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Four Trips to Make the Most of the $10 Commuter Rail Weekend Pass

It's cheap. It's unlimited. It's time to take advantage.

From day trips to weekend getaways, our biweekly Traveler newsletter shows you the best of New England and beyond.

Picture this. It’s 9 a.m. Your head rests against the window as the landscape sails by in a blur of autumn colors, and the conductor announces that your stop is close. This might sound like a fantasy for Boston commuters reeling from recent MBTA snafus, but actually, this nirvana of public transportation can be yours. For only ten bucks, the weekend commuter rail pass lets you take as many rides as you want along the entire commuter rail network on Saturdays and Sundays. And with leaf peeper season in full swing, now’s the time to download the MBTA app, snag a rail pass, and exploit the hell out of it. Feeling overwhelmed by the options? Try one of these trip itineraries.

© Peabody Essex Museum. Photography by Aislinn Weidele of Ennead Architects.

Trip #1: Saltwater Sojourn

Hop aboard the 8:30 a.m. Rockport train and head to Manchester station . Tuck into a decadent brunch at Allie’s Beach Street Cafe —try the smoked salmon and boursin omelette!—and then walk an easy half mile to Singing Beach for a stroll. 

Next, catch the 12:20 p.m. Boston train . Disembark at the Salem station and enjoy an afternoon of art and architecture. Visit the Peabody Essex Museum , and poke around the House of Seven Gables ’ seaside gardens and colonial bedchambers. Cap off the day with oysters and fresh fish at Turner’s Seafood before boarding the 5:50 p.m. Boston train back to North Station .

The Extra Mile: If you’ve still got some gas in the tank, swap Turner’s for a drink at Jaho Coffee Roaster & Wine Bar before catching the 5:50 p.m. Rockport train . Get off at Gloucester , just in time for a sunset seafood dinner at the Gloucester House , which sits right on the harbor wharf. Take the 10:05 p.m. Boston train to North Station .

Mount Misery trail photo by Madeline Bilis

Trip #2: The Countryside Journey

Slip into your best walking shoes and take the 8:35 a.m. Wachusett train to Lincoln station . Cross the road to the commuter rail parking lot and walk the dirt road that runs along the railroad tracks. At the field, take a left into the Codman estate  (maps available here ) and wander the woods and wetlands. If you feel adventurous, hike west to Concord Road , turn left and briefly stroll down the road to St. Anne’s Episcopal Church , and pick up the trail to Mount Misery (download maps here .)

Once you’ve had your fill of forest, return to Lincoln station for the 11:19 a.m. Wachusett train and get off at Fitchburg station . Rehydrate with a triple dry-hopped “Zeus” IPA at River Styx Brewing and savor the Fitchburg Art Museum’s photography collection, which includes images by Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams. Double back to Fitchburg station and catch the 3:48 p.m. Boston train to North Station .

The Extra Mile: Board the 3:48 p.m. Boston train , take it to the  West Concord station and then treat yourself to an early farm-to-table supper at Saltbox Kitchen (open on Saturdays only) or Woods Hill Table (reservations are recommended). Then glide back home on the 6:57 p.m. Boston train .

Photo courtesy of New England Open Markets / Photo courtesy of New England Open Markets

Trip #3: The Stay-Cation

Pack breakfast, catch the 8:40 a.m. Haverhill train , and get off at the Wyoming Hill station . A 15 minute stroll through Malden to the intersection of Aaron Street and Fellsway East will deliver you to a parking lot for the Pine Grove Path . Pick up the trail and enter the Middlesex Fells Reservation for a foliage-rich hike to the Cascade , a 40 foot-tall horsetail-style waterfall. (Grab a map here .)

Retrace your steps to Wyoming Hill , take the 11:12 a.m. Boston train back to North Station , and then walk down the Rose Kennedy Greenway to South Station . Here, you’ll jump on the 12:50 p.m. Fairmount train to Blue Hills Avenue station . Refuel with a velvety, fruity beverage at Shea Butter Smoothies and take it to go, because the Lower Neponset River Trail is steps away. You can also jump on an old-school MBTA Mattapan Trolley and ride over to Central Ave , where you’ll find mouth-watering New American fare served in a tricked out garage at Steel & Rye . When you’re ready to head home, return to Blue Hills Avenue for the 4:36 p.m. Boston train .

The Extra Mile: Before heading to Blue Hills Avenue from South Station, pick up a Bluebike, take it on the train, and pedal along the entire Neponset Trail to its waterfront terminus in North Quincy! When you’re done, double back on the trail to the Butler Red Line station and head back into the city.

Photo of Armsby Abby provided

Trip #4: The Tale of Two Cities

Get on the 8:40 a.m. Worcester train . Take it to  Union Station , just a short walk from Armsby Abbey , where you’ll have your pick of savory brunch fare, or   the Hangover Pub , New England’s first bacon gastropub. Then try out the Worcester shopping circuit with a trip to Crompton Collective, where the city’s creators sell their own handmade gifts under one boutique roof.

Catch the 12:50 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. Boston train back to South Station and transfer to the 4:30 p.m. Providence train . You’ll roll into town just in time to try the exquisite mutton dan-dan noodles and blueberry miso bok choy at North . Then, once the sun goes down, find a spot by the river and take in one of this year’s final WaterFire shows . (The last one is slated for November 2.) Catch the 9:59 p.m. Boston train back home, or splurge with a night’s stay at Graduate Providence , where chic interior design meets Providence’s quirky film history. The recognizable “shaggin’ wagon” from Dumb and Dumber is often parked out in front.

The Extra Mile: If brunch doesn’t leave you in a caloric stupor, take the 12:50 p.m. Boston train to Framingham  to sample artisanal lagers and ales at Jack’s Abby and Exhibit A Brewing . Walk off the suds with a half mile stroll to West Natick station and catch the 3:14 p.m. train to South Station .

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MBTA Rail 17+

Track the mbta commuter rail, sealight llc, designed for iphone.

• 4.0 • 460 Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

iPhone Screenshots

Description.

