April 29, 2025 |MBTA, News, Transportation

MBTA: Temporary Lynn Ferry Schedule Adjustment through May 14 in Response to Right Whale Protection Measures (UPDATED)

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APRIL 29 UPDATE FROM MBTA: Due to continued Right Whale sightings, the Lynn Ferry modified schedule has been extended through May 14th. We apologize for the continued inconvenience this will cause riders.

In coordination with federal environmental protections, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) today announced a temporary schedule adjustment beginning today through at least May 14 to Lynn Ferry service due to the recent implementation of a Right Whale “Dynamic Management Area” (DMA) in Broad Sound, which is the main transit route for the Lynn Ferry. Right whales have recently been sighted in Broad Sound. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued guidance for all vessels in Broad Sound to reduce speeds to 10 knots to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Although the guidance is technically voluntary, the MBTA and Boston Harbor City Cruises (BHC) have agreed to fully comply out of an abundance of caution and environmental responsibility. 

According to the NOAA, one of the leading causes of death for Right Whales is vessel strikes. These whales often swim at or just below the surface, making them vulnerable to fast-moving vessels. Vessel slowdowns – like the current Broad Sound speed zone – dramatically reduce the chance of lethal collisions. 

As a result, ferry trips between Lynn and Boston will take approximately 90 minutes at this time, an increase from the usual 40-minute travel time. This change affects only the Lynn Ferry route. All other ferry services remain unaffected. 

Temporary MODIFIED Schedule

Beginning Thursday and continuing through at least Tuesday, April 29, the Lynn Ferry will operate on a modified alternate schedule: 

• Inbound trips from Lynn: 
  
  • Departing Blossom St. Pier at 7:30 AM, arriving at Long Wharf at 8:40 AM 
  • Departing Blossom St. Pier at 10:45 AM, arriving at Long Wharf at 11:55 PM 
     
• Outbound trips from Boston: 
  • Departing Long Wharf North at 9 AM, arriving at Blossom St. Pier at 10:10 AM 
  • Departing Long Wharf North at 5:45 PM, arriving at Blossom St. Pier at 6:55 PM 

Weekend service operates from Saturday, May 17 through Sunday, October 12. The weekend schedule is therefore unaffected by this modified schedule but will be added back onto the schedule after the conclusion of this modified schedule.

The MBTA will continue to monitor updates from NOAA and may further adjust service as needed. 

More About North Atlantic Right Whales 

According to NOAA Fisheries, North Atlantic right whales were hunted to near-extinction during the whaling era as a result of being slow-moving. When killed, they yielded high quantities of oil—making them a highly sought after whale to hunt. Listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the North Atlantic Right Whale is considered a critically endangered species, with fewer than 360 individuals remaining (and fewer than 70 breeding females). They can span up to 52 feet in length and weigh up to 70 tons, and travel seasonally between cold northern feeding grounds (e.g., New England, Canadian Maritimes) and warm southern calving grounds (e.g., off Georgia and Florida). Their lifespan is typically up to 70 years or more. 

As a top predator and a large marine mammal, right whales play a crucial role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. Their decline signals larger systemic problems affecting oceans, including overfishing, climate disruption, and pollution. 

Federal laws require that government agencies take every action necessary to prevent harm to endangered species. With so few individual whales left, human action – or inaction – will determine whether this species survives or vanishes forever.

To report sightings of marine mammals, please contact the Northeast Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Entanglement Hotline at 866-755-NOAA (866-755-6622). More information about North Atlantic Right Whales can be found at the NOAA Fisheries website or by calling 978-281-9300.

The above press release was submitted to us by the MBTA.