Advocates: Better T key to faster Logan access
More reliable, efficient public transportation is key to curbing Boston’s bottlenecks of airportbound traffic as both the city and Logan grow, advocates say.
Logan International Airport has boomed in recent years, jumping from 27.4 million passengers in 2010 to 36.2 million in 2016, according to Massport. But T usage has lagged, ticking up from 1.04 million to 1.07 million in that time, meaning the percentage of travelers using that subway line has dropped.
“They don’t feel that public transportation is either frequent enough or reliable enough or comfortable enough,” said transit advocate Matt Casale of MassPIRG said about potential riders. “It’s fine that some people are taking Uber and Lyft to the airport, but we should do things to make sure it’s better than it is now so people will actually take the T.”
“People make a very basic decision: They choose the cheapest and fastest way to get somewhere,” said City Councilor Lydia Edwards, whose district includes Logan and the surrounding East Boston neighborhoods. “And right now, that’s Uber and Lyft.”
Edwards said this problem has existed for years. She said the long-discussed Red Line-Blue Line connector would help make the T’s subway system a better option. Also going to the airport is the Silver Line, bus service from South Station that many have complained is slow and inconstant.
“The effort around the Silver Line in general is somewhat mixed,” Edwards said. “It would be a viable option if the Silver Line was a bit more efficient.”
It would be better with more dedicated lanes, Casale said, adding, “The more you can get the Silver Line out of traffic, the better.”
The MBTA said in a statement yesterday: “To improve reliability, the T spent tens of millions of dollars completely overhauling the entire Silver Line fleet and opening a new Silver Line route which offers a direct connection between Chelsea, the airport and the waterfront. SL3 opened this year. Between the Blue Line and the Silver Line, Logan bound travelers have consistently reliable and frequent transit services available to them. The T looks forward to continuing discussions with stakeholders to help develop a comprehensive plan for mobility improvements around the airport and the seaport.”
Massport’s website touts the T as “the most economical and environmentally friendly way to get Logan,” and also touts the ferry and the Logan Express, a shuttle-bus system to various parts of the Boston area. A Massport spokeswoman also said that Logan has a particularly low rate of single-rider vehicle trips among major U.S. airports.