A major downtown Boston thoroughfare will be closed during the FIFA World Cup soccer matches later this month, the city and the MBTA announced Tuesday. Summer Street will be fully closed to vehicular traffic between Dorchester Avenue and Atlantic Avenue for eight hours in support of World Cup matches on June 13, June 19, June 29 and July 9.For matches held on June 16, June 23 and June 26, Summer Street will be open to vehicular traffic on the westbound, or north side, only.During all seven World Cup matches, there will be additional parking and traffic restrictions, temporary traffic control and other securing measures in place.”This is all part of the necessary transportation and security planning that goes into this major international event,” Gov. Maura Healey said. Phil Eng, general manager of the MBTA, explained the approach to traffic management during the event. “We’ve really leaned into certain matches. The city has agreed we can have full closures based on their predictions of traffic, and certain matches, we’re going to let our public safety officials make field decisions about whether we need to close more lanes,” Eng said.Residents and visitors are encouraged to avoid the area if possible and to take public transportation if they have to travel to the area.The MBTA and the city said they will review the Summer Street closures following each match and review the plan to improve operations and the visitor experience.The governor is proposing a 3 a.m. last call for World Cup matches, with changes to MBTA operating hours to support the plan.The MBTA will run until 4 a.m. during weekend matches. During weekday matches, Eng said the T can only operate until 2 a.m. because it needs to prepare for service the next day.The MBTA said its trains will carry up to 20,000 passengers for each of the World Cup matches scheduled in Foxborough, with tickets priced at $80 each. The agency added that about 37% of tickets for the first five matches have been sold.Despite the current sales figures, the MBTA said it expects all trains to sell out, with many tickets being purchased in the final three days before each match.
A major downtown Boston thoroughfare will be closed during the FIFA World Cup soccer matches later this month, the city and the MBTA announced Tuesday.
Summer Street will be fully closed to vehicular traffic between Dorchester Avenue and Atlantic Avenue for eight hours in support of World Cup matches on June 13, June 19, June 29 and July 9.
For matches held on June 16, June 23 and June 26, Summer Street will be open to vehicular traffic on the westbound, or north side, only.
During all seven World Cup matches, there will be additional parking and traffic restrictions, temporary traffic control and other securing measures in place.
“This is all part of the necessary transportation and security planning that goes into this major international event,” Gov. Maura Healey said.
Phil Eng, general manager of the MBTA, explained the approach to traffic management during the event.
“We’ve really leaned into certain matches. The city has agreed we can have full closures based on their predictions of traffic, and certain matches, we’re going to let our public safety officials make field decisions about whether we need to close more lanes,” Eng said.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to avoid the area if possible and to take public transportation if they have to travel to the area.
The MBTA and the city said they will review the Summer Street closures following each match and review the plan to improve operations and the visitor experience.
The governor is proposing a 3 a.m. last call for World Cup matches, with changes to MBTA operating hours to support the plan.
The MBTA will run until 4 a.m. during weekend matches.
During weekday matches, Eng said the T can only operate until 2 a.m. because it needs to prepare for service the next day.
The MBTA said its trains will carry up to 20,000 passengers for each of the World Cup matches scheduled in Foxborough, with tickets priced at $80 each. The agency added that about 37% of tickets for the first five matches have been sold.
Despite the current sales figures, the MBTA said it expects all trains to sell out, with many tickets being purchased in the final three days before each match.
