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Silver Line (MBTA)
Encyclopedia
The Silver Line is the only bus rapid transit
(BRT) line currently operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
(MBTA). It operates in two sections; the first runs from Dudley Square
in Roxbury to downtown Boston, Massachusetts and South Station, mostly via Washington Street
, with buses operating in reserved lanes. The second section runs from South Station to several points in South Boston and to Logan Airport in East Boston
, partly in a dedicated bus tunnel and also on dedicated surface right-of-way. Riders can transfer between the sections at South Station; transfers there between SL1 and SL2 and the Red Line
- but not SL4 - are within fare control.
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Two Silver Line services operate in a dedicated tunnel from South Station
to Boston World Trade Center, and then in a reserved surface right-of-way for another half-mile further east to Silver Line Way
station, and then beyond there in mixed traffic:
During rush hours, a few additional buses turn around at Silver Line Way and head back into the tunnel to augment the service between South Station and Silver Line Way.
SL1 buses operate in a loop at Logan Airport and only serve the four Terminal buildings, at the "arrivals" level. The Silver Line stops are at the curb on the "downstream" end of each Terminal (in terms of traffic flow). Other free shuttle bus services connect the Terminals and other airport destinations, including the Airport station
on the Blue Line
, hotels, rental cars, and the water taxi
. A system of moving walkways connects Terminals A and E, the Hilton Hotel and the central parking area. See the Logan Airport article for lists of which airlines serve each terminal.
, $2.00 when using CharlieTickets or cash. Ticket vending machines that accept cash and credit cards are installed in the Logan Airport terminals and World Trade Center, Courthouse, and South Stations. A faregate-free and cost-free transfer to and from the Red Line is available at South Station for all SL1 and SL2 riders, but only CharlieCard users get free transfers to other bus lines and reduced fare on Express Bus. CharlieCard and CharlieTicket users, but not cash users also get a free transfer to SL4 service (at street level).
AN460LF dual-mode
60 foot articulated buses on these services are powered by overhead electrical wires from South Station to Silver Line Way, to avoid generating internal combustion
fumes in the tunnel, and continue on thereafter on diesel
power, which is converted to electrical power to run the same electric motors used when running on overhead power. These buses provide higher capacity than standard 40 foot buses; both the rear and center wheels are powered by electric motors, which permits these buses to continue operation even through snow.
These buses are wheelchair ramp
-equipped, using kneeling bus technology and a flip-out ramp. (See MBTA accessibility
for more information.)
in Roxbury and downtown Boston along Washington Street in reserved bus lanes:
These two services share most of their route from Dudley Square to Chinatown
; SL5 continues northward to Downtown Crossing
and Boylston
stations, whereas SL4 heads east on Essex Street to South Station
. Passengers can transfer to SL1 and SL2 buses at South Station; however, SL4 buses stop at a surface bus stop across the street from the station complex, whereas SL1 and SL2 buses stop at an underground stop within the station, so there is no direct transfer or capability for through service.
, $1.50 when using a CharlieTicket or cash. At select stations, passengers can transfer from the Silver Line to the subway (Red
, Green
, and Orange
Lines) for an additional 45 cents when using a CharlieCard. At these same stations, passengers may transfer from the subway to the Silver Line for free.
(CNG) powered 60-foot Neoplan USA
and New Flyer articulated bus
es are used on the SL4 and SL5 services for greater capacity than that provided by standard buses. At night, when the passenger load is less and the greater engine noise of the articulated buses is deemed more objectionable, standard (40-foot, non-articulated) CNG powered buses are used. During snowstorms, standard buses and sometimes a few articulated dual-mode buses from lines SL1 and SL2 (see above) are also used, because the articulated buses normally used on lines SL4 and SL5 have drivetrains only from the engine to the rear wheels, and therefore do not work well on slippery roads (this is especially true for the Neoplan USA articulated buses, which are pulled from service even in case of light snow). The reverse substition is not allowed: for safety reasons, CNG vehicles are not allowed into the SL1/SL2 tunnel.
