Your July Fourth traffic report

Also: Cambridge's public art protectors fight grime; keeping a group of dolphins away from Cape Cod shallows [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  July 1, 2024 ☀️🌧 Today is partly sunny, with a high of 76 and a chance of showers midday. Good Morning Boston, With Fourth of July around the corner, this Monday feels [a little less manic.]( As many of us look ahead to the short holiday week, here's what you should know before hitting the road for that day trip or vacation: - Gear up for heavy traffic. Nationally, [71 million Americans]( are expected to travel this July Fourth, including an approximate 1.9 million people in Massachusetts, according to Mark Schieldrop, spokesperson for AAA Northeast. Combine that with two major roadway closures in Boston, and it will likely result in some fireworks on the roads. If you're planning to get behind the wheel this week, here's the [traffic forecast from MassDOT]( - Wednesday, July 3: This will be the busiest travel day this week, according to MassDOT's traffic data. Especially because drivers will have to plan around Storrow Drive being closed to traffic starting at 3 p.m. AAA recommends hitting the road before noon. - 🇺🇸 Thursday, July 4: MassDot suggests drivers avoid morning travel, when the roads will be most congested. Traffic should be lighter in the evening (especially during the fireworks). - PSA: MBTA trains, buses, ferries and the commuter rail will all be free to ride after 9:30 p.m., in case you need another reason to leave your car at home. - Friday, July 5: Expect heavy traffic midday as travelers return home for the weekend. The good news: Storrow Drive reopens at 6 a.m. The bad news: The monthlong [Sumner Tunnel closure begins.]( - For the weekend: Roads will be busiest during the morning on Saturday and midday Sunday. - Speaking of cars: Beginning today, electric vehicle drivers in Somerville can expect to pay 25 cents per kilowatt-hour to charge up at any of the city's [12 public charging stations](. The change is part of a larger effort, "Charge4Charge," to encourage better charging station etiquette and reduce the "frequent reports of misuse and vandalism" at EV charging stations. - [According to the city]( 2,300 drivers charge up Somerville's public EV charging stations each month. And while many EV owners charge at home, plenty rely on public chargers, too. Access to a public EV charger has its perks, but spots are [limited, can fill up quickly]( and [often have long wait times](. Officials hope the fees will discourage idling, resulting in quicker turnover at EV parking spots. The new fee structure will also help offset the cost of maintaining the city's charging network, and bring revenue to help build more charging stations. - The Department of Homeland Security [announced Friday]( it would extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for migrants from Haiti due to the [ongoing political crisis]( in the small island nation. TPS was set to expire in August 2024, but will now extend until February 2026. Haitians currently living in the U.S. without TPS can begin applying for the protection today. - Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, says the change is welcome, but not a long-term solution: "They have 18 months that they're protected here and can live and work here. But what happens beyond that remains a question mark." - Go deeper: According to census data, there are currently 77,000 Haitians living in Massachusetts. Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune discusses the history of Haitian immigration to the state [in this Q&A.]( - Today marks the start of Boston's 42nd annual Harborfest, a four-day celebration of the city's revolutionary history. Festivities kick off today at noon with a cake cutting and performance by the Army band. The fun continues through the Fourth of July at Christopher Columbus Park, Downtown Crossing and Boston Harbor with family-friendly events, musical showcases and, of course, Chowderfest. [You can view the full Harborfest schedule here.]( - New this year: The US Navy is in town for its first Navy Week in Boston since 2012. The Navy band will perform a [pre-fireworks concert at Christopher Columbus Park on July 2]( and another concert on July 4 at the Charlestown Navy Yard. [More Navy Week activities]( will continue through the weekend, with lawn games, mini golf and more. P.S.— Did you catch Friday's Reddit AMA on the history of busing in Boston's public schools, with our education team and The Emancipator? If not, check out the thread [right here.]( Hanna Ali Associate Producer, Newsletters  The Rundown [Rescuers try to keep dolphins away from Cape Cod shallows after a mass stranding]( The area is the site of frequent strandings, which experts believe is due in part to its hook-like shape and extreme tidal fluctuations. Ten dolphins died in a mass stranding on Friday. [Read more.]