Transportation in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) oversees the entire network of transportation in Massachusetts. The department ensures safe and reliable transportation in the commonwealth. The organization oversees the divisions of Highway, Aeronautics, Mass Transit and the Registry of Motor Vehicles. MassDOT is administered by a Secretary of Transportation to serve as Chief Executive Officer and is appointed by the Governor.
Contact Details
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
10 Park Plaza, Suite 4160
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 877-623-6846
Fax: 857-368-0601
Website: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/
Massachusetts Road Transportation
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation looks after the road transportation system in the commonwealth. While doing so the department ensures that safe and reliable journey is provided to the commuters throughout the commonwealth. Road transportation in Massachusetts comprises of state routes, highways and several bridges and tunnels.
Massachusetts Highways
MassDOT oversees the functioning of highway network in Massachusetts. The Highway Division includes roadways,
bridges and tunnels. Also included in the Division are bridges and parkways which were previously under the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Highway Division works for designing, constructing and maintaining the state highways and bridges of the Commonwealth. The Division also oversees traffic safety and engineering activities thereby ensuring safe road and travel conditions. The Highways division plans, designs and constructs hundreds of projects to improve road and bridge network.
Tunnels and Bridges
According to the Central Artery/Tunnel Project three major highway tunnels and an innovative river crossing were opened. These are described below.
The Ted Williams Tunnel: The tunnel doubles the cross-harbor tunnel capacity of Boston from four lanes to eight.
The I-90 Extension: The Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) Extension runs from Seattle, Washington to Logan International Airport in East Boston.
The Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Tunnel: The Thomas O. O'Neill, Jr. Tunnel (I-93 tunnels), is 1.5 miles of roadway built underground from Kneeland Street to Causeway Street and link to the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge.
The Charles River Bridges: Called the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, it is the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It is first in the US with an asymmetrical, hybrid design.
The Cable-stayed Bridge: At 1,432 feet, the bridge emerges from the underground Central Artery near the TD
Garden at Causeway Street, crossing the river to make connections with both I-93 and Route 1. Designed to carry 10 lanes of traffic. Eight lanes pass through the legs of the twin towers and two cantilevered on the east side.
The Leverett Circle Connector Bridge: It is a 830-foot-long bridge, which connects the Leverett Circle area on the northwestern edge of downtown Boston with points north of the Charles River
[1].
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, also referred to as MBTA or T, operates bus, commuter rail, subway, and ferry routes in Massachusetts. They are discussed below:
Bus: The T Bus system is composed of the Local, Outer-express busses, Inner-express, and part of the Silver Line.
Commuter Rail: The T Commuter Rail system is composed of 11 Lines and more than 100 T stations.
Subway: The T subway system is composed of the Blue Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Red Line and part of the Silver Line.
Boat: The T boat system comprises of 2 types of boat service, namely Commuter Boats and Inner-harbor Ferries.
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Registry of Motor Vehicles
The Registry of Motor Vehicles Division is responsible for vehicle operator licensing and vehicle as well as aircraft registration. The Registry manages both commercial and non-commercial vehicle inspection stations.
Massachusetts Rail Transportation
The Rail and Transit Division of MassDOT is responsible to develop, promote, preserve, and improve the railways system in the commonwealth. The department promotes safe, convenient and efficient rail system for passengers and freight movement in the Commonwealth. The Rail and Transit Division manages the state rail system, oversees the Commonwealth’s fifteen Regional Transit Authorities, takes up the work of all transit initiatives and overviews the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The Massachusetts freight rail system comprises of a mix of Class I, regional and short-line railroads. The MBTA serves as one of the largest commuter rail systems in Massachusetts. Passenger rail served by Amtrak is the provider of inter-city travel in the commonwealth.
Regional Freight Rail Operators
Find below the contact details of the regional freight rail operators in Massachusetts
Pan Am RailwaysPhone: (413)-774-6137
Website:
http://panamrailways.com/Providence and Worcester75 Hammond Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01610
Phone: (508) 755-4000
Website:
http://www.pwrr.com/Genesee & Wyoming Inc.20 West Ave.
Darien, Connecticut 06820
Telephone: (203) 202-8900
Fax: (203) 656-1092
Website:
http://www.gwrr.com/Bay Colony Railroad4110 Centerpointe Drive, Suite 207 Fort Myers, FL 33916
Phone: 239-275-6060
Fax: 239-275-0581
Website:
http://www.baycolonyrailroad.com/Pinsly Railroad Company53 Southampton Road, Westfield, MA 01085
Phone: 413.568.6426
Email: info@pinsly.com
Website:
http://www.pinsly.com/companies/pvrr/Massachusetts Coastal Railroad3065 Cranberry Highway
E. Wareham, Massachusetts 02538
Phone: 508-291-2116
Website:
http://masscoastal.com/East Brookfield and Spencer Railroad22 Phillip A. Quinn Memorial Highway
Route 49
P.O. Box 209
East Brookfield, MA 01515
Phone: 508-885-4664
Fax: 508-885-1229
Email: info@ebsrr.com
Website:
http://ebsrr.com/Housatonic Railroad company1 Railroad St.