As with SL1 and SL2, these buses are wheelchair ramp
-equipped, using kneeling bus technology and a flip-out ramp. (See MBTA accessibility
for more information.)
(operational, 1901-1987) elevated train line be replaced by a subway line for the length of Washington Street through Dudley Square
to the line's terminus at Forest Hills. While $19,000,000 was initially budgeted, the subway part of the four proposals was shelved. Prior to the Elevated's removal, area residents petitioned to retain the line until a promised light-rail vehicle line could be established. Light-rail proposals generally envisioned extending the Green Line
by reopening the southern part
of the Tremont Street Tunnel (operational from 1897 to 1961) and extending surface light-rail trackage along Washington Street to Dudley Square. After the line was scrapped in 1987, the MBTA withdrew its streetcar promise.
portion of the Orange Line
was demolished in 1987. Proposals to build a new subway line under Washington Street or a new trolley line along Washington Street were deemed impractical, so the Orange Line was re-routed about 1/2 mile west onto the Southwest Corridor right-of-way, leaving many local residents without a rapid-transit option. Eventually, BRT was chosen to provide this service, and the MBTA feels it meets the needs of the communities affected by the Orange Line relocation. The line started running July 20, 2002, replacing service provided by the 49 bus (which had existed as a feeder route before 1987).
The tunneled section extending east of South Station, known as Silver Line Phase II, was constructed in conjunction with Boston's Big Dig and was originally referred to as the South Boston Piers Transitway. Tunnel sections were fabricated in a nearby, World War II
–era dry dock
and floated into place. Phase II opened on Friday, December 17, 2004, with the first route (Silver Line Waterfront, referred to within the MBTA as 746) running only to Silver Line Way, temporarily using new electric trolley buses borrowed from the trackless trolley
routes that have their hub in Cambridge
, as not enough dual-mode buses were available initially.
When dual-mode bus
es were placed in service on December 31, 2004, two routes, dubbed SL2 and SL3, began service. As still not enough dual-mode buses were available, some rush-hour service was provided by CNG
buses, with transfers at Silver Line Way. Through service was suspended after January 5, 2005, and was not brought back until March 5, with all buses dual-mode starting on March 14. Beginning on March 26, late night and weekend trips ran combined, running both around the BMIP loop and to City Point. SL3 ran to City Point
via the Boston Marine Industrial Park; it ceased operation in 2008 due to insufficient ridership.
SL1 service to Logan Airport began on an interim basis on January 2, 2005. CNG
buses ran on a Sunday-only (4 pm–10 pm only) shuttle route between Silver Line Way and the airport terminals. The agreement with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
had called for airport service by January, but the MBTA did not yet have enough dual-mode buses for full service. Full-time SL1 service began on June 1, 2005.
For nearly five years after the opening of Silver Line Phase II, the two segments of the Silver Line were disconnected from one another. The MBTA wanted to connect the two via an underground tunnel, however the construction of this section, dubbed Silver Line Phase III, is no longer included in the region's long term plan due to funding concerns (see below for more details).
A partial solution that did not require a new tunnel opened on October 13, 2009, after fast-track construction using federal stimulus money
. The new route, SL4, covers much of the same ground as the proposed Phase III in a dedicated bus lane on the surface that terminates across Atlantic Avenue from South Station, allowing a somewhat circuitous pedestrian transfer between Phase I and Phase II. When SL4 began operation, the existing Silver Line Washington Street service was rebranded SL5.
As of the day that SL4 began service, there were 29,670 Silver Line boardings per weekday: 14,709 on SL5, and 14,961 on SL1 & SL2.
, which expressed skepticism that the T's operating cost estimates were reliable. Capital cost was estimated at $780 million at the time, but this price tag depended upon the route selected. Completion was estimated by 2013.
Four possible routings were debated, but neighborhood opposition to the placement of portals, and to the use of BRT as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated was problematic. In August, 2005, the MBTA put the Phase III project "on hold" in order to avoid a second such determination, and to build community consensus on a locally preferred routing.
