PROGRAMMING NOTE: NECN AND COMCAST SPORTSNET NEW ENGLAND WILL HAVE LIVE COVERAGE OF THE BRUINS ROLLING RALLY SATURDAY MORNING BEGINNING AT 10 A.M. TV DINER, WHICH IS NORMALLY SEEN AT 10 A.M., WILL AIR AT 9 A.M. IN ITS ENTIRETY.
(NECN: Boston, Mass.) - Love a parade?
You'll get your wish on Saturday morning as the Boston Bruins roll out the duck boats in the city to celebrate Boston's 7th sports championship since 2002.
Boston mayor Tom Menino announced the rolling rally, using the city's Duck Boats, would happen Saturday morning at 11 a.m., departing from TD Garden and ending in Copley Square.
The decision for a Saturday parade was made to accommodate players' schedules according to the mayor. But it also works well for families who might want to come into the city for the event.
Here are the latest updates on the event:
CITY ANNOUNCES PARADE ROUTE AND PARKING RESTRICTIONS:
PRINTABLE GOOGLE MAP OF RALLY ROUTE
Beginning at the TD Garden on Causeway Street, the parade will once again feature duck boats and proceed along the following route:
· Causeway Street;
· Left on Staniford Street;
· Left on Cambridge Street;
· Right on Tremont Street;
· Right on Boylston Street;
· End at Copley Square.
Parking restrictions across the city will be heavily enforced in the vicinity of the closed off parade route streets and fans are strongly encouraged to use public transportation. To accommodate the celebration, vehicular traffic will be banned along the parade route beginning at 9:00 AM until the conclusion of the parade at about 1:00 PM.
“Boston Police will also have a significant presence along the parade route as part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure everyone’s safety and I encourage fans to continue making the city proud and honoring the Bruins by celebrating responsibly,” Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said.
Temporary parking restrictions will be put into effect at several locations throughout the city and vehicles parked in violation will be ticketed and/or towed. Temporary “Tow Zone No Stopping Boston Police Special Event Saturday” regulations will be posted at the following locations:
· Canal Street, from Causeway Street to New Chardon Street
· Friend Street, from Causeway Street to New Chardon Street
· Portland Street, from Merrimac Street to Causeway Street
· Lancaster Street, from Causeway Street to Merrimac Street
· Merrimac Street , from Causeway Street to Lancaster Street
· Causeway Street, from North Washington Street to Merrimac Street
· Staniford Street, from Causeway Street to Cambridge Street
· Cambridge Street, from Hancock Street to Tremont Street
· Tremont Street, from Cambridge Street to Boylston Street
· Boylston Street, from Washington Street to Dalton Street
· New Chardon Street, from Cambridge Street to Merrimac Street
· Bowdoin Street, from Cambridge Street to Derne Street
· Somerset Street, from Cambridge Street to Ashburton Place
· New Sudbury Street, from Cambridge Street to Bulfinch Place
· Court Street, from Cambridge Street to Court Square
· Beacon Street, from Tremont Street to Somerset Street
· Bromfield Street, from Province Street to Tremont Street
· Park Street, from Tremont Street to Beacon Street
· Temple Place, from Tremont Street to Washington Street
· West Street, from Tremont Street to Washington Street
· Essex Street, from Tremont Street to Washington Street
· Charles Street South, from Park Plaza to Center gate of Public Garden
· Hadassah Way, from Boylston Street to Park Plaza
· Berkeley Street, from St. James Avenue to Newbury Street
· Clarendon Street, from Newbury Street to St. James Avenue
· Dartmouth Street, from Boylston Street to Newbury Street
· St. James Avenue, from Clarendon Street to Dartmouth Street
To protect the safety of residents and guests, the Boston Police Department may further restrict vehicle parking and limit vehicular and pedestrian access.
MBTA PLANS "NEAR RUSH HOUR" SERVICE FOR SATURDAY:
The MBTA announced expanded service for Saturday on the city's subway lines. MBTA officials say expanded commuter rail service will be available on Saturday, but details wouldn't be released before Friday. A number of bus lines in the parade route would have their service curtailed Saturday.
·
For the subway system, the MBTA will operate at near “rush
hour” levels all day long, providing more frequent service before, during, and
after the parade.
·
Customers are urged to load value on their CharlieCard in
advance to avoid long lines after the parade.
·
MBTA employees in orange vests will be deployed throughout
the transit system to assist customers who may have questions.
·
Be advised that North Station will be extremely busy. The MBTA recommends that fans think about
using other stations in the downtown area such as Haymarket, Government Center,
Park Street and Downtown Crossing.
Local
Commuter rail service into Boston will be largely unchanged for the rally:
· Commuter rail service will operate on its regular Saturday schedule and will be enhanced with additional coaches and capacity.
· Old Colony Lines - Kingston, Middleboro, and Greenbush will operate on a Saturday schedule.
· Due to the volumes of traffic, customers should expect delays and are encouraged to budget additional time for his/her commute.
· Extra commuter rail trains will be on standby for deployment to the busiest lines.
· Parking at Anderson Regional Transportation Center in Woburn off of Route 93 is FREE with service to North Station.
· A special round trip commuter rail ticket will be available for $10.00 and can be purchased at South, North and Back Bay Station. Additionally, tickets will be sold at Anderson Regional Transportation Center, Route 128, and on board the train.
RED SOX MOVE SATURDAY GAME VS. MILWAUKEE BREWERS TO 7:10 PM START:
The Boston Red Sox have moved the start time for their game against Milwaukee at Fenway Park from 1:10 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. to ease traffic and allow for Red Sox fans to attend the rolling rally and make the game.
The team could not consider simply delaying the game by a couple of hours because that would force the game off NESN. Major League baseball's contract with Fox gives the network an exclusive window on Saturday afternoons.
BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION ON I-93 WILL CONTINUE AS PLANNED ON SATURDAY:
One thing that will not be affected by the rally is bridge work on Interstate 93. The bridge work at Rt. 16 in Medford will include the closing of I-93 North and the use of barriers to allow both northbound and southbound traffic on the lanes of I-93 South.
State Police expect substantial delays and urge motorists heading to the rally from the north to use mass transit.
