Boston's Women's March For America Traffic, Parking Guide; 'Impassable Streets' Expected

BOSTON, MA — With organizers anticipating upwards of 90,000 participants, the City of Boston is warning against traffic and parking issues Saturday in Downtown Boston, Beacon Hill and the Back Bay during the Boston Women's March for America.

The march, planned for Saturday morning, is expected to be the largest rally in Boston since the election of Donald Trump. It will come a day after his inauguration and is in conjunction not only with a planned march in Washington, D.C., but numerous other "sister marches" around the country.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey are among the speakers slated to take part in the event.

Follow along! Boston's Women's March for America: Patch Live-Blog

Expected attendance has continued to climb, with as many as 43,000 RSVP-ed on a Facebook event page as "attending." Organizers have now said they anticipate more than 90,000 participants.

Organizers said in a message to registered attendees, "With warmer weather coming our way and record-setting attendance of over 90,000 registered Marchers (!), we are excited for tomorrow’s historic Boston Women’s March for America."

The MBTA will be offering extended train service to accommodate the crowd. Details, from a MassDOT press release:

To accommodate those attending the Boston Women’s March on Saturday, January 21, the MBTA will provide:

· More frequent subway service;

· Additional passenger coaches on most Commuter Rail trains;

· Extra MBTA staff in key stations to provide customer assistance.

Blue Line customers intending to travel to and from Saturday’s event are encouraged to allow additional travel time as Blue Line train service will be suspended this weekend between Bowdoin and State Stations to allow crews to perform necessary maintenance work. For westbound Blue Line service toward Government Center and Bowdoin, customers must exit at State Station. For the most direct route, after exiting at State Station, transfer to the Orange Line, exit at Downtown Crossing Station, and walk to the Boston Common. For their return trip, customers are reminded that Blue Line service to East Boston and Revere originates at State Station.

Here's the city press release outlining the traffic and parking challenges that come with tens of thousands descending on the Boston Common:

The Boston Women’s March for America is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 21, 2017. The event will begin at 11 am with a speaking program on the Boston Common prior to the march itself stepping off at 12:30 pm. Traffic and parking will be impacted in the vicinity of the Boston Common and the Back Bay. Those coming into the City to participate in the event are asked to leave their vehicles at home and take the MBTA. Information on service may be found at www.MBTA.com .

Information on carpooling and other transportation alternatives may be found on the Boston Women’s March for America website.

The following traffic and parking plan may be revised by the Boston Police Department at any time as necessary.

The route to be taken is exit the Boston Common at the intersection of Beacon Street and Charles Street, turn left on Beacon Street, turn left on Arlington Street, turn right on Commonwealth Avenue outbound, turn left on Clarendon Street, turn left on Commonwealth Avenue inbound, turn right on Arlington Street, turn left on Boylston Street and re-enter the Boston Common at the intersection of Boylston and Charles Streets.

As organizers anticipate that thousands of people will attend, drivers should expect that streets along the route will be impassable from 12 Noon to 2 pm. It may also be necessary to restrict traffic from Charles Street, between Boylston and Beacon Streets, earlier than Noon. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes.

In addition, “Tow Zone No Stopping Boston Police Special Event Saturday” temporary parking restrictions will be in effect as follows.

• Charles Street, both sides, from Boylston Street to Beacon Street
• Beacon Street, both sides, from Park Street to Arlington Street
• Arlington Street, both sides, from Beacon Street to Boylston Street
• Commonwealth Avenue, both sides, from Arlington Street to Clarendon Street
• Boylston Street, both sides, from Arlington Street to Tremont Street

Photo by Alison Bauter, Patch staff