Navigating the daily commute can be a hassle, but MBTA Rail is here to make your journey seamless. Designed exclusively for seasoned Commuter Rail commuters, this app provides comprehensive real-time information about your train's location and status. Please note that this app is not affiliated with the MBTA, Keolis, or MassDOT. Features: * Train location data: stay up-to-date with your train's current stop, next stop, GPS location, predicted arrival times, and vehicle speed. * Crowd-sourced updates: incorrect predictions? Delays mid-trip? Wondering about crowding? Engage with fellow passengers through the "Reports" feature. * Boarding Track Numbers: never miss your train with accurate boarding track information. * Interactive map: see your train's movement along with other trains on your route. * Historical data: access coach numbers, typical boarding tracks, and average on-time percentages. * Schedule view: predicted arrival times for each stop. * Service alerts: stay informed about delays, cancellations, track changes, and more. * Works seamlessly with CapeFLYER and Gillette Stadium special event trains. * Clean, User-Friendly Interface: Enjoy an ad-free, intuitive experience. Disclaimer: MBTA Rail sources data directly from the MBTA's real-time feeds using PTIS equipment installed on trains. We don't make predictions ourselves; this app simply presents the MBTA's data provided by MassDOT. Experience hassle-free commuting with MBTA Rail, your ultimate companion for navigating the commuter rail system. Terms of use: https://www.mbtarail.app/terms Privacy policy: https://www.mbtarail.app/privacy

Version 2.57.0

Ratings and Reviews

460 Ratings

Not reporting broading track information anymore

Love this app. Would give it 5 stars BUT for some reason the MBTA Rail App not posting “boarding track information” anymore. I’m using the newest iOS version from apple App Store. Using iPhone 12 max pro phone. And 5g for internet connection. I’m running iOS 17.2 I recently upgraded. Maybe this is why? I’m leaving south station. No trains a posting boarding track information. I take the Foxboro train. If that helps. Mark O

Developer Response ,

Hi - the MBTA had an issue a few weeks ago that prevented boarding track numbers from appearing in their data. The outage lasted a couple days but it’s since been fixed. Thanks for using the app!

Makes you into a commuting cyborg

This app has become the brains of my commute; I got to spend an extra five minutes playing Exapunks this morning since I could see my train was going to be late and I knew exactly where to stand for the double decker car so I could get a table. It has features not available from the MBTA API, such as train lateness trends, platform number likelihood (so you can decide where to stand in the station as you swig from that brown paper bag) and crowd-sourced reporting on timeliness and train car hygiene (“car number 2 smells like a squirrel died in a container of bad yogurt”). In summary, this app has earned its status as the only React Native app on my home screen. (Was going to deduct one star because no watchOS app yet, but then I remembered that using App Store reviews to coerce developers into adding pet features is a jank move.)

More than just train times

Worth the $5. I used Google Maps to find out if my train was running late. (Put in you parking lot for the train station and it will display fairly accurate times.) However if the trains are really late Google is less accurate. The reason to pay for this app is both most up to date train info from MBTA and passenger comments. So someone on the train will report what the conductor said & whether the train is now running smoothly or going slow. If you are trying to decide to drive in or take a later train it’s very useful.

App Privacy

The developer, Sealight LLC , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• User Content
• Identifiers
• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• Premium $2.99
• Premium - 1 month $0.99
• Premium 1 year $9.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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Filed under:

• Boston Transportation

Boston-area mass transit apps: 5 for helping navigate the T

These handy websites as well as applications through Google and Apple are best for navigating a system that can be full of delays

Navigating the Boston area’s buses, subways, trolleys, and commuter trains can be tricky. And, given the system’s chronic delays ( and the odd derailment ), it can be a real headache too. These five transit apps and websites—all available through a wifi connection on smartphones or through apps downloadable from Apple or Google—can help ease the pain.

Trip Planner . This is pretty much the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s official portal for navigating the T and commuter rail.

It allows users to plan trips hours, even days, in advance; and users can search for wheelchair accessibility and trips with the fewest transfers or the least amount of walking (“Best route” is the default search function). It can also warn of track work or other realities that might delay trips.

Track the T . Software engineer David Newton started this free website after relying on the 73 bus to get back and forth from his private-sector job in Cambridge. Buses would “bunch up three or four behind each other with the timetable mostly fictional,” he said over email. He seized on the MBTA’s 2009 decision to make its real-time bus information public, and developed this app.

It tracks subway, trolley, and bus arrivals to the real-time second. It is especially helpful for riders if they’re at a stop along multiple routes going in the same direction. Newton’s Track the T will tell them when the next bus or train is coming that’s going their way—even if it’s not the one they intended to take. It’s a lifesaver when time is tight.

Aira . In early May 2019, the MBTA announced a six-month test of this app, which aids low-vision and blind people in navigating the T. Aira uses smartphone cameras to guide users in real time through public spaces such as train and bus stations, according to the Boston Globe . Available through Google and Apple, Aira is free for the six-month trial, but monthly plans generally start at $24.

Transit App . The MBTA officially endorsed this free app back in 2016 . It basically mimics the agency’s own Trip Planner site via tapping into the MBTA’s real-time data for arrivals and departures.

Transit App will also list departure times for nearby transit, in case other modes are going toward the same place; and the app includes ride-hail and bike-share options too. Finally, if riders are worried about missing a stop, they can set up Transit App to ping them when the stop’s coming up. Bonus: Transit App works for dozens of other cities and regions.

ProximiT . This free app that Jeff Lopes developed is available only through Apple. It lists arrival and departure times of buses, subways, and trolleys in order of how close they are to a rider’s location and desired time of departure.

Basically, ProximiT is another way to draw real-time information for commutes. In that, it bills itself as a kind of personal assistant for commuters.

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Travel from the heart of campus to the heart of downtown boston.

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Whether you ride the T, the BUS, or a bike, BU's dedicated transit app will guide you from point A to B in the easiest and most efficient way.

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Visitor guide, subscribe to our, e-newsletter, online store, getting around boston.

It may be "America's Walking City," but Boston also features an extensive transportation system to help you navigate smoothly from Harvard to the Harbor. 

Take The "T"   |   Taxis   |   Bus   |   Parking   |   BlueBikes   |   Transportation Services

Take the "t" .

Boston's public transportation system is operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), but locals know it simply as the  "T" . It offers subway, bus, trolley car, and boat service to just about everywhere in the Greater Boston area and beyond. Subway stops are color-coded - Red Line, Green Line, Blue Line, Orange Line, or Silver Line.

To ride the T, you'll need a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket, which can be purchased at most subway station vending machines and select convenience stores. The basic fare for a one-way ride is $2.40, and kids 11 years and younger ride free. Plus, your Charlie Card will provide you with more than 75 discounts on attractions during your visit! 

