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MassDOT Advises Travelers to Plan Ahead for Busy Fourth of July Travel 

Registry customer service locations closed Friday, July 4 
 

MBTA schedule adjustments in place 
 

Special hours for I-93 Boston-Quincy HOV lane 

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is advising travelers to plan ahead and expect increased volumes of traffic for the Fourth of July holiday period. If traveling, MassDOT recommends utilizing “real-time” travel tools, checking holiday schedules for public transportation, and planning trip departure times and routes based on available information.   

“Fourth of July weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the summer,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “MassDOT encourages travelers to plan ahead, expect delays, and drive safely to make sure everyone enjoys the holiday weekend.” 

All Commonwealth of Massachusetts offices are closed on Friday, July 4, including Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) customer service locations. Many RMV transactions can be done online: www.mass.gov/RMV. In addition, any resident who is a member of AAA can also make appointments at AAA locations for some Registry transactions. 

Using traffic data, MassDOT has created a travel forecast for the Fourth of July holiday period. The heaviest traffic is expected on Wednesday, July 2, and Thursday, July 3, with delays extending into the evening. On Friday, July 4, travelers are advised to avoid mid-day and afternoon travel due to expected peak congestion. Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 6, are also expected to see heavier traffic throughout the day, especially in the morning and afternoon hours. 

In addition, the MBTA has released the following information: 

• On Friday, July 4, bus, subway, ferry, Commuter Rail and RIDE trips will be fare free after 8:30 p.m.  
• Subway: The Red, Orange, Blue, and Green Lines will operate a modified Saturday schedule with increased service from 3:00 p.m. through the end of service. 
• Bus and Silver Line: All routes will operate a Sunday schedule.  
• Commuter Rail: All lines will operate a weekend schedule.  
  • Passengers should note that the majority of the last trains of the evening will leave North Station and South Station at their advertised times between 11:30 p.m. and midnight. If fireworks are delayed, trains will leave up to 30 minutes after the close of the fireworks. 
  • Passengers are encouraged to purchase the MBTA's special $10 Holiday Pass for unlimited travel throughout the day on July 4.  
• The RIDE: All RIDE services will operate a Sunday schedule.  
• Ferry:  
  • The Hingham to Boston Ferry will not operate. 
  • The Hingham/Hull/Logan to Boston Ferry will run on a Saturday schedule.  
  • The East Boston, Charlestown, and Lynn ferries will run on a weekend schedule.  
  • Winthrop and Quincy will operate on a weekend schedule on the combined Winthrop/Quincy route. 
• The Charlie Service Center will be closed on Friday, July 4. 

The I-93 Boston-Quincy High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane will deploy early for the holiday, opening at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, and 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 3. The HOV lane will not be deployed on Friday, July 4, and will return to normal deployment times on Monday, July 7. The Sumner Tunnel swing lane will not be deployed on Friday, July 4, and will return to normal deployment times on Monday, July 7. 

For those flying in and out of Boston Logan International Airport, Massport is expecting an increase in passengers around the weekend. Travelers are urged to use public transit and HOV modes such as the MBTA’s Blue Line, Silver Line (which is free from Logan), and Logan Express. We suggest passengers download the free FlyLogan app to access information about the airport, flight status, purchase Logan Express tickets, reserve parking, order food for pick up, among other services. For more information about Logan Airport, please visit: https://www.massport.com/logan-airport. 

For more information on traffic conditions, travelers are encouraged to: 

• Download the Mass511 mobile app or visit www.mass511.com to view live cameras, travel times, real-time traffic conditions, and project information before setting out on the road. Users can subscribe to receive text and email alerts for traffic conditions. 
• Dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions. 
• Follow @MassDOT on X (formerly known as Twitter) to receive regular updates on road and traffic conditions. 

City of Everett Independence Day Celebration!

Advisory: Somerville

Daily Off-Peak Lane Closures on Route 28 (McGrath Highway) Northbound from Broadway to Route 38 (Mystic Avenue)

Monday, June 30^th through Wednesday, July 2^nd – 9AM-3PM

SOMERVILLE – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing construction operations on the right lanes on Route 28 (McGrath Highway) northbound from Broadway to Mystic Avenue (Route 38) in Somerville for drainage installation.

One travel lane will be temporarily closed during work hours. All other travel lanes will remain open, and all lanes will be open during peak travel hours.

This work is part of a $12 million project to improve safety, update traffic signal systems, and enhance mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists along Route 28 and Route 38 in Somerville.

Appropriate signage and law enforcement details will be in place to guide drivers through the work area.  Drivers traveling through the area should expect delays, reduce speed, and use caution.

All scheduled work is weather dependent and subject to change without notice.

For more information on traffic conditions, travelers are encouraged to:

• Download the Mass511 mobile app or visit www.mass511.com to view live cameras, travel times, real time traffic conditions, and project information before setting out on the road. Users can subscribe to receive text and email alerts for traffic conditions.
• Dial 511 and select a route to hear real time conditions.
• Follow @MassDOT on X (formerly known as Twitter) to receive regular updates on road and traffic conditions.

The MBTA announced service changes in July on the Red, Orange, and Framingham/Worcester lines.  

Riders can find more information on service changes through in-station signage, in-station public announcements, and at mbta.com/PlannedWork. Transit Ambassadors and MBTA staff will be available on-site to offer information and assistance during these service changes. Riders are encouraged to subscribe to T-Alerts or to follow the MBTA on X @MBTA, @MBTA_CR, and @MBTA_CR_Alerts for up-to-date service information.   

On the Red Line: 

In order to accomplish planned maintenance work: 

• Red Line service between Kendall/MIT and JFK/UMass will be replaced with free and accessible shuttle bus service during the following dates: 

• Beginning at approximately 8:30 PM on Thursday, July 10, and all day, every day, for the next three days, July 11 – 13. 

• Beginning at approximately 8:30 PM on Thursday, July 17, and all day, every day, for the next three days, July 18 – 20. 

• Free and accessible shuttle bus service will make all stops between Kendall/MIT and JFK/UMass with the exception of Park Street.  

• Riders heading southbound should instead disembark at Otis Street @ Summer Street and use the Winter Street concourse to travel between Downtown Crossing and Park Street. 

• Riders heading northbound should instead disembark at Federal Street @ Franklin Street and use the Winter Street concourse to travel between Downtown Crossing and Park Street. 

• Shuttle buses will also serve State (on the Orange and Blue lines) and Haymarket (on the Orange and Green lines) for easier connections to other subway lines. 

• Riders using shuttle buses should budget ample extra travel time. For example, a rider traveling to Downtown Crossing from Ashmont or Braintree should budget an additional 30 – 45 minutes of travel time in addition to their regular commute.

• There will be free fares with the fare gates open at JFK/UMass, Kendall/MIT, Haymarket, State, and South Station. 

• Riders are encouraged to consider fare-free Commuter Rail service between Braintree and South Station as well as between Porter and North Station. 

• This service change is in place to perform regular, planned maintenance work. This maintenance work will address routine needs, ensure that all infrastructure is in peak operating condition, and includes inspections, adjustments, and repairs to keep the system safe and running smoothly.  

On the Orange Line:  

In order to modernize signals and perform accessibility upgrades at Jackson Square: 

• Orange Line service will be suspended between Wellington and Back Bay during the weekend of July 26 – 27.  

• Free and accessible shuttle buses will operate during this service change.  

• Local shuttle buses will make all stops between Wellington and North Station. 

• Express shuttle buses will operate directly between Wellington and North Station. 

• For service through the downtown area near Back Bay, riders are encouraged to utilize parallel Green Line service between North Station and Copley (which is less than a quarter-mile or about a four-minute walk from Back Bay). The MBTA will increase Green Line service during this time to accommodate Orange Line riders. 

• There will be free fares with the fare gates open at Back Bay, Copley, Wellington, and North Station. 

• Riders are encouraged to consider fare-free Commuter Rail service between Oak Grove and North Station as well as between Forest Hills and South Station. 

• This service change is in place to accomplish signal upgrade work on the Orange Line. By upgrading its signals, the MBTA expects to significantly increase operational efficiency and improve scheduling reliability for all riders. 

• Orange Line service will bypass Jackson Square beginning at approximately 9 PM until the end of service each day for 30 days in the following way:

• In the Forest Hills-bound direction, July 26 – August 9. 

• Forest Hills-bound riders wanting to exit at Jackson Square should instead exit at Stony Brook and board an Oak Grove-bound train back to Jackson Square. 

• Forest Hills-bound riders wanting to board at Jackson Square should instead board an Oak Grove-bound train at Jackson Square, exit at Roxbury Crossing, and board a Forest Hills-bound train to their destination. 

• In the Oak Grove-bound direction, August 10 – August 24. 

• Oak Grove-bound riders wanting to exit at Jackson Square should instead exit at Roxbury Crossing and board a Forest Hills-bound train back to Jackson Square. 

• Oak Grove-bound riders wanted to board at Jackson Square should instead board a Forest Hills-bound train at Jackson Square, exit at Stony Brook, and board an Oak Grove-bound train to their destination. 

• This service change is in place to accomplish accessibility upgrades at the platform-level of Jackson Square. 

On the Framingham/Worcester Commuter Rail Line:  

In order to continue accessibility improvements at Natick Center Station: 

• Framingham/Worcester Commuter Rail Line service will be suspended between Framingham and South Station during the weekend of July 26 – 27. 

• A dedicated diversion schedule will be available on com.  

• Free and accessible shuttle bus service will replace train service between Framingham and South Station. There will be four shuttle routes available during this closure. 

• Shuttle Bus Route 1 will operate between Framingham, West Natick, Natick Center, Wellesley Square, Wellesley Hills, and South Station.  

• Shuttle Bus Route 2 will operate between Wellesley Hills, Riverside on the Green Line D Branch for connections to the subway, Auburndale, West Newton, Newtonville, Boston Landing, and South Station.  

• Shuttle Bus Route 3 will operate between Framingham, West Natick, Natick Center, Wellesley Square, Wellesley Hills, and Back Bay. 

• Shuttle Bus Route 4 will operate between Wellesley Hills, Riverside on the Green Line D Branch for connections to the subway, Auburndale, West Newton, Newtonville, Boston Landing, and Back Bay. 

• There will be no shuttle bus stops at Wellesley Farms and Lansdowne.     

• Passengers who typically board at Wellesley Farms should instead travel to Riverside. 

• Passengers who typically board at Lansdowne should instead travel to Kenmore (which is about a quarter mile or a six-minute walk) for shuttle bus service or to connect to the Green Line B, C, and D Branches for further Red Line connections toward South Station. 

• Passengers should also note that Commuter Rail service between Worcester and Framingham will be fare-free during this service change.  

• This service change is in place due to work taking place on the Natick Center Station Accessibility Improvements project.  

The MBTA previously announced service changes in June. More information is available here.   

The MBTA understands how these service changes affect riders’ daily travels during this period, but we are committed to improving your travels long term with more reliable, timely, and safe service. We thank riders for their patience as we deliver this important work and for continuing to ride our system.  

For more information, visit mbta.com/PlannedWork or connect with the T on X @MBTA and @MBTA_CR, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, Threads @thembta, or TikTok @thembta.  

Due to extreme heat today and tomorrow, the MBTA may need to operate trains at reduced speeds in some areas to ensure safety as we compensate for heat-related stress on the tracks, which could result in slightly longer travel times.   

The MBTA will also have crews stationed around the system to provide assistance. Riders are encouraged to learn more about keeping cool in the heat and consult the T’s Extreme Heat Guide.  

What to Expect on the T 

• In addition to operating trains at reduced speeds if necessary, the MBTA will have crews performing track inspections and prepared to make emergency repairs as needed.  

• Overhead wires that power some MBTA trolleys and trains expand and sag during extremely hot weather. MBTA personnel are making adjustments to prevent low-hanging wires.  

• Air conditioning is being checked and repaired wherever needed. Just like home, buses stay cooler when the windows are closed. Riders can help keep things cool by closing open bus windows.  

Report a Hot Vehicle

Riders are strongly encouraged to let MBTA staff know if there is an air conditioning issue on your bus or train. Tell your operator, let a station official know, call 617-222-3200, send us a message, or message the MBTA on X @MBTA. Be sure to include your bus or train number.