In February 2006, Massachusetts State Transportation Secretary John Cogliano proposed a much less expensive plan that would eliminate most of the tunneling, running the Silver Line on the surface via Kneeland Street to a new tunnel portal on Essex Street, near South Station. The estimated cost of this proposal was $94 million and it includes expansion of Silver Line service to Copley Square, Grove Hall, Mattapan, and Ashmont, connecting at the Fairmount commuter rail line
.
In March 2006, yet another plan was put forward, with support from most transportation leaders, including Cogliano. The plan was a fifth underground variation, calling for a mile-long tunnel with a portal at Charles Street and Tremont Street. Environmental review and preliminary engineering were expected to be completed by the end of 2008. A federal funding decision had been expected in 2010, with construction, if approved, starting in 2011 and ending in 2016.
As of May 2009, the estimated price of the tunnel plan, dubbed the "Little Dig," had risen to $2.1 billion, and the U.S. Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) assigned it a Medium Low overall rating, making it ineligible to move into the final design phase for federal New Starts funding. The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization removed Phase III from the list of recommended projects in its long range plan because of funding limitations. In April 2010, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), concluding that it could not successfully compete for more than one New Starts grant, informed the FTA that MassDOT was no longer seeking New Starts money for Phase III, concentrating instead only on its proposed Green Line Extension. No further money is being spent on designing Phase III until some future funding becomes available, placing the project on indefinite hold.
is currently in the works. Early drafts show that between 240 and 620 trips per day systemwide could be added by 2020. Two of the three alternatives include the creation of a SL6 route.
to Ruggles Station
. The new corridor would have included the installation of dedicated bus lanes, bus signal priority, and on-platform fare collection. However, the application for federal stimulus funding was withdrawn due to local opposition.
BRT is also being considered as a means of implementing the Urban Ring Project
to providing improved crosstown service
, and to relieve crowding in the radial lines leading to the downtown subway stations.
, have presented findings that support this argument, and maintain that a light-rail line would be both cheaper and more effective than BRT; furthermore, part of the tunnel required for this already exists., These groups sometimes refer to the Silver Line Phase I as the "#49 bus" (this being the bus line with an identical routing that the Silver Line replaced) and the "Silver Lie" (used because of allegations from advocacy groups that the MBTA reneged on a promise of real rapid transit). Furthermore, the necessity to link Roxbury and Logan is not well explicated in any MBTA document.
The Silver Line's SL1 route from the World Trade Center stop to the Ted Williams Tunnel
is considered by critics to be unnecessarily convoluted. Despite the fact that the Silver Line's portal is less than 100 yards (91.4 m) from the eventual entry ramp to the Williams Tunnel, the line must cross D Street at grade and proceed to the Silver Line Way stop to change over from overhead electric to diesel. This requires a loop back towards downtown on several surface streets before it can enter the tunnel, adding several minutes to the ride. The inbound route makes a stop above ground at the entrance to the World Trade Center stop, proceeds to Silver Line Way, and then goes underground for a second stop at the World Trade Center. If the headway between buses is as close as seven minutes, it is faster for travelers in the rear bus to disembark at the above-ground WTC stop, walk down the stairs, and then board the bus that used to be in front of them than to remain on the bus they started on. For some time after the Big Dig ceiling collapse in 2006, the SL1 used a closer entrance ramp normally reserved for the Massachusetts State Police
. However, use of this shortcut was stopped for safety reasons after the affected sections of roadway were reopened for Silver Line use.
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
(BRT) line currently operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
(MBTA). It operates in two sections; the first runs from Dudley Square
Dudley Square (MBTA station)
Dudley Square is a ground-level bus depot in Dudley Square, Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, served by local buses of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and their Silver Line bus rapid transit service...
in Roxbury to downtown Boston, Massachusetts and South Station, mostly via Washington Street
Washington Street (Boston)
Washington Street is a street originating in downtown Boston, Massachusetts that extends southwestward to the Massachusetts-Rhode Island state line. The majority of it was built as the Norfolk and Bristol Turnpike in the early nineteenth century...
