Charlie Breitrose
The 122nd Boston Marathon is Monday, and it could impact your travel plans.
The 2018 Boston Marathon will once again draw thousands of spectators to the 26.2 mile course from Hopkinton to Copley Square, and the race may impact how you get around on Monday. See info about the T, spectator rules, street closings and more.
To accommodate the race, the T will make some changes to its normal service, including altering some routes, closing some subway stations. In some cases the T has added more service to move the crowds around the area.
Due to safety concerns, Copley Station will be closed for the entire day on April 16. Customers are instead encouraged to use:
- Arlington Station (serving all Green Line branches)
- Prudential Station (Green Line E Branch)
- Hynes Convention Center Station (Green Line B, C, and D branches)
- Back Bay Station (Orange Line)
From approximately 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., these above-ground Green Line stations will be closed:
- South Street (B Branch)
- Kent Street (C Branch)
- St. Mary’s Street (C Branch)
A number of bus routes near the Marathon course are detoured to avoid street closures and heavy traffic.
There may be service delays both on the day of the Marathon and the weekend before it.
If you plan to park in an MBTA garage or lot, please allow additional travel time. Garages and lots may fill quickly due to high demand. Real-time parking capacity information will be tweeted from @MBTA.
Due to high ridership, bikes are not allowed on any MBTA vehicle on Marathon Monday, including folding bikes.
Bus and Other Subway Service
The Red, Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines will operate a regular weekday schedule with rush-hour levels of service before and after the race.
Buses and trackless trolleys will operate a regular weekday schedule on April 16, though some bus routes will be detoured to accommodate the marathon and other festivities. Pre-marathon events are also scheduled the weekend prior (April 14 – 15), resulting in route adjustments to various bus routes in and around Copley Square. Customers are encouraged to subscribe to T-Alerts and check alerts.
ADDITIONAL MBTA SERVICES
The T runs extra service to accommodate the large number of spectators:
Subway and Silver Line
All subway lines and the Silver Line will run additional service before and after the marathon.
Commuter Rail
The Worcester Line will run five additional trains, as well as five additional stops at Boston Landing.
View Worcester Line service for April 16 by clicking here.
See the 39 Watertown Residents Running the 2018 Boston Marathon
GETTING TO THE FINISH LINE
The finish line of the Boston Marathon on Boylston Street draws big crowds. One of the easiest ways to get there is on the MBTA.
Take the Green Line to Hynes Convention Center (from Brookline, Newton and points west) or Arlington Station (from downtown Boston). It’s a short walk to Copley Square from either station.
Take the Orange Line to Back Bay Station. It’s just a short walk to Copley Square.
A number of bus routes stop close to Copley Square, but keep in mind that due to road closures and heavy traffic, buses may be detoured or delayed.
Check bus service alerts for the most current information.
Here are some bus routes to consider:
9, 10, 39, 55, 170, 502, 503, 504, 553, CT1
Take your preferred Commuter Rail line into the city, then follow the instructions from your last stop:
- Back Bay Station puts you right in the heart of the action, just 2 blocks from Copley Square.
- From North Station, take the Green Line to Arlington Station.
- From South Station, take the Red Line to Park Street and transfer to the Green Line. Take the Green Line to Arlington Station.
MARATHON MBTA PASSES
The T offers two types of unlimited travel passes to help visitors get around easily on Marathon Monday.
One-Day Pass: Subway and Bus
For the best view of miles 22-24, from Cleveland Circle to St. Mary’s Street, get an unlimited subway and bus pass for only $12.
You can buy the pass at any fare vending machine, and it’s valid for 24 hours after purchase.
Worcester Line All-day Pass
If you’d like to travel along the marathon route to see the runners in Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, and more, pick up an All-day Commuter Rail Marathon Pass for just $20.
The pass is valid for unlimited travel on the Worcester Line, which runs parallel to the marathon route. Many stops are less than ¼ mile from the course.
Buy yours on the mTicket app, with cash on board the train on Marathon Monday, or at the ticket windows located in:
- North Station
- South Station
- Back Bay
ROAD CLOSURES
According to Boston.com, streets along the Marathon route will be closed at the following locations and times:
– Hopkinton from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
– Ashland from 7:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
– Framingham from 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
– Natick from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
– Wellesley from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
– Newton from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
– Brookline from 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
– Boston until 6:30 p.m.
RACE INFO
See when each wave of competitors will start the Boston Marathon.
| Mobility Impaired | 8:40 a.m. ET |
| Men’s Push-Rim Wheelchair | 9:02 a.m. ET |
| Women’s Push-Rim Wheelchair | 9:04 a.m. ET |
| Handcycles & Duos | 9:25 a.m. ET |
| Elite Women** | 9:32 a.m. ET |
| Elite Men & Wave One | 10:00 a.m. ET |
| Wave Two | 10:25 a.m. ET |
| Wave Three | 10:50 a.m. ET |
| Wave Four | 11:15 a.m. ET |
SPECTATOR RULES
The BAA released Spectator Rules for those going to watch the race on Monday, and are asking people “for their cooperation in following reasonable and common sense guidelines that will help ensure the safety and security of participants, volunteers and spectators.”
Along the route, expect to see a significant presence of uniformed and plain clothed police officers, the BAA said. Some spectators will have to pass through security check points and have their bags, and other items, checked as they enter official BAA event venues and as they approach viewing areas along the course.
Spectators along the course, or within any official BAA venue are discouraged from possessing any of the items listed below:
- Weapons or items of any kind that may be used as weapons, including firearms, knives, mace, etc.
- Backpacks or any similar item carried over the shoulder.
- Suitcases and rolling bags/rollers.
- Coolers.
- Glass containers or cans.
- Flammable liquids, fuels, fireworks or explosives.
- Any container capable of carrying more than 1 liter of liquid.
- Handbags or packages or bulky items larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 6 inches.
- Large blankets/comforters, duvets, sleeping bags.
- Costumes covering the face or any non-form fitting, bulky outfits extending beyond the perimeter of the body.
- Props (including sporting equipment and military and fire gear).
- In addition, public safety officials are asking the public to assist in creating a No-Drone Zone along the entire course at this year’s Boston Marathon. The use of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) anywhere in the area of the course, including above runners and spectators, is strongly discouraged.
OTHER INFO
The race will be broadcast on WBZ Channel 4 beginning at 7 a.m. and running until 7 p.m. A re-broadcast of the race will be shown on myTV Channel 38 beginning at 8 p.m. on Monday. For live streaming, a course guide and a finish line cam, go to CBSBoston.com.
You can follow runners on the Boston Marathon Mobile App. For information click here.