The "T's" LinkPass gives visitors unlimited travel on Subway, Local Bus, Inner Harbor Ferry, and Commuter Rail Zone 1A for one day ($11.00) or seven days ($22.50). More than 500 fare-vending machines are located throughout all subway stations.

Local buses feature expanded late-night service; fares are $1.70.

Commuter Rail

Operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Boston's Commuter Rail services the outlying Boston suburbs. Service is available from several T stations, but most departures take place at South Station, North Station, or Back Bay Station.

For specific information on routes and schedules, call the MBTA at 617-222-3200 or visit  mbta.com.

Commuter Rail Map

Taxi information.

Taxi service is available throughout the city. From Logan International Airport to most hotels in Boston and Cambridge, current fares are approximately $25-$35.00 one way. You may also book online or call 617-410-7500.

Service is widely available throughout Massachusetts. All intercity/interstate buses depart from South Station. Ticket counters are located on the third level of the Transportation Center.  For information, call the South Station Bus Terminal at 617-737-8040.

Logan Express to Back Bay

Logan Express stops at all terminals. Bus route time is approximately 20 minutes, starting every half hour. The cost to ride is only $3 (credit or debit card - cash not accepted). Be sure to allow extra time during rush hour periods.

Bus Route Stops 

To Airport   (5:00 am - 9:00 pm) - Every 30 minutes Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street (opposite Gloucester Street) Back Bay T Station, Dartmouth Street  Terminal A, B, C, E (Departures Level drop-off)

From Airport  (6:00 am - 10:00 pm) - Every 30 minutes Terminal A, B, C, E (Arrivals Level pick-up at Logan Express stops) Copley Square, St. James Avenue Hynes Convention Center

Many apps and websites offer tips and price comparisons for parking garages in the city.  We recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through  SpotHero , the nation's leading parking reservations app. To reserve your parking spot, visit the  SpotHero Parking Page  and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up.

Bicycle - BLUEbikes

BLUEbikes  is your bike-sharing system, providing over 100 stations and 1,000 bikes available in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville. Grab a bike near your hotel and pedal your way to your next attraction, shopping trip, or visit with friends and family.

Using BLUEbikes is easy and tailored to fit your needs. Choose between an Annual Membership, Monthly Membership, or 24-hour Pass and access the fleet when you want it, four seasons per year.  The cost includes unlimited trip(s). Please review the  pricing page  for additional information.

Transportation Services

Whether you require a private car or bus for your large group, see our list to find the perfect  ground transportation  partner to meet your needs. 

A private charter bus may be the best option for your group

MBTA Boston Bus and Rail Track

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Field Guide to Boston

How boston t riders, drivers and bikers get around the city.

• Nik DeCosta-Klipa

Need to make your way around the Boston area? There’s good news and bad news. Good news: Boston is home to the country’s first subway system! Bad news: Boston is home to the country’s first subway system.

We call it the MBTA, or the “T,” for short. It’s got trains, almost-adorably old trolleys , buses, a bus that we pretend is a subway and ferries. It’s even got an unofficial theme song . But, the T has also come under the watchful eye of federal regulators recently due to a slew of safety incidents . The T is under the process of digging out from several decades of disinvestment and neglect. And the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on finances didn’t help.

Love it or hate it, it's the system we have. Otherwise, you could give walking or biking a try (and we have many tips on that below). Or, brave navigating Boston's curvy, narrow streets and suffocating traffic. But hey, it's sort of a rite-of-passage as a local resident to complain about it all.

So, let's get into what you need to know:

Want to take the train?

The MBTA has four main subway lines, plus 12 commuter rail lines, that run through the city. You can pay per trip or buy a pass for unlimited trips over the course of a day, a week or — most popular among regular riders — a month. (Kids who are 11 years or younger ride for free, and there are discounts for seniors, students, low-income young adults and those with disabilities.)

While the T is trying to upgrade its fare collection system , your best option for now is to load money onto ​​what’s called a CharlieCard or paper CharlieTicket. (The CharlieCard is actually named after the main character of that aforementioned song. Pretty quaint, for better or worse. You’ll notice that’s somewhat of an ongoing theme with the T.)

If you plan on staying in town awhile, you’ll want the more durable plastic CharlieCard. They’re totally free (not counting the price of your fare). For years, you could only get them at select locations, like the T’s CharlieCard Store in Downtown Crossing, local city offices and libraries and various retail stores . But now, the T has installed new fare vending machines that dispense CharlieCards at almost all subway and Silver Line stations. (You won't find them at all of the Green Line stops.)

Here's what you need to know about the different lines:

• Price: $2.40 per ride
• Typical wait: 6-12 minutes

Let’s start with the Green Line, which is probably the most iconic — and, um, unique — part of the MBTA.

A relic of both Boston’s old trolley system and the city’s original subway route, the Green Line now runs all the way from the Somerville-Medford area into Boston, and then splits into four branches out to the western neighborhoods of Brookline and Newton.

The four branches are the B, C, D and the E. (Yes, there used to be an A branch that went all the way to Watertown , but it got turned into a bus route.) All run — quite loudly — through the same underground subway line from downtown Boston to Back Bay, but split off into different directions when they emerge above ground. So, it might be helpful to keep in mind which one goes where (so you don’t accidentally end up in the outskirts of Newton).

• The B branch runs along Commonwealth Avenue to B oston University and eventually out to B oston College.
• The C branch takes you through C oolidge C orner out to C leveland C ircle.
• The D branch starts from the north in Somerville’s Union Square and runs d eep into Brookline and Newton, all the way out to I-95 (seriously, look how much longer it is than the other branches).
• The E branch runs downtown from Tufts in Medford and splits off e arly at Copley (the other three lines break off two stops earlier at Kenmore) to Northeastern University, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Gardner Museum. E ventually, it turns onto the street, running in mixed traffic ( eeee k!) to Mission Hill.

The Green Line is your friend if you’re headed to … Tufts, North Station, TD Garden, Boston City Hall, Faneuil Hall, Boston Common, the Theater District, Newbury Street, Fenway Park, Boston University or Boston College.

• Typical wait: 6-17 minutes

The Red Line is the most popular (at least in terms of ridership) of the T’s subway lines, running through major commuting centers and job hubs like South Station, Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT and Harvard. It stretches out to north Cambridge at its most northern point, while its two southern branches head to Dorchester and Braintree.