, with buses operating in reserved lanes. The second section runs from South Station to several points in South Boston and to Logan Airport in East Boston
East Boston, Massachusetts
East Boston is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, with approximately 40,000 residents. The community was created by connecting several islands using landfill and was annexed by Boston in 1836. East Boston is separated from the rest of the city by Boston Harbor and bordered by Winthrop,...
, partly in a dedicated bus tunnel and also on dedicated surface right-of-way. Riders can transfer between the sections at South Station; transfers there between SL1 and SL2 and the Red Line
Red Line (MBTA)
The Red Line is a rapid transit line operated by the MBTA running roughly north-south through Boston, Massachusetts into neighboring communities. The line begins west of Boston, in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Alewife station, near the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Route 2...
- but not SL4 - are within fare control.
Waterfront: SL1 and SL2
South Station (MBTA subway station)
South Station also known as South Station Under is a station on the MBTA Red Line subway and Silver Line bus rapid transit located at Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue in Boston. It is a part of the South Station complex, the second busiest transportation center in New England...
to Boston World Trade Center, and then in a reserved surface right-of-way for another half-mile further east to Silver Line Way
Silver Line Way (MBTA station)
Silver Line Way is a transportation station in Boston, Massachusetts, on the MBTA's bus rapid transit Silver Line. It is located on Silver Line Way, at Pumphouse Road between Massport Haul Road and D Street, near the South Boston Waterfront...
station, and then beyond there in mixed traffic:
- SL1 Logan Airport-South Station
- SL2 Design Center-South Station
During rush hours, a few additional buses turn around at Silver Line Way and head back into the tunnel to augment the service between South Station and Silver Line Way.
SL1 buses operate in a loop at Logan Airport and only serve the four Terminal buildings, at the "arrivals" level. The Silver Line stops are at the curb on the "downstream" end of each Terminal (in terms of traffic flow). Other free shuttle bus services connect the Terminals and other airport destinations, including the Airport station
Airport (MBTA station)
Airport Station is a subway station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Blue Line. It serves as a mass transit connection to the nearby Logan International Airport...
on the Blue Line
Blue Line (MBTA)
The Blue Line is one of four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority serving Downtown, East Boston and the North Shore. It runs from northeast to southwest, extending from Wonderland station in Revere, Massachusetts to Bowdoin station near Beacon Hill in Boston...
, hotels, rental cars, and the water taxi
MBTA boat
The MBTA Boat system is a public boat service providing water transport in the Greater Boston area via Boston Harbor. Both inner harbor and longer distance commuter ferries are operated...
. A system of moving walkways connects Terminals A and E, the Hilton Hotel and the central parking area. See the Logan Airport article for lists of which airlines serve each terminal.
SL1 and SL2 fares
Passengers travelling on SL1 and SL2 pay the standard MBTA subway fare: $1.70 when using a CharlieCardCharlieCard
The CharlieCard is a MIFARE-based, contactless, stored value smart card used for electronic ticketing as part of the Automated Fare Collection system installed by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority at its stations and on its vehicles...
, $2.00 when using CharlieTickets or cash. Ticket vending machines that accept cash and credit cards are installed in the Logan Airport terminals and World Trade Center, Courthouse, and South Stations. A faregate-free and cost-free transfer to and from the Red Line is available at South Station for all SL1 and SL2 riders, but only CharlieCard users get free transfers to other bus lines and reduced fare on Express Bus. CharlieCard and CharlieTicket users, but not cash users also get a free transfer to SL4 service (at street level).
SL1 and SL2 equipment
The Neoplan USANeoplan USA
Neoplan USA was a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Denver, Colorado, which was entirely separate from the German corporation, Neoplan, licensing its designs from the German company of the same name. The company was founded in 1981 and folded in 2006. It was originally a subsidiary...
