Through the diligent efforts of Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna and the generosity of HYM, developer of the Suffolk Downs project, Revere bus riders now have a new bench on Furlong Drive.
During her first year in office in 2015, McKenna made a motion to have an MBTA bus stop located near Stop & Shop and Target on Furlong Drive. The bus stop became part of the Beachmont Station bus route in 2018.
“When I was a schoolteacher, during inclement weather I would see residents walking with their bundles from Stop & Shop to Beachmont, so it was always a pet peeve of mine to get a bus stop there,†said McKenna. “It came to fruition in 2018.â€
Last week a new bench was installed at that very bus stop for riders.
“Now our bus riders will have a place to sit and wait for the bus,†said McKenna. “This has been one of my biggest motions besides the plastic bag and Styrofoam bans.â€
McKenna credited HYM Managing Director Thomas O’Brien and HYM official and former MBTA employee Dino DiFonzo for their efforts.
“They donated the bench, and it’s a beautiful bench,†said McKenna. “They called me last week to tell me your bench was in, and I said, thank you so much.â€