St. Patrick's Day Parade: Transportation, road closures, detours

BOSTON — The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade is on, but the route will be shortened.

With the amount of snow Boston has received after three nor'easters slammed the area in two weeks, Mayor Marty Walsh announced a modified route. The parade will start Sunday, March 18, at 1 p.m. at Broadway Station and end at Farragut Road.

Thousands typically attend the Southie tradition each year, so city officials are alerting people of road closures and detours and encouraging them to take public transportation.

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ROAD CLOSURES/DETOURS

The parade and the South Boston Boys and Girls Club Road Race will result in street closures and traffic detours in Southie. On-street parking will be reduced.

Broadway will be closed to traffic from approximately 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Traffic will be delayed during the road race - which ends at noon. That route will be from West Sixth Street to Dorchester Street, right onto East Broadway, down and around the Farragut Statue at Day Boulevard, to East Broadway, right onto West Broadway, left onto E Street, left onto West Sixth Street, ending at the Boys and Girls Club at #230 West Sixth Street.

THE COMMUTER RAIL 

If you're taking the Commuter Rail in to the parade Sunday, Keolis announced Sunday trains will operate with extra seating capacity to accommodate the high ridership.

“Our goal is to make the St. Patrick’s Day holiday convenient and enjoyable for those utilizing commuter rail,” said David Scorey, General Manager and CEO of Keolis. “We hope parade spectators stay off the roadways and take advantage of the convenience offered by public transit. We increased capacity to help accommodate more riders.”

THE T

If you're taking the T, the MBTA suggests riders take the Red Line to South, Broadway or Andrew Stations. However, warns that Red Line trains may bypass Broadway at times due to large crowds.

Officials recommend buying your fare ahead of time to avoid lines.

BUS SERVICE

Starting at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, March 18, all bus routes that normally service Broadway or Andrew Stations will not run due to traffic and road closures. Bus routes 9, 10, 11 and 47 will be detoured around the parade area.

SHUTTLE BUSES

From 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., special shuttle buses will be provided to and from the Summer Street-side of South Station to Summer Street at East 1st Street in Southie to accommodate those traveling to the parade.

REMINDERS

MBTA Transit Police want riders to remember that alcohol consumption on the T is prohibited and extra officers will be enforcing this. Any minor found intoxicated will be removed from the T and their parents will be notified.

Anyone attending the parade should leave backpacks and water bottles at home on Sunday and any items may be subject to search.

Cox Media Group