MassDOT issues July 9 travel advisory

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation issued a July 9 advisory telling drivers and transit riders to expect delays around Foxborough and Boston before the France-Morocco World Cup quarterfinal at Boston Stadium. The match was scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, and MassDOT said travel patterns would differ from a typical stadium event because of road controls, transit demand and activity around South Station. State officials urged fans to use public transportation where possible and to check live updates before leaving. WCVB reported early Thursday that road closures were already in effect near South Station and that game-day traffic controls were being deployed. ### What changed on the roads for Thursday’s match? Route 1 was set to operate with a contraflow lane for the quarterfinal, according to WCVB’s account of the advisory. WCVB also reported that traffic would be allowed in the breakdown lane and that the Interstate 93 south HOV lane would open early at 1 p.m. ahead of the 4 p.m. kickoff. MassDOT’s broader World Cup transportation guidance says road travel to and from Boston Stadium is expected to be different from other events throughout the year. (wcvb.com) The agency said drivers should expect heavier-than-usual traffic, allow extra time and consider alternate routes or remote work if they are not attending stadium or City Hall Plaza events. ### Why were officials pushing public transit again? (wcvb.com) Phillip Eng, the state’s interim transportation secretary and MBTA general manager, said in the advisory that MassDOT and the MBTA were “fully prepared” for the last World Cup match at Boston Stadium. Eng said the agencies had already helped move tens of thousands of fans to Gillette Stadium on prior match days and urged travelers to plan ahead, take public transportation whenever possible and allow extra travel time. (mass.gov) MassDOT’s World Cup transportation page says the MBTA commuter rail is “highly recommended” for trips to Foxborough and that Boston Stadium Trains run an express route from South Station to the stadium and back after matches. The agency also says parking in Foxborough is by prepaid reservation only and is extremely limited. ### What did the advisory mean for people not going to the game? (wcvb.com) Foxborough and Boston were both part of the warning area because the travel plan extended beyond the stadium footprint. MassDOT said people using the transportation network on match days should expect normal travel patterns to be disrupted, especially when matches overlap with commuting hours. Thursday’s quarterfinal fell in the afternoon, the same period MassDOT had flagged in its May “Kick the Drive” campaign as a pressure point for traffic. (mass.gov) South Station was a particular focus because it is the departure point for the event trains to Boston Stadium. WCVB reported that closures were already in place there early Thursday, adding another layer for commuters and matchgoers moving through downtown Boston. ### Where were travelers told to look before leaving? MassDOT told motorists and transit customers to check Mass511 for statewide road conditions and the MBTA’s World Cup and Boston Stadium pages for schedule information before departing. (mass.gov) The agency’s transportation page says those resources carry current guidance for commuter rail, subway and bus service tied to tournament operations. (wcvb.com) The July 9 advisory applied to the France-Morocco quarterfinal, which was the final World Cup match scheduled at Boston Stadium in Massachusetts. Eng also told riders using MBTA event trains to arrive at their listed boarding-group time for smoother boarding. (wcvb.com)