May 21, 2004

DNC website launched for hospital

To further help the MGH community stay informed about hospital plans for the
upcoming Democratic National Convention (DNC) — to be held July 26 to 29 — the hospital has launched a website that has current DNC planning information.

Located at www2.massgeneral.org/dnc/, the website will be continuously updated to reflect the planning changes by local, state and federal officials that may affect hospital activities. The site also is linked to the main MGH website.

The hospital will remain open and operational during the convention. This website will help employees, staff, patients and visitors get the most current information to plan their travel to and from the hospital. As Hotline goes to press, the following
information should help clarify some questions about transportation issues. As the DNC committee releases more information to the public, this information could change. Employees and staff who have further questions, should contact their administrative supervisors for more information.

• Route 93 will not be closed for the entire day during the convention. It will be closed in both directions only in the evenings from July 26 through July 29.
  
• For passengers who travel on the Haverhill commuter rail line, the MBTA is directing them to transfer to the Orange Line at Oak Grove. The Orange Line will stop at the Haymarket Station, which is within walking distance of the main campus. A Partners shuttle bus will be available at Haymarket to bring passengers who cannot walk the distance to the main campus.
  
• Those who travel on the Newburyport, Rockport or Lowell commuter rail lines,
  will transfer to buses at various points on each route that will take them to South Station. From South Station, passengers can take the Red Line northbound three stops to the MGH/Charles Street T station, which is within walking distance of the hospital.
  
• A new temporary MGH/Charles Street T station will be opening May 22 at 5:30 am. The existing elevated walkway from the station will remain in place connected by a new set of stairs to the station entrance.
  
• Pedestrian access to streets near the hospital will continue.
  
• For those who take the commuter boat service at Lovejoy Wharf, this service will be closed from July 23 to July 30.
  
• Partners Transportation will provide shuttle service for all existing routes.
  The pick-up locations for the routes will not change, with the exception of
  the North Station location. Alternate stop locations will be distributed once they are finalized.