Boston Transportation

The Boston transportation system includes roadway, subway, regional rail, air, and sea options for passenger and freight transit in Boston, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operates the Port of Boston, which includes a container shipping facility in South Boston, and Logan International Airport, in East Boston. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operates bus, subway, short distance rail, and water ferry passenger services throughout the city and region. Amtrak operates passenger rail service to and from major northeastern cities. A major bus terminal at South Station is served by varied intercity bus companies. The city is bisected by major highways I-90 and I-93, the intersection of which has undergone a major renovation, nicknamed the Big Dig.

The streets of Boston may seem as though they were not planned—a common myth is that they evolved from old cowpaths—but in the 17th century they avoided steep hills, swamps, marshes, and bodies of water, before the original peninsula comprising the city was expanded with landfill in the 19th century. Except for the Back Bay and part of the South Boston neighborhoods, Boston has no street grid, which is confusing for visitors and even longtime residents. Roads change names and lose and add lanes seemingly at random, and many drivers are flummoxed by rotaries. It was (and remains) common for a roadway to change its name every time it crossed a town or city boundary. The City of Boston, composed of many smaller towns annexed over the years, retained most of the pre-existing street names, resulting in many duplicates throughout the city. For example, the many disjointed Washington Streets in Boston make it essential to specify which neighborhood is under discussion.

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