Results Still Shaking Out for Burlington Town Election
Some open seats remain; others were filled by write-in candidates.
Some open seats remain; others were filled by write-in candidates.
Burlington voters returned Katherine Bond and Jeremy Brooks to the School Committee; a number of new Town Meeting Members are seated.
Burlington's April 11 election has open Town Meeting seats in Precincts 2 and 7. Here's how to run as a write-in β or vote for one.
Your final list of candidates on the ballot for the Burlington, Massachusetts, 2026 local election
A Warrant Article Summary for the January 2026 Town Meeting in Burlington, MA, which will take place on January 26.
A list of each elected and appointed body in the the town with a summary of its responsibilities
Burlington's town-subsidized Lyft program has grown 300% since 2023. The Select Board is now weighing changes to keep the program within budget.
Public transportation has taken on a new meaning in Burlington over the last several years.
Prior to 2020, Burlington operated the B-Line, a public bus route that ran between Lahey Hospital, the senior center, the mall, and other shopping areas, said Town Administrator John Danizio at the Select Board's April 27 meeting. However, this system became increasingly expensive and inefficient, costing approximately $250,000 annually at the end of its operation. The ridership had significantly dwindled, making the cost per ride unsustainable.
In an effort to continue serving Burlington residents who relied on the B-Line service, the town piloted a rideshare program in 2020 as a more flexible alternative to the fixed-route bus system. The program offers town-subsidized rides to seniors, the economically disadvantaged, and those with disabilities.
Riders pay the first $1, the town pays up to $10, and then riders are responsible for the remainder of the fare. The state collects a 20β΅ surcharge from riders for each ride originating in Burlington and returns 10β΅ of that to the town. These funds, which in 2024 amounted to $43,148.40, are put back to use subsidizing the program. (While the surcharge is scheduled to sunset in January 2027, the state legislature is currently considering whether to extend or eliminate this sunset clause or even increase the surcharge.)
The Lyft program, as it's become known, was initially funded through a revolving account that contained remaining balance from the B-Line program operations. Since then, said Danizio, the program has exploded.
In 2024, about 80 unique riders were taking roughly 1,600 rides per month. Today, that number has grown to 200 riders taking 4,200 monthly rides. Select Board member Sarah Cawley noted that ridership has grown 300% since July 2023, increasing every single month.
Currently the program features two tiers, with Tier 1 allowing 50 rides per month and Tier 2 allowing 35 rides per month. Up to 40% of participants are maxing out their ride allowances at the higher tier, said Danizio, and at today's usage, the budget for the program is projected to be $350,000 β exceeding the previous B-Line budget by 20%.
The Select Board and Town Administration acknowledged the need for a deeper look at Burlington's public transportation programming but also agreed that the Lyft program's growth is unsustainable. For this year's budget, which will be presented to Town Meeting starting on May 11, Danizio proposed a $250,000 budget for Fiscal Year 2027 with some programming changes to support the reduced allocation β a proposal supported by the Board with a 5-0 vote.
The Select Board and Town Administration will continue discussing what changes to make to the current programming, but such changes might include a reduction in ride limits for each tier, an adjustment of the per-ride subsidy amount, a tiered subsidy, or changes to the eligibility age. Danizio suggested disability and income requirements could remain as they are today. However, administrative costs would need to be considered as more oversight would be required to manage these new requirements.
In the long term, the Select Board and Town Administration said they'd like to take a deeper look at public transportation options in Burlington, exploring alternative transportation models, including a potential return to fixed-route service or even autonomous vehicles.
Easter and Passover in Burlington and beyond β egg hunts, brunch, movies, religious services, and more to fill your long weekend.
Burlington's Ways and Means approved two rounds of FY27 budgets β and issued a stark warning about the town's long-term financial sustainability.
Two School Committee candidates answered voter questions at Tuesday's COA forum β while two others were absent. Here's what was said.
Hive members keep the Buzz thriving.
Baseball, tennis, and lacrosse all won as Burlington returned from April vacation Monday, while volleyball dropped a close match at Woburn.
New England's first Project Lean Nation location is opening this summer in Burlington, offering clean meals, free nutrition coaching, and more.
Boys' lacrosse topped Swampscott and baseball split against Wilmington and Cambridge during a busy vacation week for Burlington.
While buyer caution is increasing, limited inventory continues to support home values and prevent a significant slowdown.Β
Some open seats remain; others were filled by write-in candidates.
Girls' lacrosse fell to Central Catholic while softball and baseball both dropped games to Wakefield on vacation Wednesday for Burlington.
Both varsity lacrosse teams fell Tuesday. Wednesday brings girls' lacrosse at Central Catholic, plus softball and baseball against Wakefield.
βNatureβs engineersβ are getting their time in the spotlight β The OARS-sponsored exhibit runs from April 24-May 24.Β
Girls' and boys' lacrosse both won, baseball rallied past Bedford in eight innings, and boys' tennis dropped a close match to Waltham over the holiday weekend.
How an unexpected visitor became a favorite friend
Burlington's Ways & Means Committee voted 12-0 on all DPW budget articles and recommended a major step toward transparent water and sewer financing.
Burlington's track teams rolled past Watertown and boys tennis topped Wilmington, while baseball fell in nine innings on a busy Thursday.
Burlington's Select Board and School Committee have voted to send a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) in the hopes of securing state funding for a new or renovated Burlington High School. In its first iteration, the BHS Building Committee worked with outside
Both varsity lacrosse squads beat Arlington on Wednesday. Ten Burlington teams take the field Thursday across baseball, volleyball, tennis, softball, and track.
A revamped "Leaders in Training" program aims to give middle and high schoolers real job experience, not just a summer task list.