BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) encourages Labor Day travelers to make informed decisions, utilize all the available technology tools including www.mass511.com, and use public transportation if possible to reach destinations.
“We advise everyone who will be traveling during the Labor Day weekend to plan ahead, check traffic conditions before setting out onto the roadways, and make smart decisions regarding the best mode, route and time to travel,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack.
“This is a great time to use www.mass511.com to view live drive times and traffic cameras or register to receive travel alerts, download our innovative GoTime mobile app, and visitwww.mbta.com to view schedules and information on public transit.”
MassDOT is taking several steps to ensure safe and reliable travel for all citizens who utilize transportation systems across the Commonwealth and will be shutting down scheduled roadway construction for the Labor Day travel period effective at noon, Friday, September 1, per MassDOT’s long-standing policy for holiday weekends. Scheduled road work will then resume at the start of normal business hours on Tuesday, September 5.
“We know from past experiences there are higher traffic volumes during the Labor Day weekend, and members of the public should make smart, informed decisions and do their part to reduce congestion and promote efficient transportation,” said Acting Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.
“It’s important that travelers exercise safe driving behavior, devote their full attention to the roadway, remain sober or use a designated driver, and minimize distractions to ensure everyone reaches their holiday destinations safely and reliably.”
MassDOT’s Emergency Services Programs, sponsored by MAPFRE, will be increasing patrols on all major roadways to support roadside assistance needs. Requests for assistance can be initiated by calling 911 and more information can be found here.
The MBTA has also released the following information regarding travel on Labor Day, Monday, September 4:
- All subway and commuter rail lines, buses, trackless trolleys, and commuter rails will operate on a Sundayschedule.
- This means some MBTA bus routes as well as the Needham Commuter Rail Line will not operate on Labor Day.
- All ferries and boats will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- The RIDE will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- On Saturday, September 2, and Sunday, September 3, MBTA Lowell Commuter Rail Line trains will be replaced with shuttle buses due to ongoing work installing federally mandated Positive Train Control equipment. On Labor Day, Monday, September 4, Lowell Commuter Rail Line trains will operate on the Sunday schedule effective May 22.
- For full MBTA schedule details, please visit http://www.mbta.com/events/.
For traffic and road conditions, drivers may use the following options to make decisions:
- Download MassDOT’s GoTime mobile app and view real-time traffic conditions before setting out on the road.
- Download Waze, the real-time traffic navigation app that provides motorists with real-time traffic conditions across Massachusetts.
- Visit www.mass511.com to view travel times, road construction, traffic alerts or crashes along a route. Incidents, road closures, lane closures, real-time live traffic cameras, and weather alerts/forecasts, can all be viewed on the interactive live Traffic Map.
- Dial 511 from a landline or cell phone to hear information on current conditions on major roadways.
- Register for a Mass511 account to create and personalize routes and alerts to be notified of events on those routes ahead of time.
- Visit MassDOT Highway Traffic and Travel Resources web page.
- Follow MassDOT on Twitter @MassDOT as incidents that impact traffic flow are generally mentioned in tweets if they occur on the state’s major highways.
The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy will have normal morning hours this week and open early for the afternoon commute at 1 p.m., today, Friday, September 1. The HOV lane will be closed onMonday, September 4, and will then re-open during regularly scheduled hours on Tuesday, September 5.