AN460LF dual-mode
Dual-mode bus
A dual-mode bus is a bus that can run independently on power from two different sources, typically electricity from overhead lines or batteries, alternated with conventional fossil fuel ....
60 foot articulated buses on these services are powered by overhead electrical wires from South Station to Silver Line Way, to avoid generating internal combustion
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
fumes in the tunnel, and continue on thereafter on diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
power, which is converted to electrical power to run the same electric motors used when running on overhead power. These buses provide higher capacity than standard 40 foot buses; both the rear and center wheels are powered by electric motors, which permits these buses to continue operation even through snow.
These buses are wheelchair ramp
Wheelchair ramp
A wheelchair ramp is an inclined plane installed in addition to or instead of stairs. Ramps permit wheelchair users, as well as people pushing strollers, carts, or other wheeled objects, to more easily access a building....
-equipped, using kneeling bus technology and a flip-out ramp. (See MBTA accessibility
MBTA accessibility
Physical accessibility on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority system is incomplete but improving, with accessibility on all buses , all Orange Line stations, all but 2 Red Line stations, and all but 2 Blue Line stations...
for more information.)
SL1 and SL2 station listing
| Station | Routes | Opened | Transfers and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Station South Station (MBTA subway station) South Station also known as South Station Under is a station on the MBTA Red Line subway and Silver Line bus rapid transit located at Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue in Boston. It is a part of the South Station complex, the second busiest transportation center in New England... |
SL1 and SL2 | December 17, 2004 | Red Line Red Line (MBTA) The Red Line is a rapid transit line operated by the MBTA running roughly north-south through Boston, Massachusetts into neighboring communities. The line begins west of Boston, in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Alewife station, near the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Route 2... , Silver Line SL4, MBTA Commuter Rail MBTA Commuter Rail The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate... , Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... , local and intercity buses |
| Courthouse Courthouse (MBTA station) Courthouse Station is a transportation station in Boston, Massachusetts, on the MBTA's Silver Line Waterfront. The station is located on Seaport Boulevard at Pittsburg Street on the South Boston Waterfront.-Accessibility:... |
SL1 and SL2 | December 17, 2004 | John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse The John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse is a federal courthouse for the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, located on Fan Pier on the Boston, Massachusetts waterfront... |
| World Trade Center World Trade Center (MBTA station) The World Trade Center station is a transportation station in Boston, Massachusetts, on the MBTA's bus rapid transit Silver Line. The station is located on Congress Street at C Street/World Trade Center Avenue on the South Boston Waterfront... |
SL1 and SL2 | December 17, 2004 | Boston Convention and Exhibition Center Boston Convention and Exhibition Center The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center is the largest exhibition center in the Northeast United States, with some 516,000 square feet of contiguous exhibition space. It is located on Summer Street near the South Boston waterfront, Boston's World Trade Center, and across the harbor from Logan... , seasonal ferry to Provincetown Provincetown, Massachusetts Provincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174... , Institute of Contemporary Art, Lenticular Lenticular printing Lenticular printing is a technology in which a lenticular lens is used to produce images with an illusion of depth, or the ability to change or move as the image is viewed from different angles... art on the lobby level of the station |
| Silver Line Way Silver Line Way (MBTA station) Silver Line Way is a transportation station in Boston, Massachusetts, on the MBTA's bus rapid transit Silver Line. It is located on Silver Line Way, at Pumphouse Road between Massport Haul Road and D Street, near the South Boston Waterfront... |
SL1 and SL2 | December 17, 2004 | Changeover between diesel Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber... and overhead electric Overhead lines Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point... power takes place here |
| Logan Airport Terminal A | SL1 | June 1, 2005 | Massport and rental car shuttle buses; walkway to central parking and Hilton Hotel |
| Logan Airport Terminal B south | SL1 | June 1, 2005 | See: Logan Airport for airlines and destinations at each terminal. |
| Logan Airport Terminal B north | SL1 | June 1, 2005 | |
| Logan Airport Terminal C | SL1 | June 1, 2005 | |
| Logan Airport Terminal E | SL1 | June 1, 2005 | International arrivals, Hilton Hotel; next stop is Silver Line Way |
| 306 Northern Avenue | SL2 | ||
| Northern Avenue & Harbor Street | SL2 | December 31, 2004 | |
| Northern Avenue & Tide Street | SL2 | December 31, 2004 | |
| 21 Dry Dock Avenue | SL2 | ||
| 25 Dry Dock Avenue | SL2 | December 31, 2004 | |
| 88 Black Falcon Avenue | SL2 | December 31, 2004 | Cruise ship Cruise ship A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way... terminal |
| Design Center | SL2 | December 31, 2004 | |
Washington Street: SL4 and SL5
Two Silver Line services run between Dudley SquareDudley Square (MBTA station)
Dudley Square is a ground-level bus depot in Dudley Square, Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, served by local buses of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and their Silver Line bus rapid transit service...
