Many of you will be curling up in front of the Christmas tree and fireplace this holiday season to comfortably enjoy time with friends and family. However hundreds of thousands within the greater Boston area will be traveling in the next week and rush hour traffic in the area, combined with the potential for dangerous weather, could present serious travel restrictions for those trying to reach their family. Below is a quick guide to stay-on-top of all types of travel coming in and out of the Boston area.
Roadways & Major Highways
The largest portion of travelers this coming holiday season will be visiting family and friends by taking to the roadways. As anyone who travels the Southeast Expressway on a daily basis could tell you, traffic on that stretch of roadway through Milton and Quincy into Boston usually has lengthy delays, whether going North or South. The best way to monitor the roads is through MassDOT's official website which features real-time traffic conditions as well as cameras to see congestion. Another great tool for live updates is the Google Maps live traffic feature, which is also available for download on your mobile phone
Train Services
Weather and the MBTA aren't exactly the greatest combination, as many commuters can tell you. During the holiday season however they usually add additional trains and subway cars to account for the added ridership. Be sure to visit the official website for the MBTA to see what holiday hours the "T" is running as well as commuter rail lines extending to the suburbs. Amtrak trains leaving South Station can take you to many destinations including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington DC. Many different weather systems can be traveling up and down the East Coast affecting train service. Be sure to check Amtrak's official website for weather alerts and scheduling updates
Flying
The Boston area is served by 3 major airports: Logan Airport in East Boston, Manchester Airport in New Hampshire, and T.G. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island. This serves as a tremendous benefit to those traveling via airplane this season. While Logan is the most convenient to the Boston resident, it can be a bit of a hassle with long delays both in the security line and for taking off. Manchester Airport is great for those coming from the North Shore and Merrimack Valley. South Shore residents should definitely look into T.F. Green as it's just a straight shot down I-95 through Providence.
Safe travels to all!