By Carol Britton Meyer

A second bus will run on the MBTA’s 714 bus route from Hingham to Pemberton, starting on Easter Sunday as part of a one-year pilot program.

The next day, on Monday, April 6, Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce President Steven Greenberg will be handing out stickers promoting the town’s 250th celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence to all riders at no charge. These stickers will be on sale for $2 each at a later date as part of the 250th fundraising effort.

In addition to a second bus, the route has been expanded to add stops at the Nantasket Junction station on the Greenbush commuter rail line, located on Summer Street in Hingham. Having two buses on the route between Pemberton Pier and the connection to the Station Street in Hingham – where passengers can board the 220 route to Quincy Center – means one bus every half hour, allowing greater connectivity to the commuter rail system and the ferry, Greenberg told the select board last week.

For seniors (age 65 and older) with a Charlie Card, the cost is 85 cents per ride.

“Using the bus keeps traffic down and eliminates the need to find parking,” he said.

As is the case with the existing bus-to-boat connection, not all buses will align with all trains or boats, so it’s important for riders to check the schedule on www.mbta.com or the MBTAgo app. A Charlie Card charging station is located at Shipwreck’d at Pemberton Pier.

“Improving the connection to the boat and the train makes Hull an easier place for residents and visitors to experience without burdening our crowded streets,” Greenberg told The Hull Times in response to a follow-up email. “This is another step in the boat to the bus-to-the-beach-and-back tourist program the Chamber is working on. Improved public transportation is good for the environment and the economy.”

Greenberg said this new pilot program was a “real team effort” among the MBTA, town manager, the Chamber, and state representatives “and the direct result of the town’s willingness to participate in the new bus stop [rather than flagging] program.” Select board member Jason McCann also played a role in this effort.

“I am grateful to see additional commitment to the 714 bus route through more frequent runs and a stop at Nantasket Junction,” state Rep. Joan Meschino said in a press release issued by the MBTA. “This is crucial to ensuring we create easy options for the ‘last mile,’ connecting individuals who take the ferry and commuter rail to their homes, schools, medical facilities, grocery stores, places of worship, and jobs. This makes our community more livable and shows the MBTA’s understanding of the region’s unique transportation needs.”

The pilot program is more likely to be continued at the end of the one-year period – and could become permanent – depending on the ridership numbers, he said.

Town Manager Jennifer Constable expressed her appreciation to Greenberg and the Chamber for their transportation advocacy over the years.

“The more people participate in the program, the more likely we will be to keep it,” she said.

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