Route Evaluation
ROUTE 109
LINDEN SQUARE TO SULLIVAN SQUARE STATION
Figure 4 | Route 109 Map
SERVICE DESIGN
Route 109 operates along Broadway and Eastern
Avenue, providing service between Sullivan Square
Station and Linden Square in Malden. The route
connects multiple commercial centers in Everett,
including businesses located along Broadway and in
Everett and Glendale Squares. Along with Route 104,
Route 109 provides high frequency service along the
Broadway corridor to Sullivan Square Station.
Figure 61 shows the Route 109 alignment, while Figure
62 indicates primary transfer locations.
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Figure 5 | Transfer Opportunities
SERVICE SCHEDULE
Route 109 operates standard service, with two minor variations in service pattern. On weekdays, nearly
all trips operate the full route between Linden Square and Sullivan Square. However, the first two inbound
buses depart from Glendale Square, and the first continues to downtown Boston as Route 92.
Additionally, a single inbound afternoon route (scheduled to depart Linden Square at 2:30 p.m.) does not
operate during public school vacation periods. On Saturdays and Sundays all trips travel the prescribed
route between Linden Square and Sullivan Square (Figure 63).
Route 109 has the second highest reduction in total trips between weekday and Saturday service among
bus lines serving Everett. The route also has the fourth highest reduction in total trips between Saturday
and Sunday service.
Figure 63 | Schedule Overview
Note: Peak periods are defined as 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
Source: MBTA route schedules
RIDERSHIP
Ridership by Service Day
Route 109 has the third highest ridership of any bus line that serves Everett (Figure 64). Approximately
46% of total weekday boardings and alightings on Route 109 occur at bus stops within the city.
Route 109 has the second highest reduction in ridership between weekday and Saturday service. The
route also has the third lowest reduction in ridership between Saturday and Sunday service.
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Figure 64 | Ridership Statistics
Source: MBTA performance data
Ridership by Stop
Most riders use Route 109 to travel between a location in Malden or Everett and the Sullivan Square
Station on the Orange Line:

Sullivan Square Station is the dominant trip generator and attractor: inbound, 75% of riders alight
at Sullivan Square, while 74% of outbound boardings occur at Sullivan Square.

Within Everett, ridership is strongest a bus stops located between Route 16 and Glendale
Square, include in Everett Square and at Broadway @ Hancock.
Figure 65 describes key local trip generators for the highest ridership stops in Everett. Figures 66 and 67
show boardings, alightings, and total passenger loads at each stop along Route 109. Figures 68 and 69
show Route 109 boardings and alightings by stop location on a map.
Figure 65 | Highest Ridership Stops and Key Trip Generators in Everett
*Ridership for Route 109 only.
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Figure 66 | Weekday Inbound Ridership by Stop Graph
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Figure 67 | Weekday Outbound Ridership by Stop Graph
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Figure 68 | Weekday Inbound Ridership by Stop Map
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Figure 69 | Weekday Outbound Ridership by Stop Map
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Ridership by Trip
Many Everett bus routes include Orange Line stations at both termini, and thus have relatively even
inbound and outbound demand during both the morning and evening peak period. On Route 109, Orange
Line transfers are available only at the southern termini. Therefore, Route 109 has significantly higher
inbound ridership during the morning peak and higher outbound ridership during the evening peak
(Figures 70 and 71). Like Route 104, outbound late night service on Route 109 is well utilized. Route 109
has low ridership turnover through the service day, as most riders board or alight at the route terminal at
Sullivan Square. Some early morning inbound trips and late evening outbound trips exceed the MBTA
maximum off-peak passenger-to-seat ratio (1.0).
Figure 70 | Weekday Inbound Ridership by Trip
Figure 71 | Weekday Outbound Ridership by Trip
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PERFORMANCE
Route 109 ranks as the second highest performing route of MBTA bus lines within Everett (Figure 72). On
nd
weekdays, Saturday, and Sunday, the route is ranked 2 in average passengers per revenue mile. On
weekdays and Saturday, Route 109 is ranked third in passengers per revenue hour and on Sunday rises
st
nd
to 1 out of all MBTA bus lines in Everett. On weekdays and Sundays, the route is 2 in average
rd
passengers per trip but falls to 3 on Saturdays. While being an average weekday route, Route 109 is
th
one of the best performing Sunday services with a ranking of 4 out of all MBTA bus lines in passengers
per revenue hour.
Figure 72 | Performance Measures
Source: MBTA performance data
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