MBTA Ramps Up Service and Safety Plans Ahead of Southie’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The MBTA is gearing up for one of Boston’s biggest days of the year — Southie’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade — with extra service, safety measures, and staff ready to handle the crowds expected to pour into the neighborhood this Sunday, March 15.

With nearly a million people likely to attend the parade, the T says it’s preparing for one of its busiest days of 2026. To make things smoother, the transit agency will roll out added service across the system, free shuttle buses between South Station and South Boston, and plenty of extra staff on platforms to help manage the surge in riders.

Interim MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said the goal is to make it easy — and safe — for everyone to celebrate responsibly. “Public transit allows everyone alternative ways to safely travel and celebrate responsibly,” Eng said in a prepared statement. “Leave the driving to us and use caution when traversing the system as we all celebrate St. Patrick’s Day together.”

The MBTA plans to run rush-hour level Red Line service between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., although trains could skip Broadway Station at certain times because of heavy foot traffic. For anyone heading into South Boston, there will be free shuttle buses running from South Station to Southie between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

If you’re taking the bus, be ready for detours. Parade-related road closures mean that some routes will skip Andrew and Broadway stations altogether. Full details are available at mbta.com/StPatricksDay.

For those coming from farther away, Commuter Rail trains will add cars to better handle riders heading in for the festivities. The MBTA’s $10 weekend pass remains a solid deal, offering unlimited travel on all Commuter Rail lines throughout the weekend, and can be purchased through the mTicket app.

On the safety front, Transit Police Chief Kenneth Green said there will be an increased presence of uniformed officers across the system to help deter any trouble and to respond quickly if needed. The T is also reminding riders that alcohol and disruptive behavior won’t be tolerated.

Other safety reminders include keeping personal items secure, letting riders exit before boarding, and leaving bikes at home — they’re not allowed on the system on parade day. Riders are also encouraged to download the See Say App, which allows them to discreetly contact Transit Police if they see anything suspicious.

The MBTA is asking everyone to travel smart and celebrate responsibly, emphasizing that vandalism and disorderly conduct can cause safety risks and service delays that impact everyone.

For updates throughout the weekend, the T says to check @MBTA and @MBTA_CR on X, or visit mbta.com/StPatricksDay.