P.O. Box 1146
Canaan, CT 06018
Phone: (860) 824-0850
Website:
http://www.hrrc.com/contact-us/Grafton & Upton RailroadPhone: 508-839-1701
Email: info@graftonuptonrr.com
Website:
http://www.graftonuptonrr.com/Fore River RailroadCharlestown Navy Yard
100 First Ave, Building 39
Boston, MA 02129
Phone: 617-242-6000
Website:
http://www.mwra.com/03sewer/html/railroad.htm
Massachusetts Air Transportation
The Aeronautics Division takes up the work of coordinating aviation policy in the commonwealth. It has authority over the public use airports, seaplane bases and private use landing areas in Massachusetts. The division oversees the aviation safety, airport developments, aircraft accident investigation, statewide aviation planning and navigational aids. It certifies heliports and airports, carry out annual airport inspections, licenses airport managers and implements security regulations.
Contact DetailsMassDOT Aeronautics Division
Logan Office Center
One Harborside Drive
Suite 205N
East Boston, MA 02128-2909
The major airports providing services in Massachusetts are the following:
Logan International Airport
Logan International Airport is the largest airport in Massachusetts. The airport has the facility of nearly 50 airlines connecting more than 100 non-stop, domestic and international destinations. Airlines serving the airport are Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Emirates, Japan Airlines, United, US Airways and Virgin America among others.
Contact DetailsLogan International Airport (BOS)
1 Harborside Dr.
East Boston, MA, 02128
Phone: 1-800-23-LOGAN
Website:
http://www.massport.com/logan-airport/
Nantucket Memorial Airport
Nantucket Memorial Airport is a public airport at Nantucket in Massachusetts. Airlines serving the airport are Vape Air, Island Airlines, Nantucket Airlines, Seasonal Airlines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, US Airlines.
Contact DetailsNantucket Memorial Airport
14 Airport Road
Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554
Phone: 508.325.5300
Website:
http://www.nantucketairport.com/admin.htm
New Bedford Regional Airport
The New Bedford Regional Airport serves as an aerial gateway to the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard via the frequent service provided by Cape Air. Cape Air provides more than a dozen daily scheduled flights to the Islands during the summer season.
Contact DetailsNew Bedford Regional Airport
1569 Airport Road
New Bedford, MA 02740
Phone: (508) 991-6161
Fax: (508) 979-1735
Website:
http://www.newbedford-ma.gov/airport/
Provincetown Municipal Airport
Located at the tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown Municipal Airport welcomes leisure and business travelers from across North America. Twenty minute flights from Boston provided by Jet Blue and Cape Air link the Outer Cape to over sixty North American cities.
Contact DetailsProvincetown Municipal Airport
176 Race Point Road
PO Box 657
Provincetown, MA 02657
Map Location
Phone: (508) 487-0241
Fax: (508) 487-4110
Website:
http://www.provincetown-ma.gov/index.aspx?NID=170
Massachusetts Water Transportation
Water transportation in Massachusetts comprises of one of the significant modes of transportation in the commonwealth. Along with serving for passenger transportation water transportation also serves for sight seeing and recreational activities. The ports in Massachusetts serve as a major contributor in freight movements.
Boston Harbor Association
Boston Harbor is one of the cleanest harbors in the country. The Port of Boston sees thousands of cruise ship
passengers each year. The association works collectively to enhance the economic, recreational and scenic value of Boston’s waterfront.
Contact DetailsBoston Harbor Association
374 Congress Street, Suite 307, Boston, MA 02210
Phone: 617-482-1722
Fax: 617-482-9750
Website:
http://www.tbha.org/
Salem Harbour
Located on Boston's "North Shore," Salem is an excellent harbor for day-trip from Boston. It is also exciting as a stopover on a cruise to Maine and points further Down east. Salem provides a wonderful opportunity to boaters who want to stop by for a night or for an entire season.
Contact DetailsSalem Harbour
Phone: 207-593-0011
Mail: contact@usharbors.com
Website:
http://ma.usharbors.com/harbor-guide/salem
References:
- Massachusetts Tunnels and Bridges