If you look at a map, you’ll also notice the Ashmont branch hitches up with something called the Mattapan Line. The trolley line — which runs from Dorchester’s Ashmont neighborhood along Boston’s border with Milton to Mattapan Square — uses literal World War II-era streetcars, which the MBTA has long planned to replace but hasn’t quite gotten around to doing yet . The antique trolleys are very neat to check out, but probably less cool if you rely on them every day.

The Red Line is your friend if you’re headed to … South Station, Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT, Harvard, Boston Common, the JFK Library, Carson Beach, Wollaston Beach or Quincy.

Orange Line

• Typical wait: 8-12 minutes on weekdays; 9-13 minutes on weekends

Moving to Roslindale, Jamaica Plain, the South End or Chinatown? What about Medford or Malden, north of Boston? Or are you just trying to catch a show downtown?

Then the Orange Line is for you.

A remnant of Boston’s last elevated railway , the Orange Line runs a diagonal southwest-to-northeast route through downtown Boston. It’s also the beneficiary of a growing new fleet of train cars with modern features, like digital displays and — thankfully — no more cloth seats (the Red Line is getting new cars, too, but that initiative still has a long way to go ).

The Orange Line is your friend if you’re headed to … Assembly Row, North Station, TD Garden, Faneuil Hall, Boston City Hall, the Theater District, Northeastern, Franklin Park, or the Arnold Arboretum.

• Typical wait: 5-11 minutes on weekday, 9-15 minutes on weekends

Home to the first underwater subway tunnel in the United States, the Blue Line whisks residents from Revere and East Boston under Boston Harbor to downtown — with a stop at Logan International Airport along the way.

While it’s a crucial link for the booming neighborhoods north of Boston, the Blue Line is now threatened by the thing for which it is named. T officials say it is “ extraordinarily vulnerable ” to rising ocean levels from climate change. Already, officials have repeatedly closed the Aquarium station due to flooding.

Also, if you look at a map, you might notice something peculiar: at no point does the Blue Line ever intersect with the Red Line. That’s a big inconvenience for North Shore residents who may work over at Mass General, MIT, Harvard or anywhere on the Red Line. The T is working toward fixing that by extending the Blue Line from Bowdoin to the Red Line’s Charles/MGH stop . But it’s a project that’s at least a decade or two from completion.

The Blue Line is your friend if you’re headed to … Wonderland, Revere Beach, Suffolk Downs, Logan Airport, the Aquarium, the Greenway, Faneuil Hall or Boston City Hall.

Silver Line

• Price: $2.40 per ride for SL1, SL2, SL3; $1.70 for SL4 and SL5 (free from the airport)
• Typical wait: 7-20 minutes

The Silver Line is priced like a train and sounds like a train. But don’t be misled; it’s not a train. It’s a bus that we try to make run like a train — with special bus lanes, busways and an underground tunnel. It even has a special ramp that was once subject to much controversy .

The Silver Line’s SL1 and SL2 run underground — and under the Fort Point Channel — from South Station to the Seaport, with the former eventually jumping on the highway to Logan Airport (a good option if you live along the Red Line). Meanwhile, the SL4 and SL5 branches whisk residents from Roxbury’s Nubian Square to the city’s downtown.

Furthermore, T officials are now extending the Silver Line. In 2018, they added four stops in Chelsea , giving residents there a 20- to 30-minute ride to downtown Boston on the SL3. And they plan to expand farther into Everett, Somerville and Cambridge .

Commuter Rail

Price: $2.40 to $13.40 per trip ( See more here. )

Typical waits: See the line-by-line schedules here .

While it’s trying to get away from the “commuter” branding , the MBTA’s commuter rail network has long served as an option for those living well outside Boston to get back and forth into the city for work (and not spend an hour on I-93 or I-90). There’s 12 distinct, regular-running lines , stretching as far west as Worcester, as far north as near the New Hampshire border and as far south as Providence and the T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island — and hitting dozens of suburbs in between.

But it’s not just for commuters from afar or suburbanites! While it doesn’t run as frequently as the subway, the commuter rail can be a useful resource for Boston residents. Plus, it costs the same as the T within Zone 1A .

For example, the entire Fairmount Line runs within the city limits — southwest from South Station through a stretch of neighborhoods between the Red and Orange lines. (Unlike other lines, the Fairmount Line also lets riders use CharlieCards to pay their fares .)

The Framingham/Worcester line also has several stops in parts of Allston-Brighton and Newton that otherwise would be quite a hike from the subway. (Many locals also love the hack of grabbing the line from South Station or Back Bay to Lansdowne station to get to Red Sox games while avoiding rush-hour Green Line crowds.)

Meanwhile, the West Roxbury-Roslindale area has not one, not two, not three, but four stops on the Needham line.

Another popular hack : grabbing the Fitchburg line at Porter Square for a straight shot from Cambridge to North Station.

Consider the bus

Maybe less glamorous than the subway, but the T’s buses will take you many places the subway doesn’t — and the agency is putting a lot of effort toward expanding the system.

The routes are currently numbered from 1 to 716, and they’re divided into two groups:

• First, there’s the “local” routes that crisscross through Boston and its inner suburbs. They cost $1.70 a trip. There’s also a $55 monthly pass for unlimited local bus trips.
• Then, there’s the regional “express” bus routes that go out as far as Bedford, Salem, Nahant, Hingham and Waltham — and cost up to $4.25 a trip (or $136 a month).

You can use the T’s trip planner to find which routes work best for you. Or download the full map on all the current routes . But note: it won’t look that way forever. The T is currently in the process of redesigning and expanding its bus network. The plan will increase service for growing cities like Everett and Lynn, as well as job centers like the Longwood Medical Center. The T ultimately aims to make up to 50% of its weekday routes run buses every 15 minutes or less.

The revised bus map will be phased in over the next five years, but you can see what the T is ultimately envisioning here .

One tricky problem for the T is a shortage of bus drivers . Not only does that present a challenge for its future plans, it also means the current network is beleaguered by dropped trips. (As of spring 2023, the T estimated that it is canceling one in every 20 bus trips.)

However, there’s one unique aspect about the bus system: Some routes are completely free. Thanks to an initiative championed by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, three routes — the 23, 28 and 29 — running through Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan will be free to ride until at least 2024 .

