Boston, Massachusetts - Getting Around

Get around

Navigating Boston's streets is very hard if you are not familiar with the area. While other American cities have their streets laid out in a grid (New York, Chicago, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix), or along a river, lake, or other geographical feature (New Orleans, Cleveland), the modern streets of Boston are a twisty and seemingly incomprehensible maze. Boston in the 1600s was a narrow peninsula surrounded by farmland and distant settlements. Landfill, urban expansion, waves of radical economic change, and new technologies have seen sensible street patterns added on to and collide in less sensible ways. Due to dense development, the older street patterns have largely remained in place without being adapted to their modern surroundings. In this way, Boston is more similar to old European cities than large American cities that were well planned, expanded into unsettled land, or were mainly settled in the modern world.

Driving

Driving is to be avoided if possible. Boston is known as an excellent walking city, and has excellent public transit to the city itself and inner suburbs. Most tourist attractions are well served by the subway, and walking will allow you to see the sights.

Signage is generally poor, and the names of major streets are usually unmarked when crossing minor streets. There are many one-way streets, often arranged haphazardly. Street names are duplicated in different neighborhoods (due to municipal consolidations in the 1800s and early 1900s). Even Bostonians can easily get lost. Navigating from square to square (major intersections - usually not actually square or really any consistent shape) is one navigational technique. Some parts of the city are difficult to reach from other nearby parts, prompting the local expression, Ya cain't get theyah from hee-ah!

Avoid driving at morning or evening rush hour; highways and streets can become quite congested. (Peak times vary depending on distance from downtown.) Public transit also becomes very crowded at Rush Hour, and just before and after major sporting events and public celebrations.

If you do drive, watch out for double-parked vehicles, travel lanes that suddenly become parking lanes, lanes that disappear as you cross intersections, jaywalkers, and bicyclists coasting through red lights or lane splitting. Give taxi drivers extra room; do not pass trolleys stopped in the middle of the street when the doors are open. Allow buses to merge back into traffic instead of trying to pass them quickly. If you encounter train tracks in the road, be aware that they can be slippery, especially when wet. Hold the steering wheel tightly to avoid being dragged off course. If you encounter a rotary, remember that Massachusetts state law gives the right of way to traffic in the rotary. (You do know what a rotary is, right?)

The only toll road in the area is the Massachusetts Turnpike (various prices depending on entrance and exit), including the Ted Williams Tunnel coming back from Logan Airport. The Sumner Tunnel from the airport to downtown Boston is a $3 toll, as is the Tobin Bridge on Route 1 headed southbound toward downtown.

Parking

Parking can be expensive, up to $40/day downtown on a weekday, though $20 and $7 deals can be found if you are willing to walk. Most cheap or free street parking is permitted as resident only and requires a special sticker, or is metered and has a 2-hour time limit.

Parallel parking is a necessary skill for street parking. Believe it or not, you can park in a space that is only a few inches larger than your car, if you don't mind scrapes on your bumpers and take advantages of the bounciness of cars' suspensions.

Garages are located at Quincy Market, the Aquarium, the new State Street Financial Center, the Theater District and the Boston Common. There are three levels of parking under the Common. The garage is very clean and its central location makes it a good starting point for a day trip in the city. To get in and out of the garage, there are four pavilions on the Common; each has stairs and an elevator. Once out of the garage, the Park Street and Boylston Street subway stops are only a two or three minute walk away.

As a rule, if you think you may be illegally parked, you probably are. Read the street signs very carefully. Watch for street cleaning, resident-only parking zones, and commercial parking zones - all of which will vary depending on the day and time. Parking meters are enforced heavily throughout the city. Meters in different parts of the city will turn off at different times (ie. 8 pm downtown or 6 pm in many other neighborhoods). A broken meter entitles you to the posted time limit without having to pay.

Public transit

Public transit in Boston is convenient and relatively inexpensive, and can take you directly to most everything. A single public transit agency serves the Boston Metro area, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA, or the T for short). The MBTA is the fourth-largest transit system in the U.S. For complete schedules, maps, and other information, see their official website at http://www.mbta.com.

After decades of using tokens for fare payment, the entire MBTA system was converted in 2007 to an electronic CharlieCard and CharlieTicket system. Dispensing machines at all stations accept cash, credit cards, and debit cards. If you go straight to a dispensing machine, you'll get a paper CharlieTicket with magnetic stripe. If you have time, first ask an attendant at any underground station for a plastic CharlieCard, which is a contactless smart card. The Card is free and will give you a discount on all subway and bus fares, and it's the only way to get free transfers to and from buses.

