Transportation Plans in Place for World Cup Matches in Foxborough The anticipation for the upcoming World Cup matches in Foxborough is growing as organizers prepare for a surge in visitors. The event, scheduled to take place between June 13 and the quarterfinal match on July 9, will feature teams from Haiti, Scotland, Norway, Morocco, France, England, and Ghana. The stadium, with a capacity of 66,600, is expected to host up to 2 million visitors to the Greater Boston area, coinciding with the July 4 celebrations marking the country’s 250th anniversary and the Sail250 tall ships event, which begins on July 10. Phillip Eng, the interim transportation secretary and MBTA general manager, addressed the challenges of managing the event during a recent appearance on Boston Public Radio. He acknowledged the complexity of the task, stating, “Every time the team presents to me on the World Cup, I get a little nervous. It’s exciting. There is some adrenaline to it that you need to have.” To enhance security and logistics, the state allocated a $3.25 million federal grant to the MBTA, underscoring the agency’s critical role in coordinating transportation for the tournament. Tom Ryan, a senior adviser at A Better City, expressed confidence in the MBTA’s ability to handle the transportation demands, citing the agency’s past success with special-event trains for concerts and the Army-Navy football game. For example, last Saturday, the MBTA transported 1,440 passengers via a sold-out train for Boston Legacy FC’s inaugural match at Gillette Stadium. However, some experts remain skeptical. Jeff Rosenblum, interim executive director of the LivableStreets Alliance, warned that commuter rail services would only cover about one-third of the stadium’s capacity, particularly as match times overlap with peak commuter hours.#world_cup #mbta #foxborough #philip_eng #sail250
Man with Knife Arrested After Gun Discharges During Scuffle at MBTA’s Forest Hills Station A man wielding a knife was arrested after a gun discharged during a struggle with officers at the MBTA’s Forest Hills station in Jamaica Plain, according to MBTA police. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Friday when officers responded to a report of the man threatening passengers and attempting to cut the tires of a bus. During the confrontation, one officer’s firearm discharged, leading to a brief but intense scuffle. MBTA Transit Police Superintendent Richard Sullivan described the situation as a struggle where the suspect “grabbed for the officer’s weapon,” resulting in the weapon firing. Sullivan confirmed that no one was struck by the bullet, though an officer sustained a knee injury and was hospitalized. A second officer also received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital. The suspect was subdued by officers during the struggle and subsequently arrested. He is expected to face charges related to the incident. The MBTA temporarily closed the Forest Hills Upper Busway due to the police activity, prompting riders to use the lower busway instead. The station, located at the intersection of Washington Street and Hyde Park Avenue, saw significant law enforcement presence, including multiple Boston police and Transit police cruisers. Yellow police tape blocked off entrances and sidewalks, creating a heavy security presence. Witnesses reported hearing a single gunshot and seeing two individuals injured, including a uniformed Transit police officer carried from the scene on a stretcher. Riley McMullan, one of the witnesses, described the scene as chaotic, noting the immediate arrival of sirens and numerous police vehicles.#boston_police #jamaica_plain #richard_sullivan #mbta #forest_hills_station