Most popular bus routes, according to state data:

• 66 route — from Harvard Square to Nubian Square via Allston and Brookline
• 28 route — from Mattapan Square to Ruggles via Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester
• 23 route — from Ashmont to Ruggles
• 1 route — from Harvard Square to Nubian Square via Back Bay and the South End
• 39 route — from Forest Hills to Back Bay via Jamaica Plain and Huntington Avenue
• 111 route — from Chelsea to Haymarket
• 57 route — from downtown Watertown to Kenmore Square via Brighton (this is the old Green Line A branch we mentioned earlier!)

Two if by sea?

Depending where you live, you may want to make like the British and come to Boston by boat. And man, it’s hard to find a commute with a better view.

The MBTA runs three year-round ferries through the Boston Harbor to skip road traffic and train delays.

One runs between Charlestown’s Navy Yard and Long Wharf on the downtown waterfront, and costs $3.75 each way (or $90 a month for unlimited trips).

And then there are two commuter ferries — one that runs back and forth between Hingham and Rowes Wharf and another that runs between Hingham, Hull, Logan Airport and Long Wharf. Those two are priced closer to the commuter rail: $9.75 a trip or $329 a month.

The T is testing a seasonal East Boston ferry — running every 30 minutes between Long Wharf and Lewis Mall Wharf during the day.

Outside the T’s purview, there are seasonal municipal-run ferries linking Boston to Salem and Winthrop during the warmer months. Plus, the private ferry to Provincetown is your quick shot from Boston to the Outer Cape during the busy summer months.

What if I plan on driving?

Feeling brave enough to face Boston’s winding, Masshole-filled streets ? If you don’t have your own driveway or private parking space, you very well may need to register for a residential parking permit.

You’ll have to register your car in Massachusetts first (which costs a chunk of change if you’re moving from out of state). But it’s free to apply for a parking permit in Boston (as it is in Quincy ). And in neighboring cities like Cambridge , Newton and Somerville , on-street parking permits for resident-only areas cost you between $25-$40 each year.

Moving to Brookline? Better hope you have off-street parking. That’s because the town generally bans overnight parking on its streets, even if you’re a resident. If you don’t have a private space, you can pay $100 a month for an overnight spot in a few town-rented lots, but those have long wait lists. And while town officials admit that reality can be a hassle , the only remaining option is to risk parking tickets.

Boston area streets themselves can also be a challenge.

But first, let’s debunk a myth: There’s no truth behind the urban legend that Boston’s crooked streets are based on 17th-century cow paths. Historians say the real reason is just the unorganized fashion in which everyone in 1600s-era Boston tried to build their homes on what was still just a tiny peninsula. (That’s why Back Bay, which is filled-in marshland , is one of the few places where the streets are an easily navigable grid.)

Either way, the twisting layout — not to mention some of the treacherous rotaries — can be confusing for newcomers. So don’t drive like a full-blown Masshole from the get-go.

And remember, when it snows, you may need to move your car. Boston has a map of roads where on-street parking is banned during city-declared snow emergencies, and surrounding cities may also restrict parking on certain sides of the street when there's a big winter storm.

You'll also want to get familiar with the region's old, strange tradition of space savers  (in order to avoid what can often be harsh retaliation ). After shoveling out an on-street parking spot, many residents will leave chairs, traffic cones, trash cans and other random household crap to save the spot and ensure no one else takes advantage of their hard work. And with the exception of the South End, the city allows this! You just have to remove the space saver within 48 hours of the snow emergency's end .

Or try two wheels

Biking on Boston’s busy narrow streets can be intimidating, if not downright dangerous — and officials know it.

The city is working to expand its off-street bike paths and separated bike lanes . Right now, officials are focused on closing gaps in the current network — particularly along busy corridors already used by bike commuters. But the ultimate goal is for 50% of Boston residents to be within a three-minute walk of "a safe and connected bike route” by 2025.

It’s undoubtedly a work in progress, but you check out the current network of bike paths and lanes (and follow the city’s progress) with this online map .

That said, the area already offers a few convenient — and scenic — biking corridors.

There’s over 20 miles of bike paths along the Charles River, stretching from Charlestown to Cambridge to Watertown to Newton to Waltham. (Try not to fall off your bike while you gaze at the beautiful skyline view from the Cambridge side of the river.)

The Southwest Corridor also provides an almost-fully off-street bike path along the Orange Line route, from Jamaica Plain through Mission Hill and Roxbury to the South End. And don’t forget about the Neponset Greenway, which runs along the border of Boston and Milton to the Squantum Point at the mouth of the river.

And from the north, an emerging network of bike paths is making it possible for residents as far up as Lynn and Bedford to commute on two wheels. The historic Minuteman Bikeway runs down through Bedford, Lexington and Arlington to Alewife Station in Cambridge — where it also links up with Somerville’s expanding community path . (The bikeway also has plenty of historic sites and eateries along the way .)

Meanwhile, the still-in-progress Northern Strand Community Path winds up from Everett through Malden and Saugus to Lynn. (Eventually, a bridge across the Mystic River will connect it to the Orange Line at Somerville’s Assembly Square.)

Even if you don’t own a bike, you can take advantage of these bike paths and lanes with the municipality-sponsored BlueBike bike share system. Single rides up to 30 minutes cost around $3, or you can get an annual pass for about $150.

Read more on Bluebikes pricing here or explore the map of the hundreds of stations .

Or on two feet

When it’s not blisteringly cold out, Boston’s a pretty good city to walk around, too. Compared to other more sprawling cities across the country, Boston has denser, smaller neighborhoods, especially downtown. In fact, the city has a higher Walk Score than its ratings for transit and bike ratings.

A stroll from Beacon Hill to Fenway Park takes 35 minutes, as long as you avoid those weekend crowds on Newbury Street. A jaunt from Boston Common to the North End for a cannoli takes just 15 minutes each way. And you can take the Rose Kennedy Greenway and get from Faneuil Hall to the Seaport in about the same amount of time.

All that said, don’t underestimate how far Boston’s city limits span. It’s a solid eight miles from downtown to Boston’s most southwestern neighborhood, Hyde Park.

But if you have time to spare, there is a lot of leafy green space to explore. The Emerald Necklace network of interconnected parks has lots of options for recreational walks (or runs). If you’re even more adventurous, check out WBUR contributor Miles Howard’s guide to hiking through 25 miles of green space in Boston.

