Throwing the MBTA under the bus

REVERE – Former city councilor William Bell says he sees so many people stranded while waiting for buses that he?s decided to do something about it.Bell, 72, has gathered together customers to begin a private bus service from downtown Lynn to Revere. The route would be to and from Market Square to the Wonderland MBTA station on the North Shore Road side.Bell said he needs about 10 people per trip in a 12-to 14-passenger van and has collected 35 interested names with their contact information.The service would run from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays Monday to Friday, and reservations for pre-arranged transportation are required. Bell plans to hire someone either as a driver or as a partner.He wants to do this because of what he sees is a big problem with bus transportation, especially after this past winter, when problems in this area were widespread.?I?ll always be on time. I see so many people stranded here,” he said, pointing to a bus stop. “People are also always looking to save money.”Bell travels via bus and said the bus operators are friendly, but that the administration is too far removed from its customers. By law, drivers can only fit a set number of passengers, and sometimes have to defer riders to the next bus.?I, along with many others, am disgusted with MBTA management,” Bell said. ” Instead of whining to deaf ears. I, unlike others, am going to do something about the poor service.”Bell said it is not the first time he has worked alongside the MBTA.He began the commuter parking lot in Wonderland Greyhound Track for MBTA commuters, and said it was an instant success.?Hundreds of commuters parked at my lot, as I gave much better service than the MBTA vendor at the time,” Bell said. “The parking lot business cost me about $10 to start. This bus service will cost a little more to start, but it will work.”Also, he intends to provide Market Basket transportation for Revere residents only from their home to the store five days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.?I think there?s a need. Cabs are $15 each way,” Bell said. “That?s crazy. As for why there, Market Basket prices are the cheapest for consumers, and I love their operation. But if they wanted to go to Price Rite in the same plaza or another store, I?d take them there, too.”He previously ran Bell Transportation, where he transported the disabled to Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford in an old station wagon during the 1990s. Bell also worked valet parking at Logan Airport.He said potential customers to whom he spoke to complained of the 20-minute wait time between buses and the lack of overhead shelter for the rain and snow, adding that he?s never late in life.He said if there?s a need he?ll drive commuters into Boston.Bell said he?s not in this to make a profit, but to help the community as a two-time cancer survivor.?I survived six melanoma operations and beat lymphoma, where I was hospitalized at Massachusetts General Hospital for 11 months” he said. “I?m very lucky.”Bell, who was Revere?s first consumer affairs director, said he recently turned down an MBTA driver job for this opportunity.For information, email [email protected], or call 781-289-4200.