The MBTA is proposing that every Route 70 bus run between Market Place Drive in Waltham and Kendall Square in Cambridge, and it will take public comment at a virtual meeting on Monday, Nov. 16, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., according to the agency's event listing.

The proposal would also rename four former express routes that serve Newton Corner and increase midday and weekend service on them. The MBTA describes the meeting as the last in a series held since summer 2026.

What would change for riders

The changes are Proposal 12 of 13 updates to the Bus Network Redesign, the agency's bus service expansion plan, adopted in 2022, according to the project page. At present, Route 70 ends at three points in Waltham, and most trips end at the Market Place Drive shopping center.

The 2022 plan would have run all Route 70 trips between Waltham Center and Kendall Square, which would have forced riders bound for Market Place Drive to transfer at Waltham Center. The new proposal reverses that part of the 2022 plan. Every trip would serve Market Place Drive, and Waltham Center would become a transfer point where several local routes meet a more frequent Route 70.

The MBTA also proposes simplifying the former express routes through Newton Corner, with more midday and weekend service:

  • Route 553 would become Route 53, serving Market Place Drive or Waltham Center from Woodland.

  • Route 554 would become Route 54 and extend from Waverley to Arlington Center.

  • Routes 556 and 558 would become Routes 56 and 58, each running between Waltham Center and Watertown Yard.

Routes 59 and 61 would get more service. Route 59 would run from Watertown Yard to Needham Junction, and Route 61 from Waltham Center to North Waltham.

How to weigh in, and what comes next

The meeting covers service in Waltham, Watertown, Newton, Arlington, Cambridge, Belmont and Needham. Registration is through Zoom, and the event is open to everyone. Spanish and ASL interpretation will be provided. Other accommodations or language help can be requested at publicengagement@mbta.com at least five business days before the event.

The MBTA says it will use public feedback to update the redesign plan. If the changes are approved, they would roll out with other bus network changes as bus operators, facilities and infrastructure become available. The project page gives no decision date or start date for the Route 70 changes.