Springfield grew up along the east bank of the Connecticut River, and I-91 runs right beside it, elevated through downtown between the water and the business district. From I-91, I-291 heads northeast to the Mass Pike at the Chicopee and Ludlow line, and I-391 runs north into Chicopee and Holyoke. The Pike itself crosses just north of the city, so most east-west travel happens on surface roads: US 20 follows Boston Road out toward Wilbraham, Route 21 heads northeast toward Indian Orchard and Ludlow, State Street climbs from downtown past the Armory, and Sumner Avenue and Allen Street lead into Forest Park and Sixteen Acres.
The I-91 and I-291 interchange downtown and the stretch past the Memorial and North End bridges back up during commute hours and on event nights, and that is where many breakdowns happen. Once a car is off the highway, though, Springfield is an easy city to work in: wide residential streets, driveways on most blocks and big parking lots along Boston Road and Allen Street.
Bradley International Airport is south across the Connecticut line, close enough that its long-term lots are a regular source of no-starts after a trip. Union Station downtown has Amtrak and Hartford Line trains, and the regional buses cover the main arteries, so a driver can leave the car at home and still get to work while it's repaired.