A Not-So-Spooky Halloween Commute
October 2, 2019
Halloween is a holiday like none other with pumpkins, spooky decorations, changing leaves, and the highly anticipated tradition of trick or treating. Trick or treating comes as a beloved activity entailing fun costumes and endless candy, however, sometimes it’s more haunting side is forgotten: the commute. With young kids, school nights, and candy highs, bearing a long, worrisome commute isn’t ideal. Lucky for parents, big siblings, and chaperones, there are many ways to make this year’s Halloween
commute not so scary!
Walking is the Best Option
Walking to your trick or treat destination is ideal on Halloween night. Make sure to walk on sidewalks whenever possible or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe. Consider fastening reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you and of course, don’t forget to bring a flashlight and WALK and don’t run from house to house.
Rest the Night Before
Between walking on foot, excited kids, and driving in the dark, Halloween can be both a nerve-wracking and exhausting night. Having enough energy to get through the night safely is crucial to face wondering children in the streets, avoid drowsiness at the wheel, and ditch overall crankiness. To be your most alert and upbeat, ensure a good night’s sleep the night before trick or treating. Additionally, taking it slow and having a cup of coffee are other ways to keep the pep in your step.
If you Must Drive, Carpool with Friends
Worried about finding the perfect candy route? Join your neighbor or local friend to track down the best candy jackpots. If you find yourself having to drive to your trick or treat destination this Halloween, try riding along with another family. In addition to companionship, carpooling aids to reduce traffic, making your trick or treat commute as efficient and stress-free as possible.
Telecommute
Telecommuting allows you to skip the stress of after-work traffic. If you choose to work from home on the day of Halloween, you can be ready to go as soon as the sun goes down. As an added bonus, this strategy helps lower traffic for those who can’t skip their commute!
Take Public Transit
If walking to your trick or treat destination is not feasible, Public transit is a great car-free option and a great way to put the driving in someone else’s hands. Explore the area and hunt the best candy in costume while riding your local train, bus, or subway.
With FIFA World Cup 26™ coming to the region, travel patterns across Greater Boston will look very different—especially on match days. While it’s exciting that the region will be part of a global sporting event, it will also bring noticeable changes to how people move through the transportation system. While games will be played at Gillette Stadium, the impacts won’t be limited to Foxborough. Alewife Station is expected to see increased activity from fans heading into Boston before continuing to the stadium. South Station will serve as the primary departure point for special event trains to Foxborough, bringing additional riders inbound from Alewife and surrounding communities. For regular commuters, this will likely mean fuller trains, more congestion in and around the station, and a commute that may take longer—or feel less predictable—than usual. As the transportation management association for the Alewife area, Alewife TMA is sharing what to expect and how to plan ahead as regional travel demand increases during FIFA World Cup 26™.
Alewife TMA is proud to introduce GoMassCommute , a smarter, more rewarding way to plan your commute, access valuable benefits, and earn rewards simply for getting to work. GoMassCommute is a collaborative effort among Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) across Massachusetts, and is supported with grant funding from MassDOT. As commuting patterns evolve and flexibility becomes more important than ever, GoMassCommute brings everything you need into one easy-to-use platform—whether you drive, take transit, carpool, vanpool, bike, walk, or work from home. But this isn’t just a trip planner. It’s a platform that actively supports better commuting choices— while rewarding you for making them.
Every commute has a story, and in Alewife TMA’s “Commuter Spotlight” series, we share about the commuters whose daily trips keep our community moving. This month, we caught up with Alexa Shier, a member of the People Operations team at Invaio Sciences, located at TMA member building 75 Moulton (The Quad) to learn more about her transit-and-shuttle commute from Somerville to Cambridge . . . proof that even a multi-step journey can have a few bright spots along the way. Alewife TMA: Please tell our readers a little about you. Where do you work and what do you do there? Alexa: I’m a member of the People Operations team at Invaio Sciences, an agricultural biotechnology company. I support initiatives that help create a positive employee experience. TMA: How do you commute to work daily? Alexa: My commute is definitely a journey! I live in Somerville and work in Cambridge, so each morning I take the Orange Line to Downtown Crossing, transfer to the Red Line, ride to Alewife, and then hop on the Alewife TMA Loop Shuttle that brings me to the office. It is definitely a multi-step process!
