SUMNER TUNNEL CLOSURE INFORMATION
The Sumner Tunnel will be fully closed for eight weeks starting July 5th until August 31st, 2023. The tunnel will also be closed for the same period in 2024. Click here to view our travel guide for the Sumner Tunnel closure.
RESOURCE KIT FOR THE ORANGE AND GREEN LINE CLOSURES
MBTA MONTHLY PASS BREAK-EVEN CALCULATOR
Assembly Connect, along with the MBTA, and other local businesses who serve on the MBTA transportation employer/business group have published the MBTA Monthly Pass Break-Even calculator, located on the left. This calculator is a new tool that can assist MBTA monthly pass holders and employees in a hybrid work week to determine the number of trips necessary to reach the break-even point for a monthly pass. In addition, this toolkit will help employees with their decision on purchasing a monthly MBTA pass by calculating the minimum days in the office needed in order to recover the total monthly pass cost under the current fare structure. Riders can select their Zone pass, input their employer subsidy (if any), and add in any pre-tax benefits to see the breaking point for ‘Number of Individual Trips Per Week’ as well as, ‘Days Per Week in Office’. From our findings, we have found that in many cases it is as little as two days! Try out the calculator below!
MBTA COMMUTER RAIL ZONES
This map includes all Commuter Rail fare zones, 1A - Zone 10.
TRANSIT IS ESSENTIAL
An Accessible, Affordable MBTA is Critical to Massachusetts’s Recovery
Transit is essential is calling on elected leaders to fully fund the MBTA.
The Transit is Essential Coalition began as a movement to prevent permanent MBTA service cuts proposed by MBTA management due to COVID-19. Now, with vaccinations underway, we are calling for restored, affordable MBTA service for all — while planning toward an even brighter future. Click HERE to learn more about Transit is Essential.
EV Stations at Assembly & Rebates
Assembly Square has a new public, free electric vehicle station, located at the corner of Foley St. and Grand Union Blvd.
This new EV charger is the first on street station, however three additional public EV stations (Electrify America) can be found on the first level of the 449 Canal St. garage (garage fees apply after the first three hours).
Costs to Charge
Guests who chose to "pay as you go" without the Electrify America app and users who have an Electrify America Pass Membership will pay between $0.16 - $0.32 per minute.
User who have an Electrify America Pass+ Membership will pay between $0.12 - $0.24 per minute.
In addition to these public stations, there are resident only EV stations for Avalon (Avalon building residents only), Alloy, and Montaje residents in their parking areas. Interested residents can inquire about access and pricing to the private stations with their property management.
Why Drive EV? There are many reasons why you should consider switching to an electric vehicle. For starters, electric cars save time, money and the environment, without sacrificing any of the enjoyments of driving. With a huge selection of makes and models to choose from, electric cars deliver all the performance, style, comfort and amenities of standard gasoline cars, but with cost-saving incentives, lower maintenance and zero or near-zero emissions!
If you have your own electric vehicle or are considering purchasing one, Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOR-EV) is a program that issues rebates to electric vehicle drivers and aims to provide air pollution emission reductions for the Commonwealth by increasing the use of electric vehicles.
MOR-EV provides rebates of up to $2,500 for the purchase or lease of battery electric vehicles and fuel-cell electric vehicles and up to $1,500 for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Vehicle rebates can be reserved on the date of, and not prior to, vehicle purchase or lease.
To qualify for a rebate, electric vehicle drivers will need to submit a MOR-EV application:
Within 3 months of the purchase or lease date of a new vehicle with a purchase price less than $50,000.
After taking possession of the vehicle
Prior to the exhaustion of rebate funds. Rebates are subject to available funding and will be processed on a first come, first served basis.
More information on the application process, program statistics, and FAQ's can be found on the MOR-EV website.
Teleworking Tips during COVID-19
We know working from home might be a new adventure for many employees, so we put together a list of helpful tips for making teleworking successful for you!
MAINTAIN A WORK-LIFE BALANCE
It’s important to identify time-wasting distractions. To separate home life from work life, consider defining your designated workspace and sticking to it (as much as possible)! Listen to music to create low-key background noise to help focus. Set up a work station in the dining room or away from areas of activity where the rest of the family congregates.
ESTABLISH A ROUTINE
Try to keep your normal daily routine as much as you can. You can fall into a lot of bad habits like waking up late, being distracted by things like social media, or even working so much that you look at the clock and realize it’s already 6 PM and you haven’t been outside all day. Set a structure and a routine that you can stick to, but will still allow you personal time to recharge. Keep up with simple tasks like making your bed, putting on work attire, and even listening to the podcasts you’d normally listen to during your trip to work.
KNOW WHEN TO STOP WORKING
As mentioned, routine is essential. If possible, set boundaries and have a cutoff time at the end of the day so you don’t burn yourself out. Work-life balance is important. Working “normal” business hours can be helpful for when you have to get back into your regular routine. A positive byproduct of this situation, is that your commute no longer takes hours out of your day and more time can be spent with your loved ones. If you didn’t have time for breakfast in the mornings before, there might be some extra time for it now!
BE ORGANIZED AND PRODUCTIVE
Organize your work and plan out tasks for each day. You can use online tools for collaboration, to-do lists, and project management (there are lots of free platforms online). Having a calendar can be a helpful tool! Make a “To Do” list on your calendar and allot specific time slots to each task, as well as for lunch, and health breaks. Highlighting tasks as you complete them, can give a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day!
MAINTAIN CONTACT AND STAY IN TOUCH WITH OTHERS
Video conferencing is an awesome tool for staying connected and continue virtual face-to-face communication. Staying in touch with your team can keep the normalcy of passing them in the office. Having quick daily team meetings just to check in with each other and share essential updates about your work can also be helpful. A check-in scheduled every day can help to maintain structure in your work life. Plus, it’s good to get some social interaction every day!
INCREASE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS
Employees who telework, rate higher in happiness than those who don’t. However, mental and physical health are always important. Taking health breaks such as getting up to grab a nutritional snack and moving around may keep you productive and motivated. Going for a quick run or some yoga can help you to re-focus, manage stress, and anxiety.
ECO-FRIENDLY FOR A BETTER PLANET
By teleworking you are doing great things for our environment - such as lowering greenhouse gas emissions and reducing our carbon footprint and congestion. The Earth thanks you! Continue the good work by using sustainable modes of transportation like public transit, biking, walking and carpooling when you do return to the office.
Additional Resources:
Webinar: Is Your Organization Prepared to Telework in a Time of Crisis? brought to you by ACT (Association for Commuter Transportation)
