This article was read by both Massachusetts Governor Healey, and Secretary of Transportation, Phillip Eng.
Red/Orange/Green/Blue/Silver Line Map as of Winter 2025
Commuter Rail Map as of Winter 2025
Imagine that you are at the Prudential in Boston, trying to get to Fenway Park. The quickest way is to take the Green Line E branch to Arlington, where you can change to a B, C, or D branch train to Kenmore. To me, this seems like something that everyone living in the Boston area should know about and use. Riding the MBTA, more locally known as “the Ⓣ ” is the cheapest and most environmentally friendly way to quickly get around Boston. Unfortunately, many kids, tweens, teens and even adults are afraid to navigate this great public transportation network.
Navigating a large transit network like the Ⓣ is much easier said than done. What can you do to be an expert?
- Be Vigilant
The Ⓣ has great signage, so make sure to take advantage of it. Once you enter the station, look for signs that say “Inbound” and “Outbound”, or destinations like “Ashmont & Braintree”, to help guide you to the correct platform. Keep in mind that your stop may not be listed on the signage, so make sure you know ahead of time which way you’re headed. Once the train arrives, check to be sure that it says the correct destination, as multiple lines sometimes use the same platform.
Once onboard, be sure to listen to announcements, or watch onboard displays. Almost every train will announce information about the next station both before and at the stop.
Image credit: “Orange Line Reopens on Time after Month-Long Shutdown.” Wbur.org, 19 Sept. 2022, www.wbur.org/news/2022/09/19/mbta-orange-line-reopen-on-time. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
- Don’t Be Afraid To Get Help
The vast majority of stations have employees who are very helpful and know the system well. You can identify them by their red shirt with a Ⓣ logo on the back. They usually (but not always) are located near the station’s entrance. Everyone, even people who ride the system frequently, sometimes need help from MBTA station agents.
Additionally, I would highly recommend using the transit layer on Google Maps. In the search bar, type in your destination, then click the train () button. This will tell you the specific signs to look for, the name of the station to disembark, and walking directions from the station. You can also use the MBTA map, which you can find at MBTA.com or at the top of the page.
- Inbound or Outbound?
The map above shows where “the node” is. Any train that is heading towards the node is considered inbound. If you are boarding a train at a station inside the blue area (see map above), or if the train would have already left the area, you are headed outbound.
It can always be helpful to know if you are going inbound or outbound, and what the final destination of the train should be. For example, if you are trying to get from Aquarium to Government Center, the sign on the outside of the train will say Bowdoin, not Government Center, and Wonderland instead of Aquarium on the way back. Do your research!
- Schedules
Before your trip, it is very important to know when the train will arrive at the station. On the subway system (Red, Orange, Green, and Blue line), trains arrive about every 4-13 minutes. This also includes some key bus routes. With these short wait times, you can simply show up at the station at any time.
The commuter rail, ferry, and certain bus lines have posted times that the vehicle will depart, and if you miss the time, you may need to wait up to two hours for the next service. You can view these times by visiting mbta.com/schedules, and selecting your line.
From there, use the “Direction of your trip” button to select where you are traveling towards. You should see a list of stations on the left, and the train number on the top. Between them, you will see each of the posted times. If it is your first time riding the system, I would highly recommend being at the station 20 minutes before the train departs. This will factor in enough time for you or your driver to park, and for you to find the platform.
Once you become more comfortable with the network, you can arrive 5-10 minutes before the train’s departure.
- Paying Your Fair Fare
Paying for public transportation is how you can help the Ⓣ run efficiently. Riding the system without paying is called fare evasion, which can be punishable by up to $100 in fines. After all, it’s certainly not cheap to keep several lines of commuter rail service, trolleys, subways, ferries and buses running all day long and late into the night. Discounted fare options are available, which may be accessed at mbta.com/fares/reduced.
So how do you pay? If your group does not have a phone with a digital wallet or a credit card, you can purchase a CharlieCard from any subway station, and some Green line and bus stations. At subway stations, you can tap a smart device with an electronic wallet or a credit card on the screen above the fare gate. If multiple people go in on one tap, the fare gate will begin to close and an alarm will sound. However, children eleven and under can ride for free with someone 12 or older. If you are riding the Green line or bus and the station does not have a fare gate, each person will tap a phone, credit, or Charlie card one at a time on the reader by the door. If you are riding the commuter rail, you can pay the conductor on the train. You can also purchase your tickets ahead of time at the ticket windows at Back Bay, South or North Station, or on the mTicket app. If you are using North or South Station, tap the QR code or barcode of your ticket on the reader of the new turnstiles to open them. From any station on the commuter rail including those with turnstiles, the conductor on board may conduct ticket checks.
- Respect
Finally, be respectful. When riding on station escalators, stay to the right to allow others to pass. When your train arrives, wait until all passengers have gotten off the train and those with limited mobility have boarded before getting onboard. If a subway car seems too crowded, there will always be another one not far behind it. Try not to stand near the doors, and if there is no other standing space, step out when the doors open and then reboard once the train is done boarding. If there is someone who needs your seat more than you do, (i.e elderly person, someone with mobility issues, pregnant woman, person on crutches), be courteous and let them sit down.
Just as important as it is to respect others, respect yourself. Doubting yourself won’t help you. If you need a breather, take one to clear your mind and help you think straight. If you believe in yourself, you can navigate this amazing, useful, eco-friendly, traffic-free public transportation system.
Useful Links
Test your knowledge of the T with my quiz!
Useful links: MassByTrain Website
