Boston folks, an MIT and MBTA question?

[Jillpie]

My job is taking me into MIT at the end of this week, specifically the Johnson Athletic Center. I'm coming from the South Shore and I'm looking at google maps and can't tell which would be a shorter walk, getting off at the Red line's Kendall stop or Central Square? Any tips or other suggestions would be great. Thanks!

 

[redlight]

I don't know about your exact location, but most of MIT's campus is closest to Kendall.

 

[kwelch10377]

My job is taking me into MIT at the end of this week, specifically the Johnson Athletic Center. I'm coming from the South Shore and I'm looking at google maps and can't tell which would be a shorter walk, getting off at the Red line's Kendall stop or Central Square? Any tips or other suggestions would be great. Thanks!

Usually the MBTA website will tell you how much you have to walk when you put in the addresses.

 

[MassJester]

Central is a bit of a walk.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, it's three buildings west of Mass Ave on Vassar Street.
Come out of the subway at Kendall Square. That's Main Street. cross the street. Face away from Boston. At the first big intersection with working traffic lights and a very oddly shaped building, turn left (that's Vassar Street). The next intersection is Mass Ave; cross that and continue on Vassar Street to the Johnson Athletic Center.

And you would get to the Kendall station by taking the Red Line directly from South Station.

Also, MIT has a Tech Shuttle. You can try calling and seeing if there's any way they'll pick you up at Kendall but probably not.


eta: the address is 120 Vassar St. Try googlemaps or mapquest starting at the intersection of Main St & Vassar St and ending at 120 Vassar St. The walk from the subway station to that intersection is less than 100 feet.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm baaack

I was able to Google [beta] walking directions using the street opposite the T station as the starting point:
Head west on Main Street toward Galileo Galilei Way
Walk 49 feet then turn left at Galileo Galilei Way
Walk 33 feet then Galileo Galilei Way turns slightly right and becomes Vassar St. (destination will be on the left).
Total distance .4 miles

 

[jjskribs]

My son worked at the Zesiger Sports Center which is part of the sports complex at MIT. (Vassar Street) It's definitely the Kendall stop that you want. It's about a 10 minute walk from there to Vassar.

 

[Jillpie]

Just getting back, thanks so much everyone! Especially for all those details. On google maps, it looks a lot further from Kendall than it probably is. I did go to the MBTA site, and they're suggesting Red Line to orange line, getting off at Mass Ave. Your thoughts on that, especially if you know how close Johnson athletic center is?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Noooooooooo! Red Line, period. You're starting from South Station, right? The Orange Line doesn't go to Cambridge; the Red Line goes straight there. Let me see if I can remember the stops... Downtown Crossing, Park Street, Charles Street, Kendall Square. Orange Line runs from Melrose, through Boston, to Dorchester - never crosses the river at all.

The walking directions I got from Google Maps Beta walking directions say it's 95 feet from the T stop to what I call the intersection of Main & Vassar Streets but what they think is Main & Galilieo Galilei, then 4/10 of a mile to the Johnson Athletic Center. Look around, especially to your left when you get to the street. There's a Marriott there, and you may be able to get a cab.

 

[Jillpie]

Noooooooooo! Red Line, period. You're starting from South Station, right? The Orange Line doesn't go to Cambridge; the Red Line goes straight there. Let me see if I can remember the stops... Downtown Crossing, Park Street, Charles Street, Kendall Square. Orange Line runs from Melrose, through Boston, to Dorchester - never crosses the river at all.

The walking directions I got from Google Maps Beta walking directions say it's 95 feet from the T stop to what I call the intersection of Main & Vassar Streets but what they think is Main & Galilieo Galilei, then 4/10 of a mile to the Johnson Athletic Center. Look around, especially to your left when you get to the street. There's a Marriott there, and you may be able to get a cab.

Actually I'm starting at Braintree and if I listened to their directions, I'd change to the orange line at downtown crossing, and on to Mass ave. So ok, I'll just do the Red Line into Kendall and find my way from there. Thanks, you've been very helpful!

 

[jjskribs]

I agree with kaytieeldr...... definitely take the red line. I have no idea why they would have you switch to the orange line when the red line goes directly out to Cambridge. As I said my son worked at the sports complex on Vassar for 2 years and it is NO MORE than a 10 minute walk from the Kendall stop. He took the red line in every day.

 

[Jillpie]

I agree with kaytieeldr...... definitely take the red line. I have no idea why they would have you switch to the orange line when the red line goes directly out to Cambridge. As I said my son worked at the sports complex on Vassar for 2 years and it is NO MORE than a 10 minute walk from the Kendall stop. He took the red line in every day.

Ok cool, the Red line it is, off at Kendall and find my way to Vassar St, got it. Thanks guys!