BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will keep four ferry routes running through Dec. 31, the agency said Wednesday.

The extension covers weekday and weekend service on the East Boston route and weekday service on the Lynn, Winthrop and Quincy routes, according to the MBTA.

Gov. Maura Healey said extending the routes "into the winter" would give riders in those four communities "more options to get where they need to go." Phillip Eng, the MBTA's general manager and interim secretary, said thousands of riders take the ferry. He credited support from the Legislature for building out the ferry network.

Four other routes run year-round, the agency said. They are weekday service on the Hingham/Rowes Wharf, Harbor Loop and Hingham/Hull routes, and weekday and weekend service on the Charlestown route.

No ferries will run on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's Day, the MBTA said. The agency said bad weather and unsafe sea conditions can disrupt service. It said it will post alerts if service is disrupted. Schedules and real-time updates are available online and through the MBTA Go mobile app.

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