Getting Around Boston

Street System
     Ralph Waldo Emerson once observed, "We say the cows laid out Boston. Well, there are worse surveyors." Emerson, of course, never had to drive through the city. Downtown--occupying a peninsula surrounded by the Charles River, Boston Inner Harbor and Fort Point Channel--is a challenging place for residents, let alone visitors, to negotiate by vehicle. Furthermore, Boston drivers are legendary for their aggressiveness. Those who must drive in the central part of the city should bring along a navigator or a good map. Fortunately, public transportation options are plentiful and the bewildering tangle of streets is easily traversed on foot.
     Boston Common, bordered by Charles, Beacon, Park, Tremont and Boylston streets, is a handy orientation landmark. Beacon Street, the Common's northern border and the southern base of Beacon Hill, extends east into downtown and west through the Back Bay into Brookline. Commonwealth Avenue runs parallel to Beacon Street as the Back Bay's main thoroughfare. The Back Bay's streets, in fact, do form a logical grid pattern between east-west Boylston Street and limited-access Storrow Memorial Drive, and between north-south Massachusetts Avenue and Arlington Street.
     Both Beacon and Commonwealth intersect Massachusetts Avenue, which crosses the Charles River via Harvard Bridge into Cambridge. Harvard Bridge becomes Massachusetts Avenue again on the Cambridge side, passing right through the middle of the MIT campus on its way to Harvard and environs. Cambridge also can be reached from the West End via Cambridge Street, which becomes the Longfellow Bridge (SR 3) crossing the river. It changes to Main Street in Cambridge, running into Massachusetts Avenue several blocks northwest of MIT. The most direct way to get to Harvard from Boston is via the Larz Anderson Bridge, which becomes John F. Kennedy Street on the Cambridge side.
     Back in Boston, Tremont Street branches off Cambridge Street, skirts the southeast side of the Common and runs southwest toward the Roxbury neighborhood. Commercial Street serves as the perimeter of the North End waterfront, becoming Causeway Street on the West End side of the Central Artery and Atlantic Avenue as it turns south to pass the wharves along the waterfront. North Street takes eastbound commuters into the Callahan Tunnel, which crosses Boston Inner Harbor to the airport. Hanover and Salem streets are other major avenues bisecting the North End.
     Congress Street is a major downtown and Financial District thoroughfare, crossing Fort Point Channel into the Irish neighborhoods of South Boston. Washington Street runs north through Chinatown and downtown before it becomes the Charlestown Bridge crossing the river into Charlestown.
     Visitors will save time and letters by adopting the local practice of dropping the ends of long street names. Massachusetts Avenue, for instance, is always "Mass Ave." Likewise, Commonwealth Avenue and the Massachusetts Turnpike become "Comm Ave." and "Mass Pike." "JFK" is the appropriate shorthand for the city's several John F. Kennedy namesakes.
     The Big Dig is in the final phase of construction. In order to complete the project, numerous changes to traffic patterns will be implemented. Walk or use public transportation, and check at the front desk of local hotels for information about the latest construction updates or alternate routes.
     Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit on most streets is 30 mph. Right turns on red are permitted after a full stop, unless otherwise posted. Avoid rush-hour traffic--particularly in the tunnels and on the bridges--7-9 a.m. and 4-6:30 p.m. Be especially careful in outlying areas when crossing streetcar tracks.

Parking
     On-street city parking is very limited and highly regulated. Posted restrictions vary, from the resident-only parking in Beacon Hill and other city neighborhoods to specific hour restrictions throughout the downtown area. Meters also vary with regard to rates and hours, and the city's meter maids are vigilant.
     Parking garages are more convenient, and although rates are not cheap (from $5 per hour to $32 per day) they are worth the expense to avoid meeting with a tow truck. Visitors may also want to inquire about attraction or restaurant validation discounts. Two centrally located garages are hidden underground. The Boston Common Garage is entered from Charles Street; round-trip bus service to the other side of the Common is included in the parking fee. The Prudential Center Garage, 800 Boylston St., has entrances on all sides of the Prudential Tower. Both garages are open daily 24 hours.
     Other garages in the vicinity of the Prudential Center and Copley Square include Loews Copley Place Parking, 100 Huntington Ave.; Pilgrim Garage, 50 Dalton St.; and John Hancock Garage, 100 Clarendon St.
     The underground garage at Zero Post Office Square used to be above ground; now the square is a public park bounded by Milk, Pearl, Franklin and Congress streets. Garage entrances are on Pearl and Congress. Open 24 hours, it is within walking distance of the New England Aquarium and Faneuil Hall Marketplace. The Government Center Garage, 50 Sudbury St.; Dock Square at Faneuil Hall Marketplace; and Lafayette Place Garage on Chauncy Street offer additional parking near downtown attractions.

