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Thousands of Boston students will face a perennial question Thursday morning: How will I get to class, and how long is it going to take?
For the thousands of students who typically rely on public transportation to get to school, plans have gotten a bit more complicated than usual this year — even above the typical start-of-year struggles the district has getting kids to class.
Both the entire Orange Line and part of the Green Line will be down for the first couple weeks of Boston Public Schools classes, leaving schools and the MBTA scrambling to iron out any issues with kids’ commutes ahead of the first day.
“We are working around the clock to ensure that our students will be able to get to school on time,” BPS said in a statement, citing elements of a transportation adjustment plan.
The MBTA published a Student Edition of its Rider’s Guide, including detailed alternate routes to schools along the Orange Line and brief information about student CharlieCards. The routes include the free shuttles, buses and the commuter rail, which can be accessed for free by presenting a CharlieCard.
The guide is available for download in English as of Wednesday afternoon, though the T states that “translated versions will be updated shortly.”
Twenty eight schools, not including colleges and universities, are listed along the Orange Line, and over 4,600 over students take the route.
There will be Transit Ambassadors and MBTA staff — in red polos, sweaters or jackets with T logos — along the routes to help guide students and families, BPS officials said. Students can also call the BPS Transportation Hotline, 617-635-9520, for assistance.
Additionally, the department is offering 5,500 CharlieCards preloaded with 7-day passes, “so parents and caregivers can ride with their students and familiarize themselves with the Orange and Green Line diversions,” according to an MBTA release. 4,600 have been distributed as of Wednesday afternoon.
The cards were released to schools, and BPS stated parents have been encouraged to arrange pick-up with their child’s school.
BPS also announced in August it retained 70 student transport vans, “primarily for routes outside the city of Boston,” and was expanding access to school buses for some students past 6th grade, the typical threshold for which the district provides transportation.
“Although the Orange Line shutdown will undoubtedly raise challenges for BPS transportation, we are hopeful that these student transport vans will lessen the additional strain on our yellow school bus system,” said BPS Acting Superintendent Drew Echelson at a school committees meeting on Aug. 31.
Though students should “plan for delays,” Echelson said, they won’t be penalized for arriving late due to transportation issues.
“Our BPS community is here to serve our students as they arrive at school, ensuring access to care, education and healthy breakfast and lunch after the bell, regardless of travel delays,” Echelson said.
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