Symposium on EMG Decomposition 2007
AIR TRAVEL INFORMATION

Boston Logan Airport vs. Providence Green Airport??

Worcester is an approximate one hour 15 minute drive from Boston's Logan International Airport (Airport code: BOS) and an approximate one hour 15 minute drive from T.F. Green International Airport (Airport Code: PVD) in Warwick, Rhode Island (just outside of Rhode Island's capitol city of Providence).

Logan airport is a large, busy international airport (actually located within the city limits of Boston) with service throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and elsewhere. Several of the major domestic and international airlines maintain frequent flight schedules in and out of Logan airport. Limosine and van service is available to outlying suburbs and cities including Worcester (see below). If you will not be renting a car, you will likely need to fly into Logan Airport. If you are traveling from outside of the U.S. east coast, you will likely need to fly into Logan Airport. The airport is located across a waterway from the rest of Boston. However, vehicle travel to/from the airport has simplified tremendously in the last few years with the building of a second tunnel that connects directly to the major westbound highway (that leads towards Worcester). More details of travel from Logan Airport to Worcester are provided below.

T.F. Green Airport (the "Providence Airport") is a smaller airport, mostly serving the U.S. east coast. It is likely classified as an "International" airport due to flights to Canadian locations (e.g, Toronto). This airport has many fewer flights than Logan Airport, but does have a selection of flights (particularly from bargain airlines). The drive from the airport to Worcester is generally considered much easier, as you can avoid major cities. Many WPI employees choose T.F. Green Airport for regional travel (when appropriate flights exist) because its smaller size and easier accessibility by automobile is "far less hastle than going through the big city airport." More details of travel from T.F. Green Airport to Worcester are provided below.

Travel from Boston Logan Airport to WPI/Worcester

Via Rental Car:

The Logan Airport web site (maintained by the Massachusetts Port Authority — "MASSPORT") lists eight rental car companies that serve Logan Airport. Total driving distance from the airport to WPI/Worcester is under 60 miles. Both Google Maps (Boston Logan Airport to WPI) and MapQuest (Boston Logan Airport to WPI) direct drivers to leave the Boston area by taking Route 90 West (also known as the Massachusetts Turnpike, or "The Pike"). Route 90 is a toll road, as is the tunnel from the airport towards downtown Boston. Your rental car company should be able to provide directions to Route 90. Complete directions to your destination (WPI campus or your hotel) can be provided by on-line mapping services (e.g., Google Maps (Boston Logan Airport to WPI) or MapQuest (Boston Logan Airport to WPI). The links provided above use "BOS" (the airport code for Logan Airport) as the origin and "100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609" as the destination. (Or, produce directions from the street address of your car rental company.) Most of this driving route consists of travel on major highways. Once on Institute Road in Worcester, MA, follow parking directions in the Venue & Campus Info section of this Symposium web page.

Via Taxi ??

According to the Logan Airport web site taxi page, Boston taxis can take travelers from Logan Airport to Worcester, MA and must do so for a flat fee of $110.00 (one way). However, many taxi drivers may be unaware of this requirement and might either refuse to provide transportation or might not do so honoring the flat fee noted above. If you plan to travel via taxi, it would be wise to contact Boston city taxis and ask their policy on travel to Worcester. Overall, the cost of travel by taxi may well be greater than travel by rental car.

Via Limousine or Van

Both limousines and shared vans are available to transport passengers arriving at Logan airport to locations throughout Massachusetts (and beyond). Private limousine service is by reservation only and likely costs similar (or more than) the "flat fee" taxi rate. More economical travel is possible with a shared van (typically available at the airport every 30–60 minutes). Again, reservations are required. A full list of companies is available on the Logan Airport "Shared Van" web page. Companies specifically serving Worcester include (rates quoted below are for one passenger):

Travel from Providence T.F. Green Airport to WPI/Worcester

Via Rental Car:

The T.F. Green web site lists ten rental car companies that serve T.F. Green Airport. Total driving distance from the airport to WPI/Worcester is under 60 miles.

HINT: If you were to use the airport address or code (PVD) to produce driving directions (e.g., using Google Maps or MapQuest), the directions produced will direct you to drive through downtown Providence on interstate highway 95. While this is the shortest distance, it is usually slower than using Route 295 to avoid the city. Instead click these links to receive Google Maps (West Warwick RI to WPI) or MapQuest (West Warwick RI to WPI) directions from on-line services by using the city of "West Warwick, RI" as the origin and "100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609" as the destination. This instruction will produce a few (West Warwick) city streets leading to Route 295 North. You can ignore these first few directions, as Route 295 is accessed easily directly from the airport (either follow airport exit signs or ask at the car rental center). Once on Route 295 North, you can follow the remaining on-line directions to Worcester, MA. Note that Route 146 in Rhode Island and Massachusetts is not a divided highway. Once on Institute Road in Worcester, MA, follow parking directions in the Venue & Campus Info section of this Symposium web page.

Via Limousine or Van

Some of the Massachusetts limousine/van companies serving Worcester provide service to T.F. Green Airport. Private limousine service is by reservation only and rather expensive. More economical travel is possible with a shared van. Again, reservations are required. Companies specifically serving Worcester include (rates quoted below are for one passenger):

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