Boston Transit: Getting in and Around
Boston is celebrated as "America's Walking City," with a compact geography that makes getting around relatively quick and easy on foot. That fact makes some transportation options-like renting a car-fairly impractical. However, there are other useful options available for getting around the city if needed, all of which are easily efficient and affordable.
TO/FROM BOSTON-LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Bus
Logan International Airport is served directly by the Silver Line, the MBTA's bus rapid transit line, and serves every airport terminal (but does not serve the Airport T station). For most attendees to the ICA Conference, the Silver Line is the easiest and most efficient means of access: World Trade Center station, two stops from the airport, is a 5-minute walk from the conference hotel, the Westin Boston Waterfront. Silver Line buses serve Logan from early-morning thru late-evening hours (approximately 5 AM to 1 AM), every day. Buses operate every 10-15 minutes throughout the day.
Train
Logan International Airport is served by the Blue Line's (one of MBTA's 'T' train routes) Airport Station. Shuttle buses provide service between the T station and all airport terminals. Blue Line trains run from 5 AM to 12:30 AM daily. Trains operate every 5-10 minutes during the day and every 15-20 minutes overnight.
Taxicabs
Taxicabs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis from the lower level curb front of all terminals. Shared ride service is available. There are no flat rates because all taxicabs run on meters; however, a taxicab ride from Logan to downtown Boston will cost around $40.
Water Taxis
Three water taxi businesses operate at the Boston Logan Airport dock with more than a dozen vessels between them. Water taxis function like land taxis - passengers can board a water taxi waiting at the dock or call ahead for a reservation. If no water taxi is present, they can be called using one of the call boxes at the top of the gangway or by telephone. Standard one-way water taxi fare is $10 for adults, free for children under 12. Tickets are sold on board the boat.
IN BOSTON
There's plenty to enjoy and do in this great city. With world-class parks, museums, hotels, nightlife, food, and much more, the neighborhoods are bursting with personality and culture brought by the city's hard-working people from all around the world. There's never a dull moment in this bustling city. The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) provides over 1.3 million rides on an average weekday, and can get you anywhere you want to go in Boston and the surrounding suburbs. The MBTA, better known as simply The T, operates the nation's fifth largest public transportation system. Presently, T service is primarily provided by subway and bus.
Subway Service
"The T" is locally used most often for Boston's subway system, the oldest in the world. The T consists of five lines spanning the city and neighboring communities, including three rapid transit lines-the Blue, Red, and Orange Lines-and two light rail lines-the Green and "M" Lines-serving 122 stations over approximately 885 miles of track. Parts of the "T" run above ground, in subway tunnels and tubes, as well as at grade or in expressway medians.
Bus
The bus system comprises 183 routes (covering 2,517 route miles). Buses make over 15,000 trips daily, and serve over 8,000 bus stops throughout the region. T bus routes serve communities locally, move people across town, and a number of express services are provided. One route, the "Silver Line," is the city's sole bus rapid transit line, running on two routes: Washington Street (SL4 and SL5) and Waterfront (SL1 and SL2).
FARE INFORMATION
Full fare with cash: $2.00 (accepted on buses only in dollar bills or coins, no transfers available when paying cash): Full fare with farecard ("CharlieCard"): $1.70
CharlieCards
CharlieCards allow you to store value for fares and hold a combination of time-based passes which allow unlimited rides during a set period of time. Turnstiles and bus farecard machines automatically subtract fares and transfers and show the remaining value. Vending machines at all T stations can be used to add value to the card.
TAXIS
The large number of transit-shy tourists and locals ensures the trusty street taxicab a place in Boston's busy transportation system. For those occasions when you need a reliable private ride, here is your guide to taxicabs in Boston. As with other major cities, Boston licenses taxicabs and drivers. All city-licensed cabs display a medallion number both on the exterior of the car and on the interior. All cabs are also required to have a plexiglass partition between driver and back-seat passengers. There is no official cab color, though yellow, white, and silver taxis are most common. When hailing, remember that Boston cab drivers are required to accept a fare unless they have their "not for hire" light illuminated.
Boston taxis, it should be noted, have the highest fare rates of any major city in the United States The surcharge in Boston taxis-that is, the charge for simply getting in the cab-is $2.60. The standard meter rate is then 40 cents per 1/7 mile-thus $2.80 per mile (plus the $2.60 surcharge).