BOSTON — It’s no surprise that traveling around the holidays is busy. On the roads alone, 43 million people are expected. To help ease the stress of driving, riding or flying, MassDOT has said what you can expect and how to prepare.
“Thanksgiving is an incredibly busy time for travel, whether on the roads, in the skies, or on public transit,” said MassDOT transportation secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “The get-away rush will be starting Tuesday, and we encourage everyone to think ahead, have a plan and exercise patience with each other.”
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If you're hitting the road, Wednesday between 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. is expected to be the busiest. To hopefully help, MassDOT is halting construction, extending the HOV lane hours and offering free coffee.
Construction will stop Tuesday after 5 a.m. through next Monday at 5 a.m.
The HOV lane on 93 between Boston and Quincy will stay open longer, on Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. and on Wednesday from 1 to 8 p.m. The lane will be closed on Thursday and Friday.
With busy travel around Logan Airport, the Sumner Tunnel swing lane won’t be deployed from Tuesday at 10 a.m. through Monday at 5 a.m.
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To help drivers stay alert, they can pick up free coffee at 18 different MassDOT service plazas from Thursday starting at 10 p.m. to Friday at 5 a.m. That includes 11 service plazas along the Mass Pike and plazas along Route 3 in Plymouth, Route 128 in Beverly, Route 128/95 in Newton and Lexington, Route 6 in Barnstable, and the Route 24 northbound and southbound plazas.
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If you're taking the T, the Silver Line will provide service between South Station and Logan Airport terminals every 10 minutes. Service is free from Logan to the South Boston Seaport District and South Station.
On the rails, Amtrak Acela from Boston to Washington D.C. and Northeast Regional from Boston to Virginia services on the Northeast Corridor will extend its schedules during the week. The Amtrak Downeaster will make five round trips each day between Brunswick and Boston during the week.
Last year on Amtrak, more than 846,000 riders traveled during the week, its largest count to date.
If you're flying, Logan is expected to be the busiest on Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and Sunday and Monday after, with close to one million people traveling.
Parking will be tight, and MassDOT suggests travelers use the MBTA, Logan Express, or a water shuttle to get to the airport.
Drop-offs for Uber and Lyft services between 4 and 10 a.m. will be on the lower level.
Read MassDOT's complete travel advisory here.
More holiday resources:
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