Alternative Travel Options During 2023 Sumner Tunnel Closure

Effective September 1, 2023, parking rates and normal fare collection resume on the Blue Line, all Commuter Rail lines, buses, ferries, and The RIDE. Lynn and Winthrop ferry service will continue through October 6, 2023, then start again in spring 2024.

The Sumner Tunnel will be closed seven days a week in the summer of 2024 from July to August. This webpage will be updated in the future with reduced fares and parking rates for riders affected by the closure.

Learn more about the MassDOT Sumner Tunnel Restoration project

The Sumner Tunnel, connecting East Boston and Logan Airport to downtown Boston, was closed seven days a week July 5, 2023 – August 31, 2023, for the MassDOT Sumner Tunnel Restoration project.

Jump to a section below to learn what the MBTA's alternative travel options, reduced fares, and discounted parking rates were during the closure:

•  Blue Line
•  Newburyport/Rockport Line
•  Ferry
•  Bus
•  The RIDE

Blue Line

We recommended the Blue Line for riders traveling between downtown Boston and Logan Airport, Revere, or East Boston.

• Ride cost: Free
• Parking cost: $2/day
• Service frequency: Every six minutes during morning and evening rush hours
• Travel time: Under 30 minutes between Wonderland and Bowdoin

View Blue Line schedule

Newburyport/Rockport Line

We recommended the Newburyport/Rockport Line for riders traveling between downtown Boston and cities and towns in the North Shore. Riders purchased tickets through the mTicket app or at any station.

Between July 1 – August 31, one-way and monthly travel from any station along the entire line was discounted to the Zone 1A rate.

• Ride cost: $2.40 one-way or any Zone 1A pass
• Parking cost: Free or $2/day
• Service frequency: About every 30 minutes during morning and evening rush hours
• Travel time: About 40 minutes to Boston from Salem or Swampscott

View Newburyport/Rockport Line schedule

Ferry

We recommended the ferries below for riders traveling between downtown Boston and East Boston, Lynn, or Winthrop. Riders purchased tickets through the mTicket app or at any ferry dock.

Skip the TSA line at Logan Airport: Logan Airport offered a Ticket to Skip program so that all passengers arriving by water transportation—including MBTA ferries and water taxis—received a ticket to skip to the front of the TSA security screening line. All water transportation to Logan arrived at the Logan Airport Ferry Dock by the Hyatt Hotel, then transferred to a free airport shuttle. Riders received the ticket to skip on the shuttle.

East Boston

We recommended riders take the East Boston Ferry between Lewis Wharf and Long Wharf (North).

• Ride cost: Free
• Parking cost: Parking not available
• Service frequency: Weekdays and weekends

View East Boston Ferry schedule

Lynn

We recommended riders take the new Lynn Ferry between Blossom Street Pier in Lynn and Long Wharf (South), Gate 4 in Boston.

• Ride cost: $2.40 one-way or any Zone 1A pass
• Parking cost: Free at the Blossom Street Pier* parking lot
• Service frequency: 10 trips per day on weekdays

* We tracked this station's parking lot capacity between 6 AM and 10 AM, Monday through Friday.

View Lynn Ferry schedule

Winthrop 

We recommended riders take the Winthrop Ferry between Winthrop, Quincy, Logan Airport, Aquarium (Central Wharf - South), and Seaport.

• Ride cost: $2.40 one-way or any Zone 1A pass
• Parking cost: Parking not available
• Service frequency: Weekdays only

View Winthrop Ferry schedule

Bus

The following bus routes were free during the closure:

• 111
• 112
• 114
• 116
• 117

View bus schedules

Service Changes to Routes Affected by the Closure

• 117 – early morning trips were diverted to Haymarket via Ted Williams Tunnel (instead of Sumner Tunnel).
• 450 – was temporarily terminated at Wood Island rather than Haymarket.

The RIDE

We asked RIDE customers scheduling trips during the closure to plan extra time for their trips, as traffic delays in the Boston area were likely. We suggested customers come prepared to possibly be in the RIDE vehicle longer than usual.

Any trip on The RIDE that began within 3/4 mile of the first bulleted list in the drop down below and ended within 3/4 mile of the second bulleted list was free July 5 – August 31.