Heading to Downtown Boston Monday and Tuesday next week for a conference (Boston Park Plaza). I know from searching online Arlington Station is right nearby...

My question is on travel..
I figure there are three options, not sure which is the best and wanted some feeback from people who commute often. I'm coming from South County, RI.

Monday I don't need to be there till noonish and am leaving ~8p, but may head up for 9am. .
Tuesday I need to be there by 9-10am.

1. Drive in, deal w/ traffic and pay for parking (yuck)
2. Drive to Providence or Atelborro and take the rail to South Station and then the various lines to Arlington as needed
3. Drive somewhere else and take the T in (Braintree?)

any suggestions?

Option 3 would probably be the less stressful option.....relax and read the paper on the train ride

Driving in won't be too bad as far as traffic because you can avoid the peak traffic times. Also, with so many people on vacation during the summer and many unemployed, the traffic is much better than usual heading in and out of the city.

If you're concerned with the cost of parking, take the T. It's not too bad, although during the summer it can smell pretty bad when it's crowded.

I'd go from Providence into South Station. Then take the Red line to Park St, and the Green line to Arlington.

That's how I do it when I need to take the train into that area, except I go out of Mansfield.

Driving into Braintree is only a benefit if you're going into and leaving Boston during non-rush hour times. If you drive to braintree, you'll still hit a ton of traffic at the 95/93 split, stop-and-go on 128, then about 20 stoplights. I find Braintree is only beneficial on weekend trips to avoid paying to park, but even then, it's become extremely difficult to find a spot that isn't residential only.

Drive in and expense the parking..... maybe you could even fish the north shore with some guys here. Got bed here.

A word of warning: they wait for South County people and descend upon them at red lights. Reginald Denny got of easy compared to what the M_ssholes do to slow pokes from southern Rhode Island.

Looks like I have a place to stay with a friend to do some:buds::buds:

thanks for the offer though nightfighter.

Traffic in Boston is light these days, should be no problem driving in. It's summer vacation and 10% of the work force is unemployed; no problem.

Providence Parking may be full, all of the commuter rail stops lots will be full (at least they used to be) by 8-9am. Best bet is to drive to RT 128 station in Westwood/Canton and head in to South Station from there. Even better is to take the same commuter rail to Back Bay (second to last stop) and Park Plaza is a few blocks away - let me know if you want to know more... Also, be sure you know when the last trains run, schedule gets weak after 6pm.

John.
Any of those spots have overnight parking?

128 Station does as it is also an Amtrak station.

Linky (http://mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/lines/stations/?stopId=178&lat=42.209884&lng=-71.1471): http://mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/lines/stations/?stopId=178&lat=42.209884&lng=-71.1471

I'd go from Providence into South Station. Then take the Red line to Park St, and the Green line to Arlington.

That's how I do it when I need to take the train into that area, except I go out of Mansfield.

Driving into Braintree is only a benefit if you're going into and leaving Boston during non-rush hour times. If you drive to braintree, you'll still hit a ton of traffic at the 95/93 split, stop-and-go on 128, then about 20 stoplights. I find Braintree is only beneficial on weekend trips to avoid paying to park, but even then, it's become extremely difficult to find a spot that isn't residential only.
Or Attleboro, red line to downtown crossing, green line to Park Plaza, however the walk through the commons and public garden is only
the challenge is the commute home, you have 1 option the 5:03 and then the 5:40 as the Acela leaves at 5:15

Providence Parking may be full, all of the commuter rail stops lots will be full (at least they used to be) by 8-9am. Best bet is to drive to RT 128 station in Westwood/Canton and head in to South Station from there. Even better is to take the same commuter rail to Back Bay (second to last stop) and Park Plaza is a few blocks away - let me know if you want to know more... Also, be sure you know when the last trains run, schedule gets weak after 6pm.

95N to 128 suxs after 0630. But you have more options on the way back home than attleboro

95N to 128 suxs after 0630. But you have more options on the way back home than attleboro

True, but he's not likely finding parking at So Attleboro at 8am either. If he needs to be in by noon, he should line things up to be in the area by 11, calculate backwards, and add 30-45 minutes :hee:

did the Warwick > Prov > 128 > Boston run for three years...

Drive in everyday..At least you will have the freedom of coming and going whever you please..I do it everyday

Just said screw it and drove in.
No major issues traffic wise.

thanks for all the help.
well informed for next time!