The T: Boston's Subway System - The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority
(MBTA) maintains America's first subway system, buses, and commuter
rail. The subway - known as "the T" for short - is the quickest and
easiest way to get around in central Boston. There are five color-coded
lines:
- Green Line - Connects East Cambridge to Brighton, Brookline, and
Newton. This line uses articulated light rail trolleys that run on
the streets outside of the city center. Splits into four branch lines
(B, C, D, and E), but all branches run on the same rails in the
downtown area. Includes the stop for the Paulist Center (Park
Street).
- Red Line -Connects Cambridge to Dorchester and Quincy. Includes
stops at the Boston Marriot Cambridge (Kendall Square) and the
Paulist Center (Park Street).
- Blue Line - Connects Government Center to East Boston and Revere.
The airport stop and the stop closest to Long Wharf (Aquarium) are on
this line.
- Orange Line - Connects Malden, Medford, and Charlestown to Jamaica
Plain. The Downtown Crossing stop connects to Park Street via a
pedestrian walkway offering easy access to the Paulist Center.
- Silver Line - The MBTA's new "rapid transit" bus line runs on two
branches - one on Washington Street in the South End and Roxbury and
the other from South Station to Logan Airport and several spurs into
South Boston. The Logan Airport line is particularly useful as it
makes stops at each terminal and connects directly with a free
transfer to the Red Line at South Station making it by far the most
convenient route between the airport and the Boston Marriot
Cambridge.
The four main transfer stops in downtown Boston are Park Street
(Green/Red with walkway to Orange), Downtown Crossing (Orange/Red with
walkway to Green), State (Orange/Blue) and Government Center
(Green/Blue). Any train heading toward one of these four stations is an
Inbound train, and any train heading away from these four stations is an
Outbound train.
Visitor's
Passes are available for purchase at the Airport T Stop and at other
major stops on the system.
