Public Transport from Waltham to Harvard (Cambridge, Fitchburg: apartment complex, hotel, travel)

[aeropipi]

Hi,

I will be staying at "385 Winter Street Waltham MA" for a week and plan to make a one day trip to Harvard Square. Is there any cheap public transport to and from Harvard Square?

In addition, is there any shopping areas around winter street waltham?

Thanks!

[holden125]

This is not easy but it is doable. The 70A bus goes near there but does not run all that often (gray lines on the attached schedule). Taking the 70A bus you have a couple of choices.

You could get off at the Waltham commuter rail station and take the train inbound to Porter, and then one stop inbound on the Red line to Harvard. The issue with that is that the total trip will take a long time if you get to the train station just a minute or two late and have to wait for the next train.

The other choice is to stay on the 70A bus and change either (1) to the 71 bus in Watertown Sq. or (2) to the 66 or 86 bus at Western Av and N. Harvard St in Allston. Any of those buses terminate at Harvard. From Western Ave and N. Harvard St. you could also conceivably walk. It's a bit under a mile.

Bus Schedule and Map:

http://www.mbta.com/uploadedFiles/Do...070a170map.pdf

http://www.mbta.com/uploadedFiles/Do...070a170(2).pdf

Train Schedule:

http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_ma...route=FITCHBRG

For shopping, there is not all that much right there (offices mostly) but there is shopping at Harvard and a couple of malls on Arsenal St. in Watertown that the 70A bus goes right past. If you have any access to a car, the Burlington Mall and a whole bunch of shopping is right up 128 a few miles to the north, near Middlesex Tpke and Rt. 3.

[goyguy]

There're a couple of strip malls at the Trapelo/Lexington intersection which house a supermarket and a national-chain pharmacy as well as a Staples. Your day-to-day essentials should be findable there.

It's said that a shuttle van/bus to the Alewife terminal on the Red Line serves North Waltham - anybody here know of this? That'd be the fastest way in to Harvard Square by far. Since the thread originator is only making a "day trip" as opposed to a regular commute, the 70-A bus would do just fine.

Ms/Mr aeropipi, what's on your agenda for the rest of your week here?

[jayrandom]

The shuttle you're thinking of serves local businesses and the Windsor Village Apartment Complex. I'm pretty sure that you can pick it up from Windsor Village in the morning and the fee is about $5 each way. From Winter Street that's quite a long walk, so you'd be better off with the 70A bus.
If you're staying at a hotel, you could see if they offer a shuttle to somewhere else--either central Waltham or Alewife would offer much easier, faster, cheaper methods for getting in to Harvard. If you're only doing it for one day, though, the 70A isn't that bad, although it will take about an hour or so to get to Harvard.
As for shopping, as another person suggested there are a number of stores along Lexington near Trapelo, but again this is quite a hike from Winter Street. There is a small shopping center directly across 128 on Winter Street that has a bank, some restaurants, some other random shops and a really good wine seller. It is close but may be impossible to walk to. There is a home depot and costco not too far, as well, but your need for home repair and bulk goods may not be particularly high.

[aeropipi]

I just realised that 70a would not be working on Sunday but I have planned to travel to Cambridge on Sunday. Should I walk to take 170 instead, then take train from Waltham Central Square to Cambridge? Would it be not feasible?

[holden125]

Originally Posted by aeropipi

I just realised that 70a would not be working on Sunday but I have planned to travel to Cambridge on Sunday. Should I walk to take 170 instead, then take train from Waltham Central Square to Cambridge? Would it be not feasible?

I'm pretty sure the 170 does not run on Sunday either. On a Sunday your best bet is probably to call a local Waltham taxi service and get a ride to the station. Check the schedule, the train runs to Porter only every couple of hours, but it only takes 10-15 mins and then one stop on the Red inbound to Harvard.

MBTA Commuter Rail > Fitchburg / South Acton Lines Schedules and Maps

[nate14ri]

try the bentley bus.

[charolastra00]

Bently and Brandeis haven't started yet and I'm pretty sure both of those buses don't start until the afternoon. At least Brandeis's Sunday bus isn't until noon and I'm pretty sure my friends at Bently mentioned that their bus is also an afternoon bus.

The train would be easiest, you'd just have to get a cab.