With the Red Sox one game away from clinching the World Series title, the city of Boston and others are stepping up a list of public safety and traffic restrictions around Fenway.
By late Tuesday afternoon, the city of Boston put out an alert about parking and traffic restrictions, per the Boston Police around Fenway, Kenmore, and Allston-Brighton for the World Series games 6 and 7. It’s just one of many measures the city is putting in place as it prepares for what’s expected to be a raucous ending to the fall classic.
But how are residents in affected neighborhoods such as Fenway preparing?
Morgan Hewitt said she didn’t wait for the city’s preparations to start planning her commute home.
"I’m prepared all year round," she said. "I have the Red Sox schedule on my phone, at work, on my computer. When they came out with the restrictions today, I already I have to leave work early, or leave work later, and try to come home when the games are in session."
Hewitt said she doesn’t own a car, but a friend who does is parking it in a garage out of fear that something might happen to it on the street.
It’s a similar fear expressed by Northeastern student Jack Chutchian, who said he plans on attending game 6.
"Dealing with the crowds, trying to stay safe, getting from Fenway Park over here. It’s not a long walk, but with what I’m sure are gonna be some pretty rambunctious fans, it can be a little bit dangerous, a little bit dicey," he said.
Chutchian said he lives in Mission Hill and his girlfriend lives in Fenway. He’s planning accordingly and taking traffic into consideration. Yet, he said he admits he’s still unsure about his commute after the game ends.
"Afterwards getting back over to Mission Hill, I’m not entirely sure how that’s gonna work out. I don’t expect any taxis to be available. It’s gonna be a lot of walking."
Like Hewitt, Chutchian isn’t a car owner. He told friends of his who are planning on attending the game to park in Brookline or somewhere outside the city, and then take public transportation from there.
Zack Djurich said he counts himself as one of the fortunate ones.
"Luckily my commute is usually just walking or taking public transportation, but I know the people in this area are used to heavy traffic from the games all year round, so I’m sure they have their formula down by now," he said.
Djurich said the expected crowds don’t intimidate him. In fact, he describes himself as the kind of person who likes to go out and see what he calls the craziness around the ballpark.
Crazy is also Hewitt’s description of the past week around the Fenway neighborhood. But since she’s not from Boston, she said it’s also taught her something.
"The helicopters overhead is what gets me. I enjoy listening. I open my windows when it hasn’t been this cold to listen to the games. That’s kinda fun. But I never realized how much the city loves the Red Sox until this week."
And with the first time clinching a World Series at home since 1918 on the line, expect that love to be on full display.
