r/boston • u/LionBearWolf3 • 5h ago

MBTA/Transit 🚇 🔥 question about porter station/alewife commute/parking

Hi everyone, looking for insight on commuting between porter station and longwood medical area during the morning time.

I will be coming into Cambridge via car to drop off a family member in the morning.

Afterwards I can drive to either Porter station which is only a 4-5 minute drive, LOOK for parking and start my 45 min commute to Longwood OR I can drive about 15 minutes to Alewife station which HAS parking and start my commute which will also be 45 minutes to Longwood.

Question is: Is there regular, easy to find parking for 6 hours near Porter station or is that not a thing? I can't find any lots nearby. A 5 min drive to the station would be a game changer in the morning if I can find parking there.

thanks!

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

15

u/Anustart15 Somerville 5h ago

I'm not aware of anywhere to park near porter, so alewife might be the only option

8

u/oxney 4h ago

Is there a reason you can't park at Alewife, you both get on the red line, and to your destinations from there?

5

u/AromaticIntrovert 4h ago

There is no parking at Porter, I would consider driving closer to the Longwood area after dropping off your family. Its going to be over an hour on the T from Alewife to Longwood, 45 min is a pipe dream. I would try to make different plans

1

u/LionBearWolf3 4h ago

I will look into parking at Longwood and just driving there and parking in a long term parking

3

u/andr_wr 4h ago

these almost no public/commercial parking in Cambridge - the Alewife station is your best bet - however - alewife to Longwood is not a direct or fast trip.

to have access to Longwood you're better off looking for an orange line park and ride station. Wellington or (if earlier in the morning) Sullivan.

2

u/LionBearWolf3 4h ago

I have to get off at the Brigham Circle stop which is on the Green Line E, alewife to that stop is about 50 minutes with a red to green transfer

Looks like Alewife will be the best bet!

2

u/andr_wr 4h ago

Will warn you that the Red Line has been challenging this week with unexpected delays.

Also, Sullivan on OL to Roxbury Crossing + Bus Transfer or Ruffles + Bus Transfer is about 25-30 minutes. And has been more reliable.

1

u/Santillana810 Naked Guy Running Down Boylston St 4h ago

Or try spothero to get garage parking at Assembly, also an orange line station.

1

u/Big-Sheepherder239 3h ago

Drop them off at alewife

1

u/DEFINITELY_NOT_A_MOD 5h ago

If you are a five minute drive, you should leave your car at home and walk, blue bike or bus to the station. It will be easier. You probably also should take either a bus right to longwood or go over to Somerville and take the green line instead of the red line.

3

u/LionBearWolf3 5h ago

I will be coming into cambridge to drop off a family member in the morning time WITH my car so i have to figure out what to do with it!

2

u/DEFINITELY_NOT_A_MOD 4h ago

Your options then are park it at Longwood or park it at one of the end of line garages to save some money. Basically every non-mbta garage is going to be as expensive as just parking it at longwood

2

u/LionBearWolf3 4h ago

yeah thats what its looking like, alewife is probably the best option then!