Bicycles are sometimes welcome on the MBTA. Bikes are allowed on the Blue, Red, and Orange subway lines except at peak hours, but are not allowed on the Green and Silver lines. Bikes are always allowed on MBTA buses that are equipped with bike racks. The MBTA is currently installing bike racks on many bus routes - check the MBTA website for the latest updates. Bikes are allowed on MBTA boats and ferries at any time. On commuter rail trains, they are allowed anytime except weekday rush hours, as noted on individual train line schedules.

The T consists of several components: subway, bus, water shuttles, and commuter rail.

Full-color system maps are available at major stations; you may need to ask an agent if you would like one. They are extremely useful for locals and travelers getting a bit off the beaten track, because they show all bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, and boat lines. Most of the T maps you will see only show the rapid transit lines, which are identified by color. If you have a color printer, you can even make one yourself by printing the PDF version online. (Front, back.)

Subway (or the T)

The subway is composed of four color-coded rail lines. The Red and Orange lines travel generally north-south; the Blue and Green lines travel generally east-west. Google Earth has the subway lines built into its map of Boston. Google Maps has all the Red, Orange, Green, and Blue subway stops marked with an M icon, with the line listed if you click on the icon. Short of particular non-touristy spots in the suburbs, the subway can get you anywhere.

The Green Line splits into four branches going west that are known as the B, C, D and E lines (from north to south). Going west on the Green Line, the E line branches off at Copley Square station, the other three split at Kenmore Square station. Just after the lines split, these lines all run above ground and become streetcar lines. The B line branch of the Green Line runs through Boston University and ends at Boston College; therefore, during the school year, B-line trolleys are often very crowded with students, particularly at night. The B, C, and D lines all run near Fenway Park and get heavy usage before and after Red Sox home games. The T usually does a good job at running extra trolleys to accommodate the heavy load; nevertheless, during the baseball season, visitors may want to keep in mind that they will be facing large crowds if they travel near the Kenmore and Fenway stations those days.

The Red Line splits in two directions going south that are known as the Braintree and Ashmont branches, the latter of which connects to a streetcar line to Mattapan. Going south, the Red Line splits at JFK/UMass station.

When Bostonians say that they use the T, they're almost always referring to the subway, though the other modes of mass transit (bus, commuter rail, etc.) are still technically part of the T. While the MBTA refers to the Silver Line as a subway route (it appears on subway maps), most Bostonians consider it part of the bus system.

The subway system is slightly confusing in that directions are often marked inbound and outbound, rather than with a destination. Inbound means into the center of Boston, where all four lines converge at four stops: State (Blue and Orange), Park Street (Red and Green), Government Center (Blue and Green), and Downtown Crossing (Orange and Red). Outbound means away from the center of Boston. Once one is in the center, signs generally give the direction (eastbound) or the last stop on the line in that direction (Alewife). All trains are signed with the last stop in the direction they are headed, and this is the best way to know if you are going in the right direction. Note that most Green Line trains don't go all the way to Lechmere; most turn around either at North Station or Government Center. If you are traveling farther than Government Center, your best bet is to get on the first train that comes, and then wait at the stop you get kicked of the train at for the next Lechmere or North Station train. (Depending where you are, Lechmere trains might not stop there.)

Note that subway and light rail service generally stops between midnight and 2AM. Each line (Green, Blue, etc.) has a last train time, starting at one end of the line and going to the other. Check the schedule in advance if you are going to be out late. Sometimes the last train is delayed due to passenger load or the need to wait for the last connection from another line, so you might get lucky if you are running late. Check with a T employee near the faregates to see if you've missed the last train or not.

Unlimited-ride subway and bus passes are available from the T. If you're going to be riding a lot around town, these are worth investigating. See http://www.mbta.com/fares_and_passes/ for complete fare information on passes. A Visitor's Pass costs $7.50 for 1 day, $18 for 3 days, and $35 for 7 days (or, instead, locals use their 1-Day LinkPass for $9 or 7-Day LinkPass for $15). The 7-Day LinkPass is valid for 7 days from the date and time of purchase. The LinkPass gives you unlimited travel on Subway, Local Bus, Inner Harbor Ferry, and Commuter Rail Zone 1A. (Note that Commuter Rail and boats do not accept CharlieCards, so you must use a CharlieTicket for these services.)

The cost of a one-way ride on the MBTA Subway is $1.70 plus FREE subway and local bus transfers (if done on a CharlieCard), or $2.00 if done on a Charlie Ticket or paying by cash. This will get you to most destinations. Parking at the Alewife station on the Red line is ample but will cost you $5 no matter when you come and go (for each 24 hour period). Riverside Station just off I-95 has plentiful parking for $3.75 for ALL DAY. Additional suburban parking is available in Quincy, Braintree, and many Commuter Rail stops.

