Driving should be a last resort for north-of-Boston commuters when the Sumner Tunnel shuts down for two months this July, according to state highway officials, who are working to get people out of cars and onto public transit.
“There’s no way to avoid the congestion that’s going to happen with this,” State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said Thursday.
Gulliver said his department is working with the MBTA to incentivize public transit for residents, by offering free or reduced fares for trains and ferries, and better parking options at Blue Line stations in East Boston and Revere.
The popular East Boston ferry will be free throughout the Sumner Tunnel shutdown, from July 5 through Aug. 31.
In July and August, free MBTA passes will be available for those registered in the East Boston resident discount program and certain residents in Revere and Winthrop, according to Gulliver’s presentation.
Zone 1A fares will be offered at commuter rail stations in Salem and Swampscott, reducing the price of a one-way trip from $8 to $2.40.
Parking will be reduced to $2 per day at the Wonderland station in Revere and additional parking will be available near the Wood Island station. Both service the Blue Line.
The success of the Sumner Tunnel project hinges on the state of the region’s public transportation system, Gulliver said, particularly how quickly the MBTA can remove speed restrictions from the Blue Line.
As of Thursday, 44% of the Blue Line was speed-restricted. Although T officials don’t expect to lift all of these slow zones until November, Gulliver said he was “confident that the majority of these are going to be taken out before this project starts” in July.
For those who have to drive, MassDOT is trying to make the commute less problematic, Gulliver said. Cheaper tolls will be offered for those traveling through the Ted Williams Tunnel and on the Tobin Bridge, if those commuters are registered in the toll discount program, he said.
“The closer you get to the tunnel, really the two primary routes that we expect roughly a 50/50 split in diversions is the Ted Williams Tunnel and the Tobin Bridge,” Gulliver said.
The state is working to divert those drivers to the Blue Line by providing them with CharlieCards, he said.
After this summer’s full shutdown, the $156.6 million Sumner Tunnel restoration project continues with weekend closures through May 2024, another full closure from July to August 2024 and weekend closures through that fall.
