Marathon Monday: How to Navigate the T

This makes me want to run the marathon!
BTAT file photo: April 2011

     The city of Boston will be abuzz with tourists, runners, and their families next past weekend, as everyone gathers for the 117th annual Boston Marathon. 

It is the oldest annual city race in the world and attracts some 500,000 spectators along the route every year (To give some perspective, the entire population of Boston proper stands at just over 617,000.) Over 20,000 runners participate every year, making this a major event for Boston.

With more people filing into the city, streets, attractions, stores, and YES the MBTA will be much more crowded that usual. 

If you plan on utilizing the MBTA on Monday April, 15 there are a few things that you should know: 


Subway & BRT

• Red, Orange, Green, Blue, and Silver line service will run on a NORMAL weekday schedule and will run at rush-hour levels before and after the race. 

• Copley Station will be CLOSED all day. Customers wanting to get to the Marathon will have to use Hynes Convention Center or Arlington stations. Passengers will only be able to exit from the Boylston Street side of Hynes Convention Center Station. 

• Word of Advice: If you don't have an MBTA Link-Pass make sure you add value to your Charlie Card before Marathon Monday. Lines will become very long at Charlie vending machines.

Commuter Rail:

• ALL MBCR Commuter rail lines will operate on their regular weekday schedules. 

Bus:

• Buses and trackless trolleys will operate on a Saturday schedule.

• The following bus routes will NOT OPERATE on April 15th. 
•  CT1, CT2, CT3, 4, 19, 52, 67, 68, 79, 84, 85, 114, 121, 131, 170, 217, 221, 245, 424, 424W, 428, 434, 439, 448, 449, 451, 456, 459, 502, 503, 505, 554, 556, 558.

Crowds near the Prudential Center
BTAT file photo: April 2011

• Some buses will be rerouted at certain times during the day to prevent disruption of the race. These routes include: 8, 9, 10, 39, 47, 55, 57, 59, 60, 62, 65, 66, 76, 86, 94, 95, 96, 101, 134, 350, 504. 

The MBTA expects that with the dramatically increased ridership and extreme crowds on Marathon Monday passengers should expect delays on different parts of the system throughout the day. (Especially Commuter Rail and the Green Line service) Make sure you check MBTA.com or follow @MBTA_Alerts for up-to-date service alerts.

You can also watch LIVE coverage of the Boston Marathon on the Boston Athletic Association's website: HERE.

Good luck to ALL of the runners!