commuting from carlisle to harvard/kendall (Lowell, Somerville: house, transfer to, neighborhood)

[redmaple9]

What would be the preferred way to commute to Harvard or Kendall from Carlisle? Is there any parking at the Concord T station?

[tysmith95]

Originally Posted by redmaple9

What would be the preferred way to commute to Harvard or Kendall from Carlisle? Is there any parking at the Concord T station?

You could drive into alewife and park there. That lot doesn't fill up until after 9 o'clock on its busiest days. Route 2 traffic usually isin't too bad

[robr2]

I will respectfully disagree on Route 2 traffic. Getting in and out the garage at Alewife can be horrendous.

There is limited parking at Concord Station. IIRC, all parking is in Crosby's Market and all cars must have a permit. There is more space at West Concord and payment is via an app.

[Parsec]

You basically have 3 options:

1) Fitchburg line: West Concord and Lincoln have daily parking for non-residents. Concord center (at Crosby's Market) only has long-term permits that you renew a few times a year. You can take these trains to either Porter (transfer to red line to Kendall) or North Station (take EZ Ride Shuttle to Kendall).

2) Lowell line: North Billerica has a few huge parking lots. Take to North Station and then use EZ Ride Shuttle to Kendall

3) Get onto Rt-2 after the prison rotary (that's where all the traffic is) and park at Alewife.

[wolfgang239]

You can also take 4/225 to Lexington and continue from there. I travel from Ayer to Somerville some mornings and there is no good way (other than the train as Parsec suggested). Any "shortcut" will shave off 5 minutes at best, and I've sat in front of a map to try them all. You are in for a crummy stop and go almost the whole way from Bedford on.

[495neighbor]

I park at Alewife Station all times of the day and can always find a space on the "penthouse" level.

[495neighbor]

omg, I remember you from way back when you were looking in Groton and Harvard. Did you end up in Carlisle or are you still looking?

[Parsec]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

omg, I remember you from way back when you were looking in Groton and Harvard. Did you end up in Carlisle or are you still looking?

Now that you mention it, the name does sound familiar. I actually remember them looking in Acton though, not Groton.

[redmaple9]

We ended up purchasing in Acton! We were all over the place -- Groton, Harvard, Carlisle, Acton, Sudbury, Amherst. Ended up choosing a humble house in a nice neighborhood in Acton yet with privacy and walkable. CRAZY market. Ended up needing to pay cash to win the house. Glad this is over. Not an enjoyable process although I loved learning about the towns. Here's hoping the house will increase 20 years later when I expect sell!

Thank you all for your help, especially Parsec, 495, et. al.

[gf2020]

So why are you asking about commuting from Carlisle if you already bought in Acton?