Plan Ahead for Holiday Travel

MassDOT encourages residents and visitors to drive safely and use public transportation where possible during the upcoming holidays.

As always, I-90 Exit 9 connecting I-84 to Connecticut and New York experiences heavy traffic on peak holiday travel days. Drivers are encouraged to consider travel during the early morning or after 8 p.m.  Traffic congestion is also typical at the I-95 and I-495 Turnpike interchanges along with I-495 and I-93 northbound leading into New Hampshire.

To avoid cash tolls, EZPass on the Go transponders are available at all 11 I-90 Service Plazas.  

MassDOT's Traffic and Travel Resources page includes links to all MassDOT travel resources.

Visit MassDOT's online traffic camera webpage with more than 90 live traffic cameras throughout the highway system. The cameras refresh every 10 seconds to provide real time traffic views.  The 511 traffic alert system alerts customers to traffic conditions throughout the holiday weekend.

Free coffee will be served at all 18 MassDOT service plazas courtesy of McDonalds, Burger King, and Gulf between 10 p.m. on Christmas night, Tuesday, December 25, until 5 a.m. on Wednesday, December 26, and between 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve, Monday, December 31, until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, January 1, 2013.

In case of wintry travel weather, motorists should drive with headlights on, observe posted speed limits, never drink and drive, make sure everyone is using a seatbelt and be on the lookout for changing weather conditions. More information on safe winter driving is available at the MassDOT website.

The MBTA Christmas Day through New Year's Day holiday service schedule includes a Sunday service schedule for Tuesday, December 25 and Tuesday, January 1, 2013.  The T provides additional trains and FREE service after 8:00pm on New Year's Eve, December 31.  Check out the full T schedule at www.mbta.com.