The MBTA's real-time broadcasts of bus crowding data have been expanded to 23 bus routes, including the 111 to Chelsea.
Crowding information is now available for buses running on routes 1, 8, 10, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 44, 66, 70, 71, 73, 77, 86, 104, 108, 109, 110 and 111.
A screenshot of the Transit app showing crowding data for buses on Route 111 in Chelse
The crowding data come from automated passenger counters (APCs), sensors installed at the front and rear doors that detect when someone boards or exits from the bus. Crowding levels are described as “Crowded,” “Some Crowding,” and “Not Crowded,” with standards based on lower crowding thresholds that allow for greater physical distancing on buses.
The information is included on the MTBA website and on the Transit app alongside real-time bus arrival and departure information, making it possible for riders to see, if one bus is too crowded, how long they may need to wait for less crowded buses to arrive.
"A lot of these historic maps illuminate modern-day mobility issues," says Garrett Dash Nelson, the President and Head Curator of the Leventhal Map and Education Center. "We want people to think, this isn't just about the past, but about building a more inclusive transit system for the future."