Transit officials hope encouraging people to make the 15-minute walk from Boston to Cambridge will winnow bus crowds. Depending on the success of the experiment, they may plot a similar walking route in downtown Boston while the Government Center station is shut down for construction, which could happen as early as next year and last for two years or longer.
“Would you rather walk along the river or wait for a bus?’’ said Nina Garfinkle, of the pedestrian advocacy group WalkBoston, which helped the MBTA develop the walking project. “A lot of people who don’t walk don’t realize how walkable Boston is.’’
Garfinkle and Liz Levin, a member of the MBTA board who spearheaded the project, say the trip between many T stations takes less time on foot than some think. Besides, Levin added, they are surrounded by parks, historical sites, and other attractions that make for worthwhile walks.
Since the two Green Line stations closed at the end of May, shuttle buses have replaced the Green Line trolley between North Station and Lechmere. The shuttles leave every several minutes from the corner of Causeway and Haverhill streets, across from TD Garden. Riding them can take 15 minutes - or longer - depending on traffic, passengers say.
On foot, the way to Lechmere winds past the statue of Bruins legend Bobby Orr, the West End Museum, and the Nashua Street Park before reaching the Charles River. There, it runs parallel to the last remaining elevated streetcar line in Boston, passes the Charles River Esplanade on the right, and heads over the bridge past the Museum of Science.
Each of the landmarks along the path is described on a flier that officials plan to distribute at North Station and the Museum of Science. Small signs with arrows will point the way.
“We want people to move really well during construction,’’ Levin said as a transit worker unrolled a poster promoting the walking route. “The new signs show people a choice.’’