in Roxbury and downtown Boston along Washington Street in reserved bus lanes:
- SL4 Dudley Station-South Station
- SL5 Dudley Station-Downtown
These two services share most of their route from Dudley Square to Chinatown
Chinatown
A Chinatown is an ethnic enclave of overseas Chinese people, although it is often generalized to include various Southeast Asian people. Chinatowns exist throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe. Binondo's Chinatown located in Manila,...
; SL5 continues northward to Downtown Crossing
Downtown Crossing (MBTA station)
Downtown Crossing Station of the MBTA, located at the corner of Washington Street and Summer Street and the corner of Chauncey Street and Summer Street in Boston, is the main transfer point between the Orange Line and the Red Line....
and Boylston
Boylston (MBTA station)
Boylston is a station on the Green Line light rail service of the MBTA rapid transport network, and is located on the southeast corner of Boston Common at the intersection of Boylston and Tremont Streets.-Location:...
stations, whereas SL4 heads east on Essex Street to South Station
South Station (MBTA subway station)
South Station also known as South Station Under is a station on the MBTA Red Line subway and Silver Line bus rapid transit located at Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue in Boston. It is a part of the South Station complex, the second busiest transportation center in New England...
. Passengers can transfer to SL1 and SL2 buses at South Station; however, SL4 buses stop at a surface bus stop across the street from the station complex, whereas SL1 and SL2 buses stop at an underground stop within the station, so there is no direct transfer or capability for through service.
SL4 and SL5 fares
Passengers travelling on SL4 and SL5 pay the standard MBTA bus fare: $1.25 when using a CharlieCardCharlieCard
The CharlieCard is a MIFARE-based, contactless, stored value smart card used for electronic ticketing as part of the Automated Fare Collection system installed by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority at its stations and on its vehicles...
, $1.50 when using a CharlieTicket or cash. At select stations, passengers can transfer from the Silver Line to the subway (Red
Red Line (MBTA)
The Red Line is a rapid transit line operated by the MBTA running roughly north-south through Boston, Massachusetts into neighboring communities. The line begins west of Boston, in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Alewife station, near the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Route 2...
, Green
Green Line (MBTA)
The Green Line is a streetcar system run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the Boston, Massachusetts area of the United States. It is the oldest line of Boston's subway, which is known locally as the 'T'. The Green Line runs underground downtown and on the surface in outlying...
, and Orange
Orange Line (MBTA)
The Orange Line is one of the four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It extends from Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the south to Oak Grove in Malden, Massachusetts in the north. It meets the Red Line at Downtown Crossing, the Blue Line at State, and the Green...
Lines) for an additional 45 cents when using a CharlieCard. At these same stations, passengers may transfer from the subway to the Silver Line for free.
