Residual Snow Impacts and Orange Line Maintenance Slow Thursday Commute

Road Conditions and Residual Snow Impacts

Boston continues to navigate the aftermath of a historic winter storm that deposited over 12 inches of snow across the city earlier this week. While the city-wide snow emergency and parking bans have officially been lifted, road conditions remain treacherous in many areas. Commuters should remain vigilant for patches of black ice on untreated secondary roads and highway on-ramps during the early morning hours. In Downtown Boston, specifically around the North End, significant parking restrictions are in effect throughout today, Thursday, January 29. Both sides of Hanover Street, from Blackstone Street to Congress Street, and the west side of Union Street are posted with temporary parking regulations to facilitate local memorial events. Additionally, the Canterbury Street Bridge remains closed to all vehicular traffic following a recent structural inspection. Drivers must follow detour signage utilizing Hyde Park Avenue, Cummins Highway, and Seymour Street to bypass the closure.

MBTA Service Alerts: Orange and Blue Line Updates

The MBTA is reporting several service adjustments that will impact the Thursday morning commute. On the Orange Line, trains are currently facing residual delays of approximately 15 minutes following a medical emergency at Sullivan Square. Beyond these delays, riders should be aware of several critical accessibility outages:

• Sullivan Square: Elevator 840, which connects the center platform to the lobby, is out of service today, January 29, for scheduled maintenance. To navigate this, Forest Hills-bound passengers needing an elevator should travel to the center platform and transfer to an Oak Grove-bound train to access Elevator 881 on the opposite platform.
• Jackson Square: Elevator 846 is unavailable through Friday, January 30. A dedicated shuttle bus is currently operating to transport passengers between Jackson Square and Stony Brook. Furthermore, the southern stairway at Jackson Square is closed until winter 2026 for renovations; riders must use the northern stairway for platform access.
• Blue Line: Minor delays of roughly 10 minutes are reported due to ongoing signal issues between Orient Heights and Suffolk Downs.

Parking and Municipal Services Update

Commuters utilizing MBTA parking lots should prepare for reduced capacity. Ongoing snow removal operations at these facilities may limit the number of available spaces throughout the day. In residential areas, the City of Boston has noted that trash and recycling pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods as crews continue to clear primary and secondary routes. Overnight street cleaning has been canceled for tonight to allow for continued snow clearing. While parking meters are currently running on their normal schedules, drivers are reminded to park within cleared spaces to avoid obstructing narrow, snow-lined streets.

Commuter Safety Tips

Given the combination of MBTA elevator maintenance and narrowed residential roads, we recommend adding at least 25 minutes to your travel schedule this morning. Pedestrians should exercise caution on sidewalks, as the city requires property owners to clear snow and ice within a limited window following the storm's conclusion. If you are using the Orange Line, stay alert for further updates regarding the Sullivan Square response to ensure a smooth transition through the station.