Get out of town

Logan International Airport is super close to Boston’s downtown compared to other cities' airports. But it is across the harbor in East Boston — which can make getting there a bit of a challenge from most parts of the city.

You can always just drive to the airport yourself and leave your car in the parking garage for $25 a day . Or take an Uber or Lyft , which will typically run you upward of $30-$40 from Boston and its inner suburbs. (Or find a friend willing to drive you and eat the small toll .)

Just make sure to check the traffic first and leave yourself extra time during rush hour. Additionally, officials are closing the aging Sumner Tunnel (which carries vehicle traffic back from Logan and East Boston to downtown Boston) for repair work on most weekends, as well as other extended periods . Traffic by the airport will be worse, and those driving back will likely face circuitous detours .

The T is a cheaper option to get to the airport — and in some cases it might be faster, too. There’s a free bus from the Blue Line’s Airport station that loops by all the terminals — which is the quickest option from downtown Boston. It also may be the best option if you live along the Green or Orange lines. Meanwhile, Red Line riders can grab the Silver Line at South Station. (The SL1 runs a little lasso-shaped route from South Station to all the terminals.)

A little travel hack: The Silver Line is free for those departing the airport, which gives you access to the entire MBTA subway system for free, too.

The airport also runs a bus service called the Logan Express that costs just $3 for a round trip from Back Bay — and is free for children up to the age of 17. It also stops as far out as Braintree, Framingham, Peabody and Woburn for $9. (Parking at those suburban stops costs about $7 a day. Not bad!)

• How to take the pain out of parking in Greater Boston
• Biking in Boston: What to know before you get rolling
• How blue is Massachusetts? What to know about politics and voting

Nik DeCosta-Klipa Newsletter Editor Nik DeCosta-Klipa is the newsletter editor for WBUR.

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Plan a route

We've provided information to help you figure out ways to bike to where you want to go, including information about how to take your bike on the T.

Boston Bikes

Choose your route.

Boston has an interesting network of streets. Sometimes there are many ways to get from point A to point B, other times there’s only one. Here are a few tips to help you plan your routes.

Look for alternatives to busy streets

The most enjoyable biking route may differ from the most efficient driving route. Look for routes on streets that have dedicated bike facilities and/or low volumes of traffic.

Websites like Google Maps and Ride the City are useful for exploring route options. These tools also allow you to save your routes so that you can reference them later.

Find directions on the go

Mobile apps like Google Maps can help you navigate during your trip. Be sure to pull over whenever you need to check for directions.

Practice, don’t hurry

Do a trial run or two for any time-sensitive trips that you’ll take on a regular basis (e.g., to work or school). You'll know how long the trip takes and work out any issues.

As you repeat the trip, you’ll get more comfortable and it may take you less time.

Take your bike on the t

The MBTA has taken many steps to make it easier for you to use transit in conjunction with your bicycle. The information below has been summarized from the MBTA's website .

Note: This information does not apply to folding bikes. When folded, folding bikes may be carried on any MBTA vehicle at any time.

Park your bike at an MBTA station

Most MBTA stations offer free bike parking. Some stations also provide “Pedal & Park” facilities, which provide secure and covered bike parking. To access a Pedal & Park facility, register your CharlieCard . It's free!

Bring your bike on the subway

You can bring your bike inside most MBTA subway stations and trains. Bikes are not allowed in the Park Street, Downtown Crossing, and Government Center stations.

Bring your bike on the bus

Most buses have racks that can hold two bikes. To use a bus bike rack, alert the driver that you would like to load your bike, lower the rack, load your bike, and secure it with the support arm. When your trip is over, let the driver know that you need to remove your bike.

Bring your bike on the commuter rail

Bikes are allowed on commuter rail trains except those running during peak periods and in peak directions. Look for bike symbols on paper or PDF schedules.

Bring your bike on the ferry

Bikes may be taken on any ferry.

BICYCLE NETWORK MAP

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Boston by Bike

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Choose a bike

We've provided information to help you find a bike that's right for you!

Get accessories

We've provided information about some of the most common items that you might want to add to your bike, or get for yourself.

This is the current page.

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Here's what to do before each ride, how to ride on Boston's streets, and tips for riding in different weather conditions.

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(Women) learn to ride

We spread the joys of biking and encourage more women and gender-nonconforming people to travel by bike.

Another Delayed MBTA Commute Monday Amid Continued Speed Restrictions

"targeted speed restrictions" remained in place monday morning, as track inspections continued on the red, orange, blue, green and mattapan lines, by alysha palumbo , kaitlin mckinley becker and asher klein • published march 13, 2023 • updated on march 13, 2023 at 3:52 pm.

The trouble on the T continued Monday, with no end in sight to the speed restrictions and slow zones implemented last week.

Ahead of the morning commute, the MBTA on Sunday issued an advisory to riders asking them to allow for extra commuting time as those speed restrictions persisted across some areas of the Blue, Orange and Red Lines, while the entirety of the Green Line and Mattapan Trolley were under a global speed restriction.

That means trains on the entirety of both lines could only go up to 25 mph, and no faster than 10 mph around curves and on specialized stretches of track.

T rider Tarnya Jenkins said her ride in Monday was very slow: "It took me about an hour, which should have been 30 minutes."

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The slowdowns persist as MBTA engineers continue to perform repair validations and speed verifications following a Department of Public Utilities site visit last week.

MBTA Interim General Manager Jeff Gonneville spoke about the slow zones during a live phone interview with NBC10 Boston on Monday morning.

"Obviously we are putting customer safety and our employee safety at the top of our priority here at the MBTA, and we are taking a very conservative approach as we are working through this particular issue," Gonneville said. "We are telling our customers as you just stated to really give themselves an additional 20 minutes for their commute this morning. that is due to these ongoing speed restrictions  but also just to headways and train spacing that we are going to be dealing with as the day progresses here."

Gonneville said that it's still too soon to have a timetable as to when the speed restrictions will be through.

"We have two groups that are going through and verifying and validating these particular defects that had been identified," Gonneville said. Both our internal engineers and we have third party engineering teams that are independently going out and evaluating our track and track conditions that have been identified. Once that process is done, that’s when we will begin to make determinations about lifting those speed restrictions, and or scheduling the corrective work or corrective maintenance that may be necessary as the result of those validations."

