Brookline Ends Eastbound Bus Lane on Washington Street

Select Board · Meeting of August 11, 2026

Brookline's Select Board voted to end the eastbound bus-only lane on Washington Street, closing out a years-long transit pilot over driver-compliance problems. The board, chaired by David Pearlman, authorized the town administrator to sign an updated agreement with MassDOT after staff said the lane, despite producing real time savings for the MBTA's 60, 65 and 66 bus routes, drew more than 100 complaints over merging conflicts near Brookline Village. Member Amanda Zimmerman asked staff to keep exploring eastbound alternatives with the MBTA "to improve the flow." Separately, the board approved $24,016 in salary adjustments for police and fire command staff funded by the 2026 override, declined to renew a lodging house license at 1459 Beacon Street over an unresolved structural violation, and voted to affirm removing three trees, including a nesting site for a protected Eastern screech owl, at the MBTA's Brandon Hall station, conditioned on "best efforts" to install $212 worth of owl boxes beforehand.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,803 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of August 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.