Post-Labor Day

First of all, we have no idea how traffic after Labor Day is going to flow. The I-90 connector tunnel remains closed, and traffic volume traditionally goes up after this final summer holiday, but we'll see. We've been surprised before.

So in case you care, here is the rundown from the state about the extra services being added to keep people out of their cars or at the very least avoiding rush hour. The experts say leaving your home 30 minutes later than you normally would can help tremendously. And with all the hand-wringing, we think the bosses of Boston will be lenient.

The state's comprehensive plan to deal with this potential traffic mess is simple:

* Public awareness to encourage the use of the MBTA, van pools, car pools and Logan Express buses. You can get up-to-the-minute traffic information by dialing “*1” on a cellular phone and can access trip planning and van pool information at (1-800)4-COMMUTE.

* Increased service on both the Orange and Blue lines during off-peak hours.

* Additional service on the Green and Red lines when overcrowding occurs.

* Limiting lane closures on Storrow Drive during events in the vicinity of the Hatch Shell. This means parking will start at 7 p.m., not 6 p.m.

* Extra commuter rail shuttles during off-peak hours from the Route 128 Station in Westwood, from Salem and from the Anderson Regional Transportation Center in Woburn.

* Adding extra Quincy boat service during peak hours.

* The state is also working with the City of Boston and business associations to encourage flexible work schedules to reduce congestion during peak travel periods.

New information on traffic and transit can be found at http://www.mass.gov/eot or at http://www.mbta.com