Cheapest way to commute between Boston and Rhode Island?

[Britney]

Hi there! I'm going to be doing some neuroscience research this summer in Boston and was wondering what the cheapest way for me to get there from Kingston, Rhode Island would be. I did some research on my own, but I wanted to check with the experts to see if I'm doing this right.

I need to go in three days a week for most of June and July. (Eight weeks in total, so 24 round trips in total.) I have a Student Advantage card.

The typical round trip fare from Kingston to Boston (South Station) is $16 each way, so $32/trip. With Student Advantage, I think I would be paying $27.20/trip. This would make my grand total $652.80.

I noticed Amtrak's Monthly Fare pass for the 10 rides. I don't think Student Advantage applies to this, but I could be wrong. It looks like this would be $240 for 10 round trip rides, or $24/trip. This would make my grand total $588.80--two 10 ride passes and 4 rides a la carte.

Can you guys think of any other discounts that would work? The research is a great opportunity and I'm trying to figure out the best way to do it on a student budget.

Thanks! Sorry to bother you!

 

[amamba]

Your only other option would be to drive to Providence or South Attleboro and take MBTA/MBCR commuter rail to Boston. You can buy a 12 ride pass on MBTA for $93 (that is 12 one ways or 6 round trips) or a monthly pass for $250 (unlimited rides). The monthly commuter rail pass also includes unlimited rides on the T (subway) in Boston. Parking in Providence is pricey, so that is why most commuters board in South Attleboro. The daily parking fee in South Attleboro is $4.

With the 10 ride pass, it is NOT 10 round trips. It is 10 ONE WAY tickets. So the 10 ride pass for $240 would be good for 5 days of your commute. The bonus with the multi-ride passes (monthly and 10 ride pass) are that they are good on any train. If you know the specific trains that you are going on, please be aware that there is a bucket system. So you need to buy your tickets ASAP for single rides so that the price doesn't go up. While the "typical" fare might be $16, there are lots of days when if you try to buy your ticket that day, the price would be much higher.

 

[the_traveler]

Check out THIS LINK for 20% off the rail fare, if

1. You book 3 days in advance
2. You do not travel on the blackout days listed
3. You travel before December 15, 2011, and
4. You decide to but individual tickets and not a monthly pass or a 10 trip (each 1 way) package

KIN is my home station, and has a large FREE parking lot, but fills up each day (with commuters to Boston). There is usually room if you look. As mentioned, you may consider taking MBTA from Providence or South Attleboro. In the future (I'm not sure when), there will also be MBTA service from TF Green Airport and Wickford Junction.

 

[jis]

In the future (I'm not sure when), there will also be MBTA service from TF Green Airport and Wickford Junction.

There already are 6 trains each day, 3 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon, from TF Green Airport to Boston. See http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/lines/?route=PROVSTOU.

Wickford Jct service is a couple to several years away.

 

[amamba]

Wickford Jct service is a couple to several years away.

Hrmm....they have been mentioning this train line on the local news and they always seem to indicate that service is imminent. I hate the tv news. I of course, believe jis over crappy providence news outlets.

 

[the_traveler]

Wickford Jct service is a couple to several years away.

Hrmm....they have been mentioning this train line on the local news and they always seem to indicate that service is imminent.

There's only a few things that need to be done:

1. Build the station (next to Staples)
2. Build a new track in from the mainline to the station, and
3. Build the parking lot! (Yes, Staples and WalMart do have parking lots, but not for commuter parking.)

Beyond these small things, they could start service tomorrow!

I haven't been to Staples or WalMart in a few weeks, but last I saw they were barely clearing the soil where the station will be built!

 

[amamba]

Oh, I didn't realize that there wasn't even a station there - but again, the MBTA doesn't really require stations. Half of their stops just have a little piece of asphalt with a low level platform. That shouldn't be that hard to construct.

 

[jis]

Oh, I didn't realize that there wasn't even a station there - but again, the MBTA doesn't really require stations. Half of their stops just have a little piece of asphalt with a low level platform. That shouldn't be that hard to construct.

It's not that MBTA needs a station. It is the case that Amtrak will throw an apoplectic fit if MBTA decides to terminate and turn a train on the high speed main line holding up the entire railroad.

 

[amamba]

Right, so the biggest issue is #2 on the list (build a new track from the mainline to the station). But again, how far is it going and how long should it really take? It is just astonishing to me that something like that can take years to complete. But I guess if the MBTA is involved, plus the state of RI, well, I guess that is enough explanation right there.

 

[the_traveler]

That's why MBTA should continue to KIN. There is a 3rd (unused) track that dead-ends at the route 138 bridge. It would be a great place to turn the train off the high speed main line