned access to Housing Choice grants after the Building Department documented 772 net new housing units permitted between 2018 and 2022, according to a July 2023 town administrator's newsletter.
Stantec is expected to deliver its final report by spring 2027. Senior Planner Maria Morelli is managing the project and can be reached at [email protected].