In 2025, the Alewife TMA turned everyday commutes into meaningful impact, strengthening connections across the community. From expanded shuttle service and on-site commuter events to monthly challenges, bike support, and the first annual Stuff A Shuttle drive, the year was defined by collaboration and momentum. With new tools and programs launching in 2026, Alewife TMA is building on that energy to make sustainable commuting even easier and more rewarding.
Commuting through Alewife? Discover walkable coffee shops, breakfast, lunch, and after-work spots near Alewife Brook Parkway—no car needed.
2024 has been a year of progress for sustainable commuting in our community! From reducing carbon footprints to expanding commuting options, Alewife TMA has made meaningful strides—thanks to our engaged members, partners, and commuters like you. Let’s keep the momentum going in 2025!
Alewife TMA Commuter Spotlight: Sitaram Meena, PhD
No Red Line Service Between JFK/UMass & Braintree, Sep 6–29 Free Shuttle Buses: During the shutdown, free shuttle buses will make stops at Braintree, Quincy Adams, Quincy Center, Wollaston, North Quincy, and Ashmont. Commuter Rail will be FREE between Braintree and South Station: Use the Middleborough/Lakeville and Kingston lines for service from Braintree. Use the Middleborough/Lakeville, Kingston, and Greenbush lines for service from Quincy Center (except for during the weekend closures). MBTA personnel will be available to assist riders. Commuter Rail Weekend Closures: The weekends of September 7th–8th and 14th–15th Kingston, Middleborough, and Greenbush Commuter Rail service will be suspended between South Station and Braintree. Shuttles will run directly between South Staton and Braintree. At Quincy Center use Red Line Shuttle to Braintree to Connect to South Station. MBTA officials say once the track work is completed, it will improve round-trip Braintree Branch travel times by as much as 24 minutes, running service up to the maximum allowable speed of 40 miles per hour. For the latest information, we suggest the following resources: Visit camb.ma/redline for additional transit options during Red Line closures. Visit mbta.com/redline for the most up-to-date information during the closures. Visit mbtaclosures.com for information on all MBTA closures.
Beginning at 8:15 PM on Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 28 there will be no Red Line trains running between Alewife Station and Kendall/MIT Station. The following options will be available: Free shuttle buses will make stops at all closed stations Express shuttle buses will stop at only Alewife, Porter, and Kendall/MIT A Shuttle Loop will operate from Harvard to Central to Kendall/MIT and back to Harvard. Free Commuter Rail between Porter Square and North Station plus an extra shuttle train (doubling Commuter Rail service) Five Free Bluebikes rides with code: MBTAREDJULY MBTA Bus #77 (Arlington Heights – Harvard) will be fare-free within Cambridge On weekdays evenings after 8:30 PM the closure will extend to Park Street (Boston) – no red line service between Alewife and Park Street Shuttle buses will stop at all stations between Alewife and Part Street. On Weekends: July 13-14 : the closure will extend to JFK/UMASS – no service between Alewife and JFK/UMASS July 20-21 : the closure will extend to Park Street (Boston) – no service between Alewife and Park Street July 27-28: the closure will extend to JFK/UMASS – no service between Alewife and JFK/UMASS Shuttle buses will stop at all closed stations. Note : Riders needing to go beyond Park Street will need to transfer to another shuttle at Park Street to go on to JFK/UMASS. The Commuter Rail will be fare-free between Braintree, Quincy Center, JFK/UMass, and South Station. Regular fares should be purchased beyond Braintree. The important thing to keep in mind is that there will be shuttle buses at all locations where Red Line service is closed. There will be signage and MBTA staff to assist riders in getting where they need to go. Below are a few good resources to find the most up-to-date information. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. For the latest information, we suggest the following resources: Visit camb.ma/redline for additional transit options during Red Line closures. Visit mbta.com/redline for the most up-to-date information during the closures. Visit mbtaclosures.com for information on all MBTA closures
Commuter Spotlight: Red Line Rider