( [Rescuers try to keep dolphins away from Cape Cod shallows after a mass stranding]( The area is the site of frequent strandings, which experts believe is due in part to its hook-like shape and extreme tidal fluctuations. Ten dolphins died in a mass stranding on Friday. [Read more.]( [Massachusetts Democrats mostly stand by Biden, despite bad debate reviews]( While one Democratic state senator called for President Biden to step aside, other top Massachusetts Democrats said they still support him for president and said former President Trump performed poorly as well. [Read more.]( [Massachusetts Democrats mostly stand by Biden, despite bad debate reviews]( While one Democratic state senator called for President Biden to step aside, other top Massachusetts Democrats said they still support him for president and said former President Trump performed poorly as well. [Read more.]( [Healey administration to end use of Logan as de facto shelter]( The Healey administration announced sleeping overnight at Logan International Airport will be prohibited starting July 9. Some eligible families on a waitlist for emergency assistance shelter will be directed to a new facility in Norfolk. [Read more.]( [Healey administration to end use of Logan as de facto shelter]( The Healey administration announced sleeping overnight at Logan International Airport will be prohibited starting July 9. Some eligible families on a waitlist for emergency assistance shelter will be directed to a new facility in Norfolk. [Read more.]( [Former Northeastern University lab manager convicted of staging hoax explosion at Boston campus]( A former lab manager at Northeastern University has been convicted of staging a hoax explosion in 2022 at the Boston campus and then lying about what happened to federal agents. Jason Duhaime of San Antonio was convicted on three counts on Friday. [Read more.]( [Former Northeastern University lab manager convicted of staging hoax explosion at Boston campus]( A former lab manager at Northeastern University has been convicted of staging a hoax explosion in 2022 at the Boston campus and then lying about what happened to federal agents. Jason Duhaime of San Antonio was convicted on three counts on Friday. [Read more.]( [50 cases of dengue fever in Mass. this year as health officials warn of worldwide increase]( Puerto Rico declared a public health emergency in March. Dengue remains less common in the continental United States, but so far this year there have been three times more cases than at the same time last year. [Read more.]( [50 cases of dengue fever in Mass. this year as health officials warn of worldwide increase]( Puerto Rico declared a public health emergency in March. Dengue remains less common in the continental United States, but so far this year there have been three times more cases than at the same time last year. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Cambridge has the largest public art collection in New England. But it takes a lot of work to keep it clean. WBUR's Andrea Shea has [an inside look at how the city’s conservation team mobilizes each year to fight graffiti and grime, and take care of the trove](. - After winning the Olympic trials this past Saturday, [20-year-old Frederick Richard]( of Stoughton, will headline the five-man U.S. gymnastics team at the Paris Olympics next month. “It’s like a new mountain in my life,” Richard said in an interview. “And I’m ready to climb it.” - From the Mark Twain house in Hartford to the sculpture galleries of New Canaan to some swoon-worthy slices of pizza, there's plenty of art, culture and food to check out in Connecticut. Here's [our latest New England day trip guide](. - Living on a budget doesn't mean you have to be bored in Boston this summer. You can do things like party at a museum, work out on the Esplanade or listen to live music on the waterfront — [all for free.]( What We're Reading 📚 - A Plummeting Murder Rate Stuns Boston. But Can It Survive the Summer? ([The New York Times]( - UNH to cut English/journalism major amid financial struggles and declining enrollment ([Editor & Publisher]( - This 4-Year-Old Just Climbed New Hampshire’s 48 4000-Foot Peaks ([Outside Magazine](  Food For Thought [Not the same old summer salads: 3 new takes on classic side dishes]( How do you brighten a summer table with something other than the same old coleslaw, potato salad or tossed green salad? [Read more.]( [Not the same old summer salads: 3 new takes on classic side dishes]( How do you brighten a summer table with something other than the same old coleslaw, potato salad or tossed green salad? [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [gets a few plant care tips from Quontay Turner, owner of Emerald City Plant Shop in Norwood.]( Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [You shall not pass.]( 😎 Forward to a friend. 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