Getting Settled
The first task of getting settled in Boston as a resident is getting here. Students who already have some of the necessary components of their apartment will want to find a way to bring it with them.
Getting to Boston
Getting into Boston can be a tricky feat. Having a set travel itinerary before you arrive to move into your apartment is a good idea. Boston is surrounded by an interstate system of major highways – if you are coming to the city from outside of Massachusetts, or outside the Boston area, you will probably be taking one of the major highways into the city. Interstate 495 and route 128 (I-95) surround Boston like rings, with I-90, and I- 93 branching off to run through the city itself. Traffic moves quickly and Boston drivers are not known for being the most patient or friendly. Know your exit number well ahead of time and get in the correct lane as soon as possible so you don’t get cut off.
Once in Boston, be mindful of one-way streets. Especially downtown and in the Back Bay neighborhood, many of the streets run one-way, perpendicular to major roads like Boylston Street and Newbury Street. The “street view” feature of Google Maps is a great tool for finding out what direction your street runs, and what it looks like before you get there.
The Massachusetts Turnpike (often times called the “Mass Pike” or “The Pike”) is the eastern-most section of I-90 and filters directly into the city of Boston. The Mass Pike is a toll-road, with tolls ranging from about $3.00 to $5.00. If you have a Fast Lane electronic toll system (which is compatible with the nation-wide E-ZPass system), you can get through the tolls much more quickly, especially at large plazas like Sturbridge or Newton.
Watch for Overhead Passes
If you are driving a rental moving truck, pay attention to low clearance signs. Storrow Drive and Jamaica Way are particularly known for this problem – many of their small tunnels and bridges only have 11’ of clearance.
Plan Ahead
If you are planning a local move during Boston’s peak moving season (Aug/Sept) and you need to reserve a moving truck, do so at least one month in advance. September 1st is by far the busiest moving day in Boston. If at all possible, try to avoid moving on September 1st, it will save you a lot of time and frustration! U-Haul, Penske, and Budget all have a fairly strong representation in the Boston area, but they will run out of trucks by the first few weeks of August for students intending to move on September 1st.
Street Occupancy Permits
If you have a large moving truck or van and want to make sure you have a spot on the street to park it when you arrive at your new apartment, you will need to get a street occupancy permit from the city. In Boston and most of the towns nearby, that permit is issued by the Transportation or Traffic department, and costs small fee (from $5 to $20). If you think your move is going to take a decent amount of time (more than a few hours), having street occupancy permits makes the process much faster and easier by guaranteeing you a parking spot near your new home while you unpack.