Taxis & Limousines
     Although time delays due to congestion often increase the fare, taxis are a convenient means of getting around town. Cabs in Boston are metered; the fare is $1.75 for the first 1/8 mile or less and 30c for every 1/8 mile thereafter. Phoning for a pickup or going to a hotel taxi stand is easier than hailing a cab on the street. Local companies include the Independent Taxi Operators Association, (617) 426-8700. Limousine service is available throughout the Boston area for about $60 an hour, normally with a 3-hour minimum.

Public Transportation
     MBTA operates the city's trolleys, buses, boats and subway--all of them efficient alternatives to driving. Known everywhere as the "T," Boston's rapid-transit system is the nation's oldest; the first stretch, running between Boylston and Park streets, began operating in 1897.
     Four lines--the Red, Blue, Orange and Green--radiate from the four central downtown stations: Downtown Crossing, Park Street, State and Government Center. The Green Line uses trolleys that operate both above and below ground. It also splits into four branches designated by letters: Boston College (B), Cleveland Circle (C), Riverside (D) and Heath Street (E). "T" stations are designated by the letter T within a circle. Subway maps at each station show the lines in color. "Inbound" refers to trains heading toward downtown, "outbound" to trains heading away from downtown. An MBTA information booth is located on Park Street (on the Green Line outbound platform).
     In-city subway fares are $1.25 (or one token). Outbound surface transportation is free; inbound fares from outlying destinations on the Green and Red lines are as much as $2.50. A token or exact change is required. Tokens can be purchased from vending machines at the Airport Station (Blue Line), Back Bay/South End Station (Orange Line), Prudential Station (Green Line) and South Station (Red Line). Trains run between 5 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. in most areas; check the timetables posted at the Park Street Station to avoid getting stranded.
     Boston Visitor Passes provide unlimited travel for 1-, 3- or 7-day periods on most routes. A 1-day pass is $7.50; 3-day pass, $18; 7-day pass, $35; under 5 travel free. Visitor passes can be purchased at the North, South and Back Bay train stations; at the Airport, Government Center, Hynes Convention Center and Alewife "T" stations; at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center; and at the BosTix ticket booth at Quincy Market. Free MBTA maps of the public transit system are available at hotels, tourist attractions, and at North and South stations.
     In addition the Silver Line offers bus rapid-transit service from Dudley Square to downtown and from South Station to the South Boston waterfront; construction of a third phase, running from South Station to Boylston Street Station is underway. Buses and trolleys also offer service crosstown and to the suburbs. Local fares are 90c; express buses are $2.20 and up. Trolley fares are based on a zone system. Exact change is required. For additional MBTA route, schedule and fare information phone (617) 222-5000, (617) 222-3200 for recorded information, (800) 392-6100, or () (617) 222-5146.
     Commuter boat service operates Monday through Friday and holidays between Rowes Wharf on the downtown Boston waterfront and the Hingham Shipyard dock southeast of the city. One-way fare is $6. Boats depart Rowes Wharf Monday through Friday beginning at 6:50 a.m. for the 35-minute trip; the last boat departs at 8:30 p.m. (no weekend service).
     Boats operated by Boston Harbor Cruises travel between Boston's Long Wharf and Pier 4 at the Charlestown Navy Yard. One-way fare is $1.50. Boats depart Long Wharf Mon.-Fri. every 15 minutes 6:30-9 a.m. and 3:30-6:30 p.m., every 30 minutes 9-3:30 and 6:30-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. every 30 minutes 10-6. For additional information phone (617) 227-4321 or (877) 733-9425. Note: These boat trips are not included in the Boston Visitor Pass package.