The T is allowing riders with a CharlieCard to use the commuter rail on certain lines, in an effort to ease congestion.

"Customers that are traveling through JFK UMass, Quincy Center, Braintree Porter Square, Back Bay, Ruggles, Forest Hills, Malden Center Oak Grove to South Station and North Station will just need to show their Charlie card to the conductors and they’ll be able to travel to and into Boston as an alternative," Gonneville explained, as he urged passengers to use the trip planner offered on the MBTA's website.

But riders are not happy about the delays, bemoaning how the new issues make it feel like you can't really get around the city without a car, at least not without planning ahead and budgeting a lot of time.

“You have to wake up earlier, you have to change your whole routine so I would like it to be on time and not have these problems, that would definitely make life easier," commuter Kendra Wagner said.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu acknowledged "that sense of frustrating across our community" when discussing the T at a briefing Monday. She said she rode the Green Line Monday and saw people decide to walk to their destination rather than wait for their train to get moving.

"You can feel the slow zones above ground," she said.

On Friday, T officials said to give them patience until Monday morning. But overnight, the T tweeted that riders should give themselves additional travel time this week, so it’s unclear how long these delays will last.

The speed restrictions were implemented across the entire system  in a surprise move late last Thursday night "out of an abundance of caution" following a March 6 site visit by the Department of Public Utilities, where officials examined the Red Line between Ashmont Station and Savin Hill and found several issues that required immediate attention, including concerns with priority-one track conditions, electrical access boxes on the right of way and headlight operations within the tunnels.

There was also missing or inconsistent documentation around which repairs were made.

Global speed restrictions were lifted Friday morning on the Red, Blue, and Orange Lines and replaced with block speed restrictions in areas that still need to be inspected or where conditions do not permit normal speeds. Global speed restrictions have remained in effect on the Green and Mattapan Lines, however, which limits trains to going 25 mph on straightaways and 10 mph on curves and other special forms of track, according to the interim general manager.

More MBTA News

MBTA Says Riders Should Plan for Longer Times as Speed Restrictions Continue

MBTA Speed Restrictions Continue Amid Partial Weekend Shutdowns on Green, Orange Lines

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T Sees Increased Worcester Line Ridership After Sacrificing ‘Heart to Hub’ Express

11:24 AM EDT on April 17, 2024

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A new passenger boarding platform is under construction at Worcester Union Station. When complete, two trains will be able to stop in Worcester at the same time. Courtesy of the MBTA.

A schedule change that sacrificed a daily Boston-to-Worcester express train for one that makes more stops in suburban MetroWest communities appears to have helped the MBTA attract hundreds of additional riders.

But Worcester leaders say that it's another example of how state policymakers prioritize Boston over other regions in the Commonwealth.

From 2016 until last fall, the MBTA ran a daily "Heart to Hub" express train, which ran express between Worcester and Framingham and again between Framingham and Lansdowne station in Boston.

That train gave Worcester rush-hour commuters a ride that arrived in Boston in under an hour (the scheduled journey time all the way to South Station was 1 hour and 5 minutes).

Other Worcester Line trains, which make additional stops at suburban stations along the way, typically takes about one and a half hours to make the same trip.

Less express, but more frequent

At the end of 2023, the MBTA and Keolis, the company that operates the T's commuter rail system, adjusted the schedule to replace the daily express trains with a more typical "zonal express" that makes local stops between Worcester and West Natick, then runs express into Boston.

That change meant that previous Heart to Hub riders now have to spend an extra 22 minutes on the train between Worcester and Boston.

But riders at the suburban stops in between – in Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Ashland, Framingham, and West Natick – have one extra train they can catch every morning and evening.

And instead of trains that left at the beginning of every hour (except the Heart to Hub, which left at 6:30 a.m.), departures are now more evenly spread out in the mornings and evenings , generally leaving every 45 minutes during rush hours, and hourly at other times.

The schedule change also allowed the T to add another daily peak-hour round-trip from between Framingham and Boston.

According to Jake O’Neill, Manager of Media Relations and Government Affairs for Keolis, the changes have helped attract a significant number of new daily riders to the Worcester Line.

"Ridership on the new zonal express Heart to Hub doubled from 240-400 daily passengers in the fall to 640-800 daily passengers (today)," wrote O'Neill in an email to StreetsblogMASS. "Pre-pandemic, the Heart to Hub averaged about 250 daily passengers."

O'Neill also claimed that other Worcester Line trains are now less crowded as well, now that riders at intermediate stops have more departures to choose from.

Worcester 'losing out'

While the increase in ridership and a more consistent train schedule are positives, elected officials in Worcester itself are keen to remind the MBTA that the gains came at the expense of Worcester passengers who no longer have access to an express ride into Boston.

State Senator Michael Moore of Millbury represents both the southern part of Worcester and the town of Westborough, one of the towns that benefited from one extra daily round trip from the schedule changes.

He appreciates the fact that commuter rail ridership gains is reducing traffic regionally. But he's also mindful that, for former Heart-to-Hub riders, the schedule changes lengthened their daily commute by 40 to 45 minutes.

"We’ve got 250 to 400 riders who were using the express train to get to Boston faster at 8 a.m. – so now they’re not getting to work as early, and maybe that’s complicating their family lives with a longer commute," Sen. Moore told StreetsblogMASS.

For Moore, it's another example of how transit policy in Massachusetts favors people in the Boston region over riders in other parts of the state.

He also cites the state's anemic investment in regional transit authorities like the WRTA, in spite of the fact that those agencies are seeing a surge in new ridership .

And he cites the Allston Multimodal Project , a multi-billion dollar project that would build a new Worcester Line station for Boston, but is also expected to impact Worcester Line schedules and tie up car traffic on the Massachusetts Turnpike for several years' worth of construction.

"The people in the rest of the state are losing out to people in the Boston region," says Sen. Moore.

Infrastructure improvements could lead to faster rides for everyone

Worcester's Union Station is currently a busy construction site, as MBTA workers build a new passenger boarding platform between two tracks on the other side of the existing platform (see photo at the top of this article).

Worcester Union Station currently can serve only one train at a time, on the single track immediately adjacent to the station. But when the new platform opens later this year, two trains will be able to park side-by-side in Worcester, allowing for more frequent service and operational flexibility (the upgrades will also make Worcester fully ADA-accessible).

