Travel to and Around Boston
Airport
Boston is serviced by Logan International Airport. There are several ways to leave the airport and get to where you are going:
Rideshare is very common at Logan and there are marked locations on where to wait for your ride.
If taking public transit, you’ll need to use the Silver Line (SL1). Unlike the rest of the MBTA, the Silver Line is a bus and can connect you to the train at South Station for free from the airport.
You can get to the airport on the Blue Line and get off at “Airport Station”. There is a short shuttle to Logan Airport from there.
You can also take Logan Express, another bus system, to/from the Airport to/from Back Bay, Braintree, Framingham, Peabody or Woburn. These are about $7 per ride (or $3 to/from Back Bay).
Car
Let’s say you are driving from elsewhere into Massachusetts and you do not want to drive directly into the city. You can park your car and take Logan Express, another bus system, to/from the Airport to/from Back Bay (in the city limits), or Braintree, Framingham, Peabody or Woburn (outside the city limits).
Parking in Boston is relatively straight forward. Please remember to read all signage before leaving your car somewhere. Around BU, we have lots of street parking which you can pay for with an app, ParkBoston (a partner with ParkMobile).
Train
Despite being the oldest public transportation system in the United States, Boston’s MBTA is a work in progress. Luckily, if you are staying near Boston University it will be very simple to get to the symposium. Here is what to know:
Boston University is serviced by the Green Line “B” Train and has several stops along campus. For our purposes, “Boston University East” and “Boston University Central” are the best.
On the image below, you’ll notice that there are several trains that run on the Green Line (“B”, “C”, “D”, and “E”). If you end up on one of those trains, simply get off, reverse direction, and head to Kenmore (or Copley if on the “E” train), and reroute on the “B” train to Boston University.
You’ll also notice that Boylston intersects with the Silver Line (Airport), Park Street gets you back on the Red Line, and Government Center gets you to the Blue Line. If you need to go South on the Orange Line, Downtown Crossing is a short walk from Park Street, and if headed North, Haymarket is a good bet.
Finally, you’ll need a Charlie Card to ride on the train and bus. You can find these at fare vending machines in underground locations. This means that you will need to procure a Charlie Card before getting onto the “B” line, which is above ground and does not have access to fare vending machines. Park Street is a good central location for this.