Bus

Regular bus service (the vast majority of buses) is usually slower than rapid transit, but is also cheaper and may take you closer to your final destination. Express buses are faster, more expensive, and travel longer distances. CharlieCard users get free transfers and pay $1.25 for regular bus, $2.80 for Inner Express, and $4.00 for Outer Express (check the schedule to know which line is which). Charlie Ticket or cash customers pay $1.50 for regular bus, $3.50 for Inner Express, and $5.00 for Outer Express, with no free transfers.

Note that the Silver Line is split into two discontinuous segments. The Waterfront portion (South Station and east) is considered part of the subway system, and has free underground transfers to the Red Line. The Washington Street portion is considered part of the bus system, and has the lower fare.

Water shuttle

The MBTA runs a number of water shuttles[1], but the most useful for tourists is the shuttle from Long Wharf to Navy Yard[2], which costs $1.70. This provides a convenient connection between the USS Constitution Museum and the area around Faneuil Hall and the New England Aquarium. There's also a shuttle from Long Wharf to Logan Airport, but it runs relatively infrequently, so the Blue Line is your best bet for getting between these two destinations.

There are also non-MBTA public ferries available from several ports, notably the Aquarium and Long Wharf, and a water taxi service on the waterfront.

Commuter rail

Commuter rail [3] in Boston is primarily used for traveling to towns outside of the city. Due to its limited frequency compared to the subway, it's not recommended for travel within the city itself. Commuter rail fares range from $1.70 to $7.75, depending on the distance traveled. Tickets can be bought on board trains, but at a slight surcharge.

Trains heading north of the city leave from North Station, while those heading south or west leave from South Station. Both stations have connections to the subway: North Station is on the Green and Orange Lines, and South Station is on the Red and Silver Lines.

As noted above, `the two stations are not directly connected. You cannot board a train north of the city and take it to a point south of the city. Such a journey will require a subway ride in-between train trips to make the connection. If you want/need to plan a trip from a point North of the city to a point South or West (i.e. going from Salem to Worcester or Providence), you can manage with a single connection. All but four of the commuter rail lines (Greenbush, Kingston, Plymouth, Middleborough/Lakeville, and Fairmount) stop at Back Bay Station just after they leave South Station. Also, there are a few Franklin/Forge Park trains on weekdays that run via the Fairmount line and also will not stop at Back Bay. Because Back Bay Station is on the Orange Line, you can connect to there from North Station by boarding a single train. NOTE: Commuter Rail schedules are not designed with these kinds of connections in mind. They are relatively easy, but take care to double-check all schedules before you do this.

There has been talk of building an underground tunnel to connect the two stations, but this is not expected to happen for decades, if ever.

Taxi

Your current alternative to late-night public transit is a taxi. Taxis can be hailed at any significant street corner, such as Kenmore Square or Copley Square. Expect to spend at least $5 and possibly up to $30 in the immediate surroundings (this includes the initial fare, a small tip for the driver, small one-way streets, bad traffic, construction, tolls for bridges, tolls for tunnels, tolls for the Mass Pike, and any wait time). To get further out of Boston, expect to spend much more (for example, from the airport to Wellesley,` a Boston suburb, would be around $80, which includes the actual driving and tolls along the way).

By foot

Boston's downtown core is compact and easily walkable. Most tourist attractions can be visited on foot, although some neighborhoods require rail and or bus connections. The climate is cold from December to April, and the city, contrary to Chicago's slogan, is the most windy in America. Snow can also be an obstacle.

If late at night, you feel you can deal neither with the cost of a taxi nor the wait involved with the MBTA, then Boston is a relatively small and safe city and walking is an option. Just remember to use the same sense you would in any city.

By bicycle

Many Boston residents use bicycling as their primary mode of transit all year round, and Boston's small size and relative flatness make biking an appealing way to get around. Boston lacks many amenities for bicyclists, however, as the roads are covered with potholes and absent of designated bicycle lanes or bicycle racks, so visitors wishing to travel by bicycle should have excellent urban riding skills prior to renting a bicycle. Riding on the sidewalk is illegal in the city of Cambridge, and frowned upon in Boston, and being well-lit in the evenings is important both for following regulations and for being safe. Recent efforts by Mayor Thomas Menino promise increased city investment in bicycling as a viable mode of transportation, and the mayor himself has taken up biking around town.

• Boston Bicycle Cambridge Bicycle [4] +1 617-236-0752 $25/day
• Urban AdvenTours [5] +1 800-979-3370>Offers guided bicycle tours for various skill levels.
• Critical Mass [6] A free-form, free, slow ride for bicycle advocacy the last Friday of every month. Boston's Critical Mass draws hundreds of riders a month and has no fixed route, but allows a great way to meet a slice of the city's cycling community and see Boston by bicycle without the stress of traditional riding.