Massport, MassDOT, and the MBTA are teaming up to raise customer awareness of public transit options to and from Logan Airport.
The transportation partners today announced a three-month “On Us” pilot program that will let Logan passengers board for free inbound Silver Line bus service to South Station.
The pilot begins on June 6 and runs through September 3, 2012. Massport is offering the service in an effort to improve high occupancy vehicle (HOV) usage and improve terminal curbside traffic flow.
“Thanks to transportation reform, MassDOT, Massport and the MBTA are working together to test an ambitious plan to reduce the growing number of passenger vehicles on-airport, and encourage the use of public transportation and other HOV alternatives,” said MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey, who chairs the Massport Board.
The Silver Line started service in 2006 and is key to Massport’s promotion of HOV ridership to and from the airport to reduce congestion at the terminal curbs and on airport roadways, as well as reduce vehicle emissions. Massport purchased eight clean-fuel Silver Line buses in 2005.
“As Logan passenger numbers grow, our footprint, roadways and terminal curbs cannot grow with them so increasing HOV usage – Logan already is a national leader in HOV usage – is critical to the airport functioning as we head north of the 30 million passenger number,” said David S. Mackey, Massport’s Interim CEO & Executive Director.
The “On Us” pilot is the latest effort to attract Logan customers to public transit. Earlier this year the MBTA began offering real-time arrival information of the Silver Line to South Station from each terminal and improved signage within Terminal C directing passengers to the “T.” Improved signage will be rolled out in the remaining terminals this year; and an advertising campaign promoting the use of the Silver Line and Blue Line to and from the airport.
Why is Massport surcharging intercity buses to subsidize its shuttle buses?
Dispatching scheduled buses and providing customer service to bus passengers (whatever that means) should be a free service, to encourage mass transit to the airport.
Passengers pay a whole lot to use the airport already, though PFCs and the rent and landing fees airlines pay.
Traffic flow problems are caused by the large number of cars, not the small number of intercity buses.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Massport financially supports HOV modes to the extent allowed by FAA regulations. In the last year, the Authority raised parking rates on airport, lowered them at Logan Express sites and promoted Silver Line service by waiving the fee for inbound riders. Massport also funds the capital and operating cost of free on-airport shuttle service to and from the Airport Blue Line Station and the water shuttle. This service now has new 60 foot hybrid buses.
The ground access fees paid by the intercity bus operators support the bus pool operations, safe curb management, and maintaining airport roadways.
Posted by: boblothrope | October 17, 2012 at 05:49 PM
Does Massport still charge $7.50 *per passenger* to private intercity bus companies that stop at the airport (Concord Trailways, Peter Pan, etc)?
If so, they should stop right away. Massport should be encouraging mass transit at the airport, not charging exorbitant fees for people who arrive by the most environmentally friendly means.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Massport:
Thanks for being interested in Boston Logan International Airport. Massport, which owns and operates Logan, does numerous things to encourage mass transit and HOV trips to and from the airport, such as free Silver Line pilot, raising parking fees at Logan and reducing them at Logan Express suburban parking lots, and free shuttle buses from the terminals to the Airport T station and the water shuttle/taxi dock near the Hyatt Harborside Hotel .
The fee is not $7.50 per passenger, but $7.50 per bus trip. Logan sits on about 1700 acres of land and no other airport in the country has as many passengers each year on such a small footprint. As a result, keeping the roadways and terminal curbs flowing smoothly is a priority. The fee helps cover Massport’s operating cost of dispatching scheduled buses from the bus pool and providing customer service to the passengers of those buses, as well as the free shuttle bus service to the Blue Line and water taxis. Massport’s operating budget is funded entirely by the rates and charges levied on users of its facilities, including scheduled bus lines.
Posted by: boblothrope | July 14, 2012 at 02:10 PM
THIS IS RIDICULOUS! Raise fares on people who use the MBTA every day to get to school and work but provide free rides to tourists and business travelers? No wonder the T is broke.
Posted by: James Hook | June 05, 2012 at 10:01 PM
I sometimes take the Silver Line from South Station to events at the convention center. The ride is bumpy, noisy, and very erratic. I wouldn't take it all the way to/from the airport if the MBTA paid me.
Posted by: Daniel | June 05, 2012 at 06:52 PM
This is a great idea. Especially since on-board fare collection is so painfully slow on Silver Line buses.
Posted by: boblothrope | June 05, 2012 at 02:50 PM
Why don't you post this info on the MBTA and Massport websites? That is the first place a potential traveler will check to determine ride options.
Posted by: Erin | June 05, 2012 at 02:10 PM