According to a 2019 report from TransitMatters , electrifying the Worcester line, along with other station improvements, could enable trips between Boston and Worcester in less than an hour – even with stops at every suburban station along the way.

Adding more trains to the Worcester Line's schedule could also benefit commuters along the entire length of the Worcester Line, by giving them less time to wait between trains.

"The central Mass. delegation has been meeting with the T and the Governor’s office, and we’re being told the long-term goal is to run trains every 30 minutes," Sen. Moore told StreetsblogMASS. "If we could have that frequency, it would alleviate this whole issue."

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Boston Marathon Guide

About the Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon draws thousands of runners and spectators each year. The  128th Boston Marathon  will take place on Monday, April 15, 2024. 

Take the T to the Marathon

Changes to service for monday, april 15, 2024.

no service Station closures

Copley Station is closed for the entire day. South Street , Kent Street and Saint Mary’s Street stations are closed from approximately 10 AM – 6 PM. 

In the interest of public safety, the MBTA may adjust service or temporarily close additional stations near the finish line.

subway Subway

The Green , Red , Orange , Blue , and Silver lines will operate on a weekday schedule, with additional service before and after the race.

Bikes (including folding bikes) are not allowed on the subway on the day of the marathon.

commuter rail Commuter Rail

The  Worcester Line will have a special Marathon Monday schedule, with additional inbound and outbound trains.

All other  Commuter Rail lines will operate on a regular weekday schedule.

Bikes and scooters (including folding ones) will not be allowed on board Worcester Line trains starting at 5pm on Sunday, April 14, through the end of service on Monday, April 15.

The Copley Square bus stop on St. James Ave will be out of service from April 8 – 16. Riders will be redirected to the bus stop on St. James Ave @ Clarendon St.

All buses will operate on a Saturday schedule, but may be detoured.

• Routes 55  and 65  will be suspended for the day.
• Route 1 will run an increased Saturday schedule from 9 AM – 9 PM.
• Routes 9 , 10 , 39 , 43 , 57 , 62 , and 76 will be detoured or shortened.
• Routes 354 and 501 will run on a modified schedule.

the ride The RIDE

The RIDE will operate on a regular weekday schedule, but may be detoured to accommodate the marathon and related events.

ferry Ferry

Ferries will operate on a regular weekday schedule.

See all MBTA alerts for service adjustments

Getting to the Finish Line

For spectators and runners, the finish line is the heart of the Boston Marathon—before, during, and after the race. Located near the Boston Public Library on Boylston Street, there are several MBTA subway and bus stops nearby.

In the interest of safety, security restrictions and MBTA service adjustments may be in place the day of the marathon.

Viewing Locations Along the Route

Many of the best viewing (and cheering!) spots along the route are accessible from the T. Parts of the  Framingham/Worcester Line  are less than a half mile from the course, and the Green Line  C Branch  runs parallel to it.

Find a T stop near your viewing spot below, and then use our trip planner to find out how to get there.

Download PDF of the marathon route

Getting to the Starting Line

Official transportation to the starting line for marathon participants is provided by the Boston Athletic Association . Buses leave from Charles Street, between Boston Common and the Public Garden.

The first buses load at 6:45 AM, and MBTA service starts around 5 AM.

Plan a trip to the BAA buses

Paying for Your Trip

We recommend loading enough money on a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket early in the day, and paying with a credit or debit card to reduce lines in stations.

We are also offering a  $10 Holiday Weekend Pass for Commuter Rail. The unlimited all-day pass is valid for all Commuter Rail lines and zones.

On Marathon Day, we recommend loading at least $5 on a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket—this is enough for a round trip on the subway. We encourage paying with a credit or debit card to reduce lines in stations.

Learn more about subway and bus fares 

Learn more about CharlieCards

Here all week?  Our 7-day passes are $22.50 and provide unlimited travel for a week from the date of purchase. You can buy them at fare vending machines at subway stations.

Learn more about subway passes

We recommend buying tickets or passes in the mTicket app to reduce lines at stations. Tickets (but not passes) are also available at fare vending machines in subway and some Commuter Rail stations, or from conductors on board the train with cash or credit.

An all-day $10 Holiday Weekend Pass will be valid Saturday April 13 – Monday April 15, due to Patriot’s Day. This is valid for all Commuter Rail lines and zones, with unlimited hop-on and hop-off travel. Holiday Weekend Passes are not valid on subway or bus.

Starting April 8, passes will be available in the mTicket app, at ticket windows, and on board. Holiday Weekend Passes cannot be purchased at fare vending machines.

Download the mTicket app

Learn more about $10 Commuter Rail Weekends

Learn more about Commuter Rail fares

Fare Calculator

Choose your origin and destination to calculate your fare with our Trip Planner.

Driving to the finish line or other spectator areas is not recommended. Parking restrictions along the route may be in place leading up to and on the day of the marathon.

You can park at an MBTA station and take the subway or Commuter Rail in.  Daily parking rates  are $2 – $15, and you can pay on your phone using the PayByPhone app, or pay by invoice. There is a $1 surcharge for invoice payments.

Find a station and check rates

Visiting Boston?

We've put together a guide with everything visitors need to know about riding the MBTA. 

Etiquette and Safety

To ensure your safety along the course, additional MBTA staff and Transit Police will be available at MBTA stations throughout the day. Please follow these guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort.

A number of items are prohibited along the marathon route. Read the official  spectator guidelines  for more information.

• Alcohol consumption is not allowed on trains, buses, or at any stations.
• If you are wearing a backpack, remove it and hold it at your side or set it between your feet.
• Let passengers off the train before you board.
• Leave large items like bags, coolers, and strollers at home.
• Bikes (including folding bikes) are not allowed on the subway or  Framingham/Worcester Line on the day of the marathon. Bikes are also restricted on the Framingham/Worcester Line starting at 5 PM on Sunday, April 16.

Learn more about rider etiquette

Additional MBTA Transit Police officers will be available in and near stations throughout the day. If you need assistance, please report directly to a uniformed official. 

Download the MBTA See Say app to anonymously report suspicious activity on MBTA property. The app is monitored 24/7 by the MBTA Transit Police.

If you need to report an emergency, call 911 or Transit Police at 617-222-1212 .

Learn more about safety on the T Learn more about MBTA Transit Police

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Our user guides can help you learn how to navigate the system, get to local events, use accessibility features, and more.

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