Lingering Snow and MBTA Fleet Shortages Create Heavy Friday Commute; New Bomb Cyclone Alert Issued

Friday Morning Traffic and MBTA Status Update

Boston commuters are facing a challenging morning as the city continues to recover from the 20 inches of snow delivered by Winter Storm Fern earlier this week. While major highways have been largely cleared, residual ice and massive snow piles are creating significant bottlenecks on secondary roads. Furthermore, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for a second 'bomb cyclone' expected to arrive late Saturday, prompting MassDOT to prioritize emergency snow removal and road salting throughout the day today, Friday, January 30, 2026.

Public Transit: Red Line Fleet Crisis

The MBTA is reporting severe service disruptions on the Red Line this morning. Due to the extreme cold and recent heavy snowfall, the Red Line’s aging fleet has struggled significantly. As of this morning, only nine trains are operational across the entire line, compared to the standard twenty required for peak rush hour. Commuters should expect wait times of 20 to 30 minutes between trains. Transit officials have cited the failure of older cars manufactured in the late 1960s, which have been pulled from service due to motor and braking issues caused by the freezing temperatures.

• Parking Shortages: Snow removal operations are ongoing at several MBTA parking facilities. Commuters are advised that parking availability is reduced by approximately 30% at Braintree, Quincy Adams, and Alewife stations.
• Service Cancellations: The previously scheduled track work on the Red Line between Broadway and North Quincy/Ashmont for this weekend (January 31) has been cancelled to allow crews to focus on storm recovery.
• Commuter Rail: The Needham Line remains suspended between Needham Heights and South Station through the weekend for infrastructure work.

Major Roadworks and Arterial Delays

Traffic on the Mass Pike (I-90) remains slow through Allston as construction continues on the Multimodal Project. Drivers should be aware of the following permanent and temporary conditions:

• I-90 Allston Interchange: Lanes remain reduced from four to three in both directions. The straightened alignment is still under construction, and heavy machinery near the 'throat' section is causing intermittent rubbernecking delays.
• Richmond Street Bridge: MassDOT is in the final phases of the preservation project. While the bridge surface is open, overnight Callahan Tunnel closures just concluded their Thursday run; however, signage and barriers remain near the tunnel approach.
• Canterbury Street Bridge: This bridge in Roslindale remains closed to all vehicular traffic. Drivers must continue to use the established detour via Hyde Park Avenue, Cummins Highway, and Seymour Street.

Weather Outlook for the Weekend

With another potential bomb cyclone on the horizon for Saturday night into Sunday, the city is urging residents to finish their essential travel by Friday evening. Coastal flooding remains a major concern for the South Shore and Seaport areas. MassDOT crews will be visible on I-95 and I-93 throughout the afternoon pre-treating surfaces.