May 7, 2004

Preparations for the Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) committee has released its plans for changes in traffic and public transportation during the week of the convention, which will be held at the Fleet Center July 26 to 29.

Because of the hospital's proximity to the Fleet Center, convention activities will have a significant effect on the hospital's main campus. During this time, inpatient activities are expected to be "business as usual," and outpatients will likely be affected by transportation issues. The hospital recommends flexibility in schedules for research activities where possible. Employees also are encouraged to wear their ID badges at all times at the hospital and take them home for easy access upon arrival to work.
The following information outlines expected road closures, traffic changes and public transportation revisions. MGH employees are encouraged to use this current information to plan their commute to and from the hospital during the convention dates and to help answer questions from patients and visitors. This information, however, is subject to change at any time.

Further information about DNC plans will be disseminated through broadcast e-mail messages, articles in hospital publications and a dedicated DNC website currently being developed. Employees with questions about their department plans for the DNC, should speak to their supervisors.

Changes to major arteries and roads
Route 93 will be closed in both directions each evening from Monday, July 26 through Thursday, July 29, during the hours the DNC is in session. The exact closing times will not be released for security reasons until shortly before the convention opens.

The highway will be closed from the Route 60 exit in the north to the Mass Pike/South Station (exit 20) ramp in the south. No trucks will be allowed on Route 93 between Reading and Braintree. The State Police will divert all truck traffic onto Route 128/95 at these intersections, which will cause additional delays for those who use that route.

There will be a restricted vehicle lane on Route 93 north and south from Sunday, July 25 through Friday, July 30 for emergency vehicles and MBTA buses only.

Route 1 South and the southbound lanes of the Tobin Bridge will be closed starting at Route 60 during the evening hours when Route 93 is closed. All southbound traffic will be diverted to other routes, with the exception of emergency vehicles and MBTA buses. Route 1A South will be closed at the airport exit. The Sumner Tunnel (airport to downtown Boston) will be closed to vehicle traffic with the exception of emergency vehicles and MBTA buses. The closures will coincide with the Route 93 evening closure.

The Storrow Drive/Leverett Circle connector to Route 93 North and South will be closed every evening when Route 93 is closed. Storrow Drive westbound will be open as will eastbound, but the State Police hope to get as many drivers as possible to use roads other than Storrow Drive eastbound. Eastbound traffic at Leverett Circle will be directed to O'Brien Highway or Martha Road. This will cause major delays on Storrow Drive eastbound.

Changes to City of Boston Streets
There are no changes at this time for Blossom, North Grove, Parkman, Fruit Street, O'Connell Way and Cambridge Street, all of which lead to the hospital. Cambridge Street, however, will be affected by the heavier than normal volume exiting and entering Storrow Drive at Charles Circle.

Other streets near the hospital will be affected as well. Half of Staniford Street will be closed and the other half will be converted to two-way traffic 24 hours a day from Monday, July 26 to Friday, July 30. Martha Road will be open but will have a barrier down the center. Merrimac Street will be closed from 2 pm to midnight. Vehicles using the 101 Merrimac St. garage will be allowed to exit the garage. Causeway Street will be closed to vehicle traffic 24 hours a day from Monday, July 26 to Friday, July 30. Nashua Street will be open from Leverett Circle to the Spaulding Rehabilitation Center only.

Alternate driving routes are being developed by law enforcement and transportation authorities and will be published prior to the convention.

Changes to MBTA/public transportation
The North Station commuter rail and Orange and Green line subway stations will be closed Friday, July 23 in the evening and will reopen Friday, July 30.

For commuter rail passengers, alternate suggestions are as follows

Fitchburg Line — Passengers should transfer to the Red Line at Porter Square.

Lowell Line — Passengers should transfer at Anderson/RTC for bus service directly to the Red Line at South Station. Passengers also can transfer to a second bus route from Winchester to the Red Line at South Station via Wedgemere and West Medford stations.

Haverhill Line — Passengers should transfer to the Orange Line at Oak Grove.

Newburyport and Rockport Lines — During rush hour (up to 10 am and after 4 pm each day) passengers can transfer at Lynn Station to bus service that connects with the Red Line at South Station. During the hours of 10 am to 4 pm when passengers transfer to a bus at Lynn Station, it will connect with the Blue Line at Wonderland Station. Passengers can remain on the train until they reach Chelsea Station where they can transfer to bus route # 111, which connects with the Orange and Green lines at Haymarket Station. At Chelsea Station, passengers also have the option of taking bus route # 116 or bus route # 117 to Wonderland Station on the Blue Line.

The following changes will be made to subway services

Orange Line — The only change to the Orange Line is that it will not stop at the North Station stop from Friday, July 23 to Friday, July 30.

Green Line — Beginning in early June, buses will replace trolley service between Haymarket and Lechmere stations. Starting the evening of July 23, the buses will go directly from Science Park to Haymarket, bypassing North Station. Service to North Station will resume sometime on July 30.

Red Line — Four commuter rail lines now will be transferring all passengers to the Red Line at South Station or Porter Square. The new temporary Charles Street MBTA Red Line Station is scheduled to open in early June.

Blue and Silver Lines — There are no changes to service at this time.

Other transportation issues
The hospital has petitioned the MBTA to extend the hours of service by one hour at the beginning and ending of normal service hours. The MBTA will be running extra trains and buses to handle additional volume.

For those who travel to the city via the commuter boat at Lovejoy Wharf, this service will be closed from Friday, June 23 to Friday, June 30.

Partners Transportation will provide shuttle service for all existing shuttle routes. The pick-up locations for the routes will not change, except for the North Station pick-up location. Information about alternate stop locations will be distributed once they are finalized.