Everything you need to know about traveling in Massachusetts over the
Thanksgiving holiday
Kristin ToussaintPosted on
Nicolaus Czarnecki/Metro
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More than 48 million people will be traveling at least 50 miles this Thanksgiving holiday, according to AAA.
With that in mind, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has compiled a few tips to make traveling wherever and however far you travel a little less stressful.
One million more people will be traveling overthe Thanksgiving holiday than last year, meaning this year will be the most heavily-traveled year since 2007, according to the automobile association. The holiday extends from Wednesday, Nov. 23, to Sunday, Nov. 27.
Most of that traffic, nearly 90 percent, will be on roadways, according to AAA.
Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack advised holiday travelers to check in with real-time updates and give themselves enough time to plan ahead.
“Have flexibility,” Pollack urged travelers at a news conference. “We have a lot more tools than we used to have to seetraffic conditions in real-time.Find out where the congestion is andmake your plans flexible enough instead of sitting in it.”
For traffic and road conditions, MassDOT officials advise thatdrivers:
Check the MassDOT Real-Time Traffic webpage before heading out on their travels to view live traffic cameras and updated traffic information.
Dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions on Interstate 90 and other roads.
Visit mass511.com for traffic and incident advisories and toalsosubscribe to text and email alerts.
Download Waze, a traffic navigation app that provides real-time traffic conditions.
Follow MassDOT on Twitter (@MassDOT) where information on major highway incidents that affect traffic flow will be shared.
MassDOT officials strongly urged drivers to minimize distractions, stay sober or appoint a designated driver or plan on taking public transportation if they expect to drink alcohol, and make an “extra effort to be courteous” on the roads.
“Safety is key. We do not want to start this holiday with a crash, injury orwreck,” saidJeff Larason from the executive office of Public Safety Highway Division. “Put your phones away, please wear your seatbelt; the most important tool you have to avoid being hurt in a crash by other people doingthings they shouldn’t is to wear that seatbelt.”
Eighteen MassDOT Service Plazas will serve free coffee on between 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 24, and 5 a.m., Friday, Nov. 25.
The High Occupancy Vehicle Lane on Interstate 93 between Boston and Quincy will have extended hours from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22, and Wednesday, Nov. 23. The HOV lane will be closed on Thursday and Friday.
Information for travelers going to and from Logan Airport, via MassDOT:
MBTA Silver Line provides service between South Station and Logan’s terminals every 10 minutes. Outbound service from Logan Airport to the South Boston Seaport District and South Station is free.
To accommodate customers traveling to and from Logan International Airport, additional Silver Line 1 service will be offered between Saturday, Nov. 19, and Wednesday, Nov. 23, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. Additional service will also be provided from Saturday, Nov. 26 through Monday, Nov. 28.
MBTA Blue Line provides subway service between points in Boston, North of Boston and Airport Station. Water transportation is also available from Downtown Boston and the Logan dock.
Logan Express serves five locations: Peabody, Framingham, Woburn, Braintree and Back Bay. There are also several bus and taxi options available.
Information regarding MBTAThanksgiving travel:
The Red, Orange, Blue and Green lines will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 23, and on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, the Red, Orange, Blue and Green lines will operate on a Sunday schedule.
On Friday, Nov 25, the Red, Orange and Blue lines will operate on a regular Friday schedule, while the Mattapan Trolley and Green Line branches will operate on a Saturday schedule.
Commuter Rail lines will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 23. On Thanksgiving, Nov. 24, commuter rail lines will operate on a Sunday schedule. On Friday, Nov. 25, commuter rail will operate on regular weekday schedules.
Bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day only.
On Wednesday, Nov. 23, Hingham and Hull ferry service will operate on a modified weekday schedule, and Charlestown service will operate on a regular weekday schedule. On Thanksgiving Day, there will be no Hingham, Hull or Charlestown ferry service.
