At many airports in the USA and around the globe, discovering accessible transportation connections to town is a irritating expertise — not so in Boston, Massachusetts, the place town’s Silver Line bus service to town heart is a mannequin for different locations to comply with.
Silver Line SL1 Stops and Stations
The Silver Line, operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), is a bus speedy transit system (BRT) consisting of six routes (SL1 via SL5 and SLW) that operates each above- and below-ground. On this article, I’ll concentrate on SL1, which gives service between the Boston Logan Airport (BOS) and South Station in Downtown Boston.
Silver Line 1, or SL1, stops on the following stations:
- South Station
- Courthouse
- World Commerce Heart
- Silver Line Means
- Boston Logan Worldwide Airport Terminal A
- Airport Terminal B, Cease 1
- Airport Terminal B, Cease 2
- Airport Terminal C
- Airport Terminal E
The Silver Line bus operates below-ground in a devoted tunnel between South Station and the World Commerce Heart, earlier than rising at Silver Line Means and persevering with to the airport on public roads together with the Ted Williams Tunnel.
Every cease on the SL1 is wheelchair accessible, with the underground stations accessed by way of elevators. Vacationers connecting between the Pink and Silver strains at South Station can achieve this solely inside the MBTA subway system’s fare zone. Extra connections at South Station are potential, reminiscent of to the MBTA Commuter Rail, Amtrak Northeast Regional, Amtrak Acela, intercity bus providers reminiscent of Greyhound and Megabus, and different Silver Line routes.
SL1 stops on the airport are on the arrivals stage, alongside the curb straight outdoors of bags declare. The stops are coated, with massive Silver Line indicators hanging on the designated pick-up factors.
Wheelchair Accessibility of the Silver Line SL1 Bus
The Silver Line SL1 is serviced by 60-foot articulated hybrid buses with prolonged battery vary, permitting them to finish journeys underground on electrical energy.
SL1 buses function an computerized wheelchair ramp on the entrance boarding door and kneeling expertise, in addition to two wheelchair securement areas with four-point tie downs and seat belts for passengers who request them. Every SL1 bus has baggage racks, making certain airline passengers have a spot to retailer checked baggage.
Fare-Free Transportation from Logan Airport to Downtown Boston
On the three underground “transitway” stations — South Station, Courthouse, and World Commerce Heart, passengers enter via fare gates simply as they’d at some other MBTA subway station. The fare is $2.40, payable with a fare ticket or reloadable CharlieCard. On the above-ground Silver line Means station, passengers pay onboard utilizing money or a CharlieCard.
No fares are collected on the Boston Logan Airport stations, a coverage that units Boston’s Silver Line aside from different public transportation providers at main airports. Fare assortment at airport stations would dramatically sluggish the Silver Line service, with residents fumbling for fare playing cards and money whereas holding baggage, and guests unfamiliar with Boston transit questioning fee choices. As such, all passengers boarding at Boston Logan Worldwide Airport achieve this fare-free, a coverage which ensures well timed SL1 service — transit instances between the airport and South Station are as little as quarter-hour.
Closing Ideas
I used to be a daily customer to Boston lengthy earlier than I grew to become a resident, and the Silver Line’s provide of fare-free, frequent and accessible transportation from Logan Airport made arrivals to town simple and hassle-free. Offering fare-free transit to guests on arrival makes “Welcome to Boston” imply one thing, and it’s a coverage different cities ought to undertake as properly, if not for the feel-good vibes then definitely for effectivity!
