One of Worcester’s many assets is its central location for both Massachusetts and New England travelers. The expansive highway system serving Greater Worcester allows more than 6 million people to travel to and from Worcester within an hour’s drive.
The expansion of CSX into Worcester is resulting in a comprehensive multi-year rail transportation agreement between the Commonwealth and CSX, designed to expand commuter rail service to/from Worcester, strengthen the state’s transportation infrastructure and improve the Commonwealth’s competitive position in the global economy.
And the purchase of the Worcester Regional Airport by the Massachusetts Port Authority allows one of the world’s leading airport authorities to leverage its clout to expand passenger service to/from Worcester.
Worcester is served by several interstate highways. I-290 connects central Worcester to I-495, I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) in nearby Auburn, and I-395. I-190 links Worcester to Route 2 and the cities of Fitchburg and Leominster in northern Worcester County. I-90 can also be reached from the Route 146 connector.
Worcester is also served by several smaller Massachusetts state highways. Route 9 links the city to its eastern and western suburbs, Shrewsbury and Leicester. Route 9 runs almost the entire length of the state, connecting Boston and Worcester with Pittsfield, near the New York state border. Route 12 serves as an additional route north to Leominster and Fitchburg and south to Webster. Route 146, the Worcester-Providence Turnpike, connects the city with Providence, Rhode Island. Route 20 touches the southernmost tip of Worcester near the Massachusetts Turnpike.
Interested in sharing a car? Worcester is served by both Zipcar and U Car Share.
Cab companies include New Worcester Yellow Cab and Worcester Red Cab.
NOTE: For those considering a move to Worcester without a car, consider looking for an apartment closest to Union Station, located within Worcester’s burgeoning entertainment area, the Canal District. Apartments at Canal Lofts and Bancroft Commons go quickly. Plans call for a new apartment complex as part of the nearby City Square Project.
Worcester’s historic Union Station, one of the Commonwealth's most beautiful structures, serves as an inter-modal hub hosting Amtrak, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) commuter rail service to/from Boston, taxi service, as well as both intra- and inter-city bus services and free Wi-Fi access. It is also home to several restaurants including Luciano’s, John Dillinger’s Barbeque Grille, and Byblos Lounge, a Mediterranean, Lebanese style restaurant and lounge.
Worcester is the western terminus of the Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line run by the MBTA, providing great access for those working or interested in dining/entertainment opportunities along the Worcester/Boston route.
Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited route includes runs serving Boston and New York to Chicago. Train passengers may also connect to additional services such as the Vermonter line in Springfield.
Worcester is the headquarters of the Providence and Worcester, a regional freight railroad operating in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.
Construction is now underway on the $100 million expansion of CSX’s rail facility in Worcester.
CSX is one of the nation's leading transportation suppliers. The company’s rail and intermodal businesses provide rail-based transportation services including traditional rail service and the transport of intermodal containers and trailers. The groundbreaking marks an important milestone in the comprehensive multi-year rail transportation agreement between the Commonwealth and CSX, designed to expand commuter rail service, strengthen the state’s transportation infrastructure and improve the Commonwealth’s competitive position in the global economy.
The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) the second largest regional transit authority in Massachusetts, manages the municipal bus system. Buses operate intracity as well as connect Worcester to surrounding Greater Worcester communities.
Worcester is also served by Peter Pan Bus Lines and Greyhound Bus Lines, which operate out of Union Station.
The purchase of the Worcester Regional Airport by the Massachusetts Port Authority allows one of the world’s leading airport authorities to leverage its clout to expand passenger service to/from Worcester. Worcester Regional Airport currently offers commercial charter and extensive general aviation services and amenities, including a fixed-base operator, Rectrix.
Additional airports serving Greater Worcester include: Logan (Boston), T.F. Green (Providence, RI), Bradley (Hartford, CT) and Manchester-Boston (Manchester, NH).