HINGHAM - May 12, 2026 - The Hingham Select Board unanimously approved a new fixed bus stop for the MBTA’s Route 714, signaling the end of the route’s traditional “flag stop” service. The move is part of a broader MBTA initiative to modernize the route, improve accessibility, and double the frequency of buses running between Hull and Hingham.
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For years, commuters utilizing the MBTA’s Route 714 bus have relied on an outdated “flag stop” system, standing by the roadside to wave down an approaching bus. That era is coming to a close. During Tuesday’s meeting, the Select Board approved the installation of a new, ADA-compliant fixed bus stop on Hull Street.
Alexander Anhwere-James, MBTA Director of Alternative Service Planning, and Liz Taylor, an MBTA planner, presented the Bus Stop Safety and Accessibility Project. Route 714 is currently one of only two remaining flag stop routes in the entire MBTA network. The modernization project will install approximately 24 pairs of fixed bus stops along the route, featuring 8-foot-deep landing pads to ensure wheelchair accessibility.
The Board approved “Alternative 2” for the Hull Street stop, located near an engineering building. This location was favored by Town Engineer J.R. Frey and the MBTA because it allows for the full 8-foot landing pad, avoiding the space constraints and structural complications of placing a stop on the nearby bridge. The Route 714 line has already seen major upgrades since April, including low-floor buses, GPS tracking, and a doubling of service frequency to every 30 minutes, seven days a week.
“There’s no physical bus stops on the route for majority of the route. You kind of have to stand on the side of the road and wave the bus down like this, and the bus will stop for you, which is not the safest, it’s not accessible, and it’s not in alignment with federal regulations... so that’s something that we want to eradicate and fix.” — Alexander Anhwere-James, MBTA Director of Alternative Service Planning [23:01]
