This topic is for people to ask questions about taking the "T" (MBTA) in Boston or to share their tips.
My experience: I take the train and bus on a daily basis and have been virtually everywhere on the train lines (save for several commuter rails.) However, I am learning more every day and value any extra info and feedback you can provide on the thread!
UPDATES TO THE T FOR 2023:
- Masks are currently optional on the MBTA. Please know it is highly recommended to wear a mask.
- The Green Line construction is complete and goes all the way out to Medford/Tufts. Just in case you want to travel out or use it to get into town!
- A friendly reminder if you didn't come to AB last year: they have updated tickets and ticket machines. Please check that your card is not expired. When you buy a new ticket, make sure to use the CIRCULAR tap pads on the fare gates, as those can read the new cards. (Noted by Elli last year, if you have a grey strip, it's a new card!)
- Last, but not least: There are fancy new fare gates at NORTH STATION. If you are coming in via the commuter rail to North Station for AB, there are ticket fare gates for entering/exiting. They can read Charlie cards, tickets, and mTicket (MBTA Mobile App) tickets.
For tickets, it is the same concept - buy a single, round trip, or monthly Ticket, tap it (grey stripe) or swipe (black). Stored value is not accepted.
All that newfangled stuff outta the way? Good! Now, some tips about getting TO the Hynes from your T station of choice:
For the Green line: You can get off at the Hynes stop (B, C, D trains), ascend the stairs, and walk out to the exit. You should see construction in front of you. Turn left and cross the bridge toward Berklee College of Music. Once you hit the crosswalk, you can look left and you will see the Hynes and Prudential buildings. Walk in that direction until you are at the Hynes Entrance.
OR, the indoor-only method: Take the E to "Prudential." It's a whole walk indoors through a nice mall, instead of a walk outside along a major road with a big road crossing involved. When you step through the fare gates to exit, go left. Go up the escalator and through the door. Turn right, go up that escalator. Then, you can either follow the stream of cosplayers, or if you want directions: walk all the way down this corridor until you are in a bit of a "four way" foyer space. Take the left exit (where you see a "Shake Shack" at the other end.) Walk down there and you will find the Prudential Hynes Entrance.
For the orange line, some lovely people last year have given their guidance for how to get to AB.
If you took the Orange Line Train In: When you get off at Back Bay station, there are some exit gates behind the stairs. Through these, you can go through a tunnel under Dartmouth Street to get to the Copley Place Mall. Walk up the stairs to the ground level, then take the Elescalator to the 3rd floor of Copley Place. You then walk through the mall towards the Mariott, taking an escalator down to the second floor, and then to the Skybridge into the Prudential. (This spits you out near the CVS.)
Through there, walk through the corridor until you come to a "four way" foyer. Take the exit "straight ahead" (where you see a "Shake Shack" at the other end.) Walk down there and you will find the Prudential Hynes Entrance.
If you took the Commuter Rail/Purple Line Train In To Back Bay: You can either locate the stairs that take you down to the tunnel and behind the fare gates, or step outside for a bit to cross Dartmouth Street and walk into the Copley Place Mall. All indoors from there!
Thank you @PatrickD, @Elli21486, and @Shirley Dulcey from last year for helping make this post a better resource!
MBTA-ers, add on your tips about close to transit hotels, last-train out advice, and such, and those with questions: ask away!
(especially if I forgot something from last year's thread).
