That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to coordinate with the MBTA in finding ways in which to strengthen safety measures

O-3 FIRST IN COUNCIL March 3, 2025 City of Cambridge MAYOR SIMMONS COUNCILLOR AZEEM WHEREAS: Public transportation is essential for countless Cambridge residents, particularly for the many seniors who rely upon MBTA buses for mobility and independence; and WHEREAS: Some seniors have recently reached out to City Hall to report repeated incidents on the Route 78 bus at Harvard Square during the 3 pm hour, alleging that high school students utilizing the bus tend to crowd, shove, and harass elderly riders, sometimes necessitating police intervention; and WHEREAS: Bus operators have attempted to address these disturbances, but the lack of enforcement and security presence has allowed them to persist, making many of these seniors feel unsafe, and the absence of MBTA security personnel reliably situated in the stations at Harvard has contributed to a growing sense of vulnerability among senior riders; and WHEREAS: The City and the MBTA have an obligation to take measures to increase the safety that those utilizing the MBTA – especially seniors – rely upon so that they may access public transit safely and without harassment; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to coordinate with the MBTA in finding ways in which to strengthen safety measures, including: • Increasing Transit Police and security presence on buses and at key transit hubs, especially during peak student travel hours; • Deploying additional staff at bus terminals and train stations to deter disorderly behavior; • Providing more training and support for bus operators to manage unruly passengers; and • Establishing a formal reporting system for seniors to report safety concerns in real-time; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to communicate this policy order to the MBTA General Manager and relevant officials, urging swift action to improve safety for seniors and other vulnerable riders, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner.