Back in Boston: an MBTA Student Guide

September 1st has come and gone, which means nearly 150,000 college students are back in Boston for the start of a new school year. That is why I have decided to created the Official Students Guide to the MBTA.

If you are a new student that is struggling to find your way around the city or if you are a returning student that is still unsure of what and where Wonderland is, then this guide is for you.

Lines:

Courtesy: MBTA

The MBTA consists of  3 rapid transit lines, 1 light rail line, and 1 Bus Rapid Transit line which all operate within the city:

Rapid Transit (Subway):
     Red Line (Alewife - Ashmont/Braintree)
     Blue Line (Wonderland - Bowdoin)
     Orange Line (Oak Grove - Forest Hills)
Light Rail (Subway/Street Car):
     Green Line (Lechmere - BC/Cleveland Circle/Riverside/Heath St)

Bus Rapid Transit (Bus)
      Silver Line (Airport-South Station- Dudly Square)

The MBTA also operates an extensive Commuter Rail network that runs out into the suburbs of Massachusetts and Rhode Island including Lowell, Providence, Worcester, and Fitchburg.



Fares and Passes:

Most students who live in the city believe that having a credit card is one of the most valuable things they can have in their possession. Personally I feel that my Charlie Card is much more valuable than my credit card. The first thing you should do as a student in the city of Boston is pick up a Charlie Card. Not only are the fares cheaper when using a Charlie Card  but you can also find some good discounts when you show your card at different retailers. Download the Charlie Card Discount Book HERE.

The cards can be picked up at just about any station in the system that is manned by MBTA personnel or you can grab one at the Charlie Card Store in Downtown Crossing Station.

Fare breakdown:

Subway : $2.00 with Charlie Card and $2.50 with cash or Charlie Ticket.

Bus : $1.50 with Charlie Car and $2.00 with cash or Charlie Ticket.

Commuter Rail: http://mbta.com/fares_and_passes/rail/



How to get to different Colleges on the T:

It took me quite a while to figure out where each college was in the city and how I could use public transit to get there. Here is a full list of Colleges and Universities in the city and how you can get to them by way of the MBTA.

Berklee College of Music: Green Line to Hynes Convention Center Station or Green Line "E" to Symphony Hall Station.


Boston College: Green Line 'B' to Boston College Station

Boston University: Green Line 'B' to Blandford St, BU East, Central, West, and St. Paul St. Station

Bunker Hill Community College: Orange Line to Community College Station

Emerson College: Green Line to Boylston Station

Harvard University: Red Line to Harvard Station


MassArt: Green Line 'E' to Longwood Station

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy: Green Line 'E' to Longwood Station


M. I. T. : Red Line to Kendall/MIT Station


Northeastern University: Orange Line to Ruggles Station or Green Line 'E' to Northeastern Station.

Simmons College: Green Line 'E' to Museum of Fine Arts Station.

Suffolk University: Red or Green line to Park Street Station

Tufts University: Red Line to Davis Square Station

Umass Boston: Red Line to JFK/Umass Station

Wentworth Institute of Technology: Green Line 'E' to Museum of Fine Arts Station.

Colleges of the Fenway (Wheelock, Emanuel): Green Line 'D' to Fenway Station.


Shopping:

Most students who have just moved into a dorm or a new apartment may still need to go out and by a few things to help furnish their space. This can be frustrating in the city because you have to travel outside of it in order to get to your big box stores.

Groceries:

Whole Foods Market:  Fenway Location: Green Line 'E' to Symphony Hall Station
                                    Beacon Hill Location:  Red Line to Charles/MGH Station

Shaws and Star Market: Prudential Location: Green Line 'E' to Prudential Station
                                       Fenway Location: Green Line 'D' to Fenway Station
                                       CambridgeLocation: Red Line to Central Square Station.
                                       Somerville Location: Red Line to Porter Square Station.
                                       Allston Location: Green Line to Packard's Corner Station.
                                     
Trader Joes: Boylston St. Location: Green Line to Hynes Convention Center Station
                    Coolidge Corner Location: Green Line 'C' to Coolidge Corner Station
                   
Stop and Shop: Red Line to Andrew Station


Home Furnishing/Electronics:

Target: Red Line to Andrew Station

Bed Bath and Beyond: South Bay Location: Red Line to Andrew Station
                                        Fenway Location: Green Line 'D' to Fenway Station

Best Buy: Green Line 'D' to Fenway Station

The Home Depot: Red Line to Andrew Station

Staples: Downtown Location: Green Line to Government Center Station
              Fenway Location: Green Line "D" to Fenway Station
              Harvard Square Location: Red Line to Harvard Square Station.
              Allston Location: Green Line 'B' to Harvard Ave Station.