Guide To WinterTime Travel On The T Being Prepared Helps Everyone

Transportation officials today announced the transit agency’s wintertime travel guide complete with information on how the T prepares for winter storms, and how customers can get the most of public transportation.

Snow On The Way

Being Prepared Helps Everyone

Snow Routes

Commuter Ferry Weather Advisory Plan

Snow On The Way

At the first indication that snow is on the way, the MBTA has in place a plan that works around the clock to keep the system moving:

Trains operate 24 hours a day to prevent rails and overhead electrical wires from icing up. Special heaters are activated to keep rails and switches ice-free.
Trains stored outdoors are moved periodically; mechanical systems are kept running; and doors and cab windows are frequently opened and shut to prevent freezing.
MBTA Personnel and On-call contractors ensure all MBTA properties are plowed, sanded, salted or shoveled. The MBTA is responsible for snow removal at bus stops that abut MBTA owned property. The MBTA encourages property owners to remove snow at bus stops that abut their property.
Commuter boats and inner harbor ferries: These services operate year-round however during inclement weather conditions, customers should refer to the Boat Weather Advisory Plan for boat service.
Bus Snow routes are activated when necessary. The MBTA has identified 31 Snow Routes (listed below) located on hills, or narrow streets that depending upon the severity of snow are diverted.

Being Prepared Helps Everyone

In addition to preparing months in advance for the winter season, the MBTA seeks the cooperation of its customers and recommends the following travel tips during inclement weather:

Allow extra time for travel
Have CharlieCard ready prior to approaching service
If accumulated snow prevents you from determining your space number, use the snow payment envelope placed on your vehicle after your return trip to be used on their return trip. Place Snow Payment envelope containing the daily fee into the collection box before exiting the lot.
If you are dependent on elevator/escalator service please call the service hotline at (617)222-2828 or 800-392-6100 (press 6) to make sure service is available.
Customer support call to an MBTA Customer Support Representative for:
- Bus and Subway:
  617-222-3200 or 800-392-6100, (Mon through Fri 6:30am to 8:00pm and Sat/Sun from 7:30am to 6:00pm)
- Boat information refer to the bottom of the page.
- TTY 617-222-5146 (Mon through Fri 6:30am to 8:00pm and Sat/Sun from 7:30am to 6:00pm)
To get the most up-to-date information listen to the local news.

Snow Routes

During severe storms we may need to activate bus “Snow Routes”. Always check our T- Alerts page to see if a "Snow Route" for your Bus is in effect. You will also be able to view any additional route changes based upon weather and road condiftions.

RouteRoute NameSnow Route Information

11City Point - DowntownBypass East Eighth St.

14Roslindale Sq. - DudleyBypass Cummins Highway

24Wakefield Ave. - MattapanEliminate Streets From Beacon St. To Wakefield Ave.

30Roslindale Sq. - MattapanBypass Cummings Highway

40Georgetowne - Forest HillsEliminate Georgetowne Housing

50Cleary Square - Forest HillsBypass Metropolitan Ave., Poplar, West, Austin & Summer Sts.

60Chestnut Hill - KenmoreBypass High & Cypress Sts.

62Bedford VA Hospital - AlewifeBypass Service Rd. & Park Ave

64Oak Square - University ParkBypass Hobart St. & Falkland St.

67Turkey Hill - AlewifeEliminate Turkey Hill Reservation

76Hanscom AFB - AlewifeBypass Service Rd. & Park Ave

78Arlmont/Park Circle - Harvard StationBypass Park Circle

84Arlmont Village - HarvardBypass Park Circle

85Spring Hill - KendallBypass Avon St.

93Sullivan - DowntownBypass Bunker Hill St. Snow Route via Medford St.

99Boston Regional Medical Center - WellingtonBypass Malden Hospital & Boston Regional Med. Ctr.

110Wonderland or Broadway/Park - WellingtonBypass Park Ave. From Woodlawn Ave. to Hysil Ave.

111Broadway & Park Ave - HaymarketBypass Park Ave.

112Wellington - MaverickBypass Admiral's Hill & Quigley Hospital

119Northgate - BeachmontElminate Beachmont Loop

120Orient Heights - MaverickEliminate Waldemar Housing & Jeffries Point

211Quincy Center - SquantumEliminate Huckins Ave., Bellevue Rd. & Dorchester St.

236Quincy Center-South Shore PlazaBypass Commercial & Elm Sts.

245Quincy Center - MattapanEliminate Huckins Ave., Bellevue Rd. & Dorchester St.

411Malden Station - Revere HouseBypass Granada Highlands

428Oaklandvale - HaymarketEliminate Granada Highlands

429Central Sq., Lynn - North SaugusBypass King's Lynne Apt. Complex

441Marblehead - HaymarketEliminate Old Town Marblehead

442Marblehead - HaymarketEliminate Old Town Marblehead

448Marblehead - Downtown CrossingEliminate Old Town Marblehead

449Marblehead - Downtown CrossingEliminate Old Town Marblehead

SL2South Station – Boston Marine Industrical Park (BMIPK)Bypasses 88 Black Falcon Ave.

Note: Please be aware of road conditions in your community as occasionally other bus routes may be detoured as well. If roads are impassable or general traffic is not moving, buses will be late or local authorities may require detours.

Commuter Ferry Weather Advisory Plan

Sign up for T Alerts (text messages) at www.talerts.com/.
Service Notices posted on boats, at ticket offices and in message boards at docks
Service Alerts posted at www.mbta.com on the Home or Service Updates pages
Boston Harbor Cruises, Hingham Ticket Office, (781) 749-8009, (6:00A – 7:15P M-F)
Boston Office, (617) 227-4321, (8:00A – 5:00P M-F)
Harbor Express Quincy Ticket Office, (617) 222-6999, (5:00A – 9:10P M-Th and until 10:00P on Fri), (7:30A – 9:30P Sat), (7:30A – 8:00P Sun).
TTY (617) 222-5146

On the first day of an interruption of service, Commuter Ferry customers traveling to or from Quincy, Hingham, or Hull docking facilities have the following options:

Inbound to Boston:

Check www.mbta.com to see if another boat facility is operating service.
Use the nearest Red Line or Greenbush commuter rail station; or
Route #220 buses will shuttle passengers from the Hingham and Quincy Shipyards to Quincy Center Station. Hull passengers may take #714 bus service to the Station Street stop in Hingham or drive to either Hingham or Quincy Shipyards to access the #220 buses to Quincy Center.

Outbound from Boston:
Proceed to South Station for Red Line service to Quincy Center Station. Route #220 buses will take passengers to the Quincy and Hingham Shipyards. The #220 buses departing Quincy Center until 6:27pm will arrive at the Station St. stop in Hingham for the #714 bus to Pemberton Point. Refer to the #714 bus schedule for connecting service to Pemberton Point. Hull customers arriving at Quincy Center after 6:27pm should wait for a 7:45pm #220 bus for the last available trip to Pemberton Point. ** Note: The 7:45pm trip is not regularly scheduled. It does not appear on the #220 bus schedule. It will only operate on the first evening that service is interrupted by extreme weather conditions. The Monthly Boat Pass is valid on most MBTA services, including the Red Line, the #220 Bus, and Commuter Rail Zones 1-4. See Zone Map at http://www.mbta.com/fares_and_passes/?eid=10512&sidebar=false.

Inner Harbor Ferry
Inner Harbor Ferry Service passengers will be directed to take MBTA Rapid Transit or Route 93 bus service.

If service is interrupted for more than one day customers are advised to seek alternate routes of transportation until boat service resumes. Thank you for your understanding and continued support of these water transit routes.