Brookline Shuttle Study Survey Closes Oct. 31: How to Weigh In

Brookline residents have until Saturday, October 31, 2026, to fill out a survey for the town’s Community Shuttle Study, which is looking at whether a town-wide shuttle could help people who don’t drive reach medical appointments, jobs, schools and town services. The town’s Planning and Community Development Department has hired Stantec Consulting to do the work, with a final report expected by spring 2027.

The survey is online through the town’s Community Shuttle Study page, and paper copies are available at the Planning Department office in Brookline Town Hall at 333 Washington Street, according to the Brookline Record, which cited an October 15 town announcement. A virtual Mobility Needs Assessment Forum was held on Wednesday, October 21.

What the Brookline shuttle study will look at

According to the Brookline Record’s summary of the town announcement, Stantec will:

• Estimate potential ridership for a community shuttle.
• Prepare sample routes that balance how much of town a shuttle covers with how often it runs.
• Compare different models for operating the service.
• Identify possible funding sources.
• Explore expanding existing shuttle services.
• Scope out the staffing or board structure needed to manage a shuttle program.

Planning Director Kara Brewton described shuttles as a practical way to connect gaps in transit service for people who don’t drive or own a car, and said the study will help the town understand the extent of those gaps and possible solutions, the Brookline Record reported. Senior Planner Maria Morelli is managing the project.

How the study is paid for

The study is funded by a state Housing Choice Grant. The October 15 announcement lists the grant at $49,000, while the town’s shuttle study webpage lists a budget of $49,900, according to the Brookline Record. Housing Choice grants are part of the Commonwealth’s Housing Choice Initiative. The Brookline Record reported that the grant is available only to municipalities that comply with the state’s MBTA Communities law, and Mass.gov lists Housing Choice grants among the state funding programs tied to compliance with that law. The Brookline Record also reported that Brookline gained access to Housing Choice grants after the town’s Building Department documented 772 net new housing units permitted between 2018 and 2022, citing a July 2023 town administrator’s newsletter.

The shuttle study is separate from MBTA service planning. Any shuttle the town might launch after the study would still need decisions on funding, an operator and governance, which are among the questions Stantec has been asked to scope.

The MBTA Communities law, Section 3A of the state Zoning Act, requires those communities to have at least one zoning district of reasonable size where multifamily housing is allowed by right. Brookline adopted a multifamily overlay district for that purpose, and the zoning is referenced again in this fall’s Town Meeting warrant, which includes a related overlay proposal for 26 Pleasant Street in Coolidge Corner.

Brookline’s transit today

Brookline is served by the MBTA Green Line’s C branch along Beacon Street and D branch through Brookline Village, Brookline Hills and other stops, along with bus routes including the 66, which runs between Harvard and Nubian squares through Brookline Village and Coolidge Corner. Riders using the Green Line should also check upcoming disruptions in our guide to MBTA service changes in November 2026.

How to weigh in

• Online survey: on the Community Shuttle Study page of brooklinema.gov, open through October 31.
• Paper survey: pick up a copy at the Planning Department office, Brookline Town Hall, 333 Washington Street.
• Questions: contact the Planning and Community Development Department through the town website.

Other regional transportation news includes Boston’s approval of 887 new Bluebikes e-bikes, a system that also has stations in Brookline.

Sources

• Brookline Record: Brookline launches shuttle study, seeks rider input by Oct. 31 (Oct. 16, 2026): survey deadline, Stantec scope, grant amounts, quotes.
• Mass.gov: Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities: Section 3A rules and funding eligibility.
• MBTA: Route 66 schedule: route between Harvard and Nubian.

Additional sources

• Town of Brookline: Current Town Meeting Files: fall warrant.
• Bluebikes: How Bluebikes works: participating municipalities.