SL4 and SL5 equipment
During the day, compressed natural gasCompressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
(CNG) powered 60-foot Neoplan USA
Neoplan USA
Neoplan USA was a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Denver, Colorado, which was entirely separate from the German corporation, Neoplan, licensing its designs from the German company of the same name. The company was founded in 1981 and folded in 2006. It was originally a subsidiary...
and New Flyer articulated bus
Articulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
es are used on the SL4 and SL5 services for greater capacity than that provided by standard buses. At night, when the passenger load is less and the greater engine noise of the articulated buses is deemed more objectionable, standard (40-foot, non-articulated) CNG powered buses are used. During snowstorms, standard buses and sometimes a few articulated dual-mode buses from lines SL1 and SL2 (see above) are also used, because the articulated buses normally used on lines SL4 and SL5 have drivetrains only from the engine to the rear wheels, and therefore do not work well on slippery roads (this is especially true for the Neoplan USA articulated buses, which are pulled from service even in case of light snow). The reverse substition is not allowed: for safety reasons, CNG vehicles are not allowed into the SL1/SL2 tunnel.
As with SL1 and SL2, these buses are wheelchair ramp
Wheelchair ramp
A wheelchair ramp is an inclined plane installed in addition to or instead of stairs. Ramps permit wheelchair users, as well as people pushing strollers, carts, or other wheeled objects, to more easily access a building....
-equipped, using kneeling bus technology and a flip-out ramp. (See MBTA accessibility
MBTA accessibility
Physical accessibility on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority system is incomplete but improving, with accessibility on all buses , all Orange Line stations, all but 2 Red Line stations, and all but 2 Blue Line stations...
for more information.)
SL4 and SL5 station listing
| Station | Routes | Transit Time | Opened | Transfers and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dudley Square Dudley Square (MBTA station) Dudley Square is a ground-level bus depot in Dudley Square, Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, served by local buses of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and their Silver Line bus rapid transit service... |
SL4 and SL5 | 0 minutes | July 20, 2002 | 1, 8, 14, 15, 19, 23, 25, 28, 41, 42, 44, 45, 47, 66, 170, and 171 bus Bus A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are... lines |
| Melnea Cass Boulevard Melnea Cass Boulevard (MBTA station) Melnea Cass Boulevard is a street in Boston, Massachusetts, located between Dudley Square in Roxbury and the South End. It is named after local community and civil rights activist Melnea Cass. There is also an MBTA Silver Line station named Melnea Cass Boulevard on this street.... |
SL4 and SL5 | July 20, 2002 | ||
| Lenox Street Lenox Street (MBTA station) Lenox Street is a street level transportation station in Boston, Massachusetts, on the MBTA's Silver Line. The station is located on Washington St at Lenox St.-Connections:Lenox Street is also a stop for the 8 and 170 MBTA bus routes.-External links:... |
SL4 and SL5 | July 20, 2002 | ||
| Massachusetts Avenue Massachusetts Avenue (MBTA Silver Line station) Massachusetts Avenue is a street level station on the MBTA Silver Line Washington Street line, located on Washington St at Massachusetts Avenue. This station is approximately 1/2 mile from the Orange Line station of the same name.-External links:... |
SL4 and SL5 | July 20, 2002 | 1 and CT1 (Not the same as Massachusetts Avenue station on Orange Line Orange Line (MBTA) The Orange Line is one of the four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It extends from Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the south to Oak Grove in Malden, Massachusetts in the north. It meets the Red Line at Downtown Crossing, the Blue Line at State, and the Green... , 1/2 mile northwest) |
|
| Worcester Square Worcester Square (MBTA station) Worcester Square is a street level station on the MBTA Silver Line Washington Street line, located on Washington St at Worcester Square.-External links:*... |
SL4 and SL5 | Late 2002 | ||
| Newton Street Newton Street (MBTA station) Newton Street is a street level bus station on the MBTA Silver Line Washington Street line, located on Washington St at Newton St in Boston, United States.-External links:... |
SL4 and SL5 | July 20, 2002 | ||
| Union Park Street Union Park Street (MBTA station) Union Park Street is a street level Bus Rapid Transit station on the MBTA Silver Line Washington Street line, located on Washington St at Union Park St. The bus stops are staggered, with the inbound stop in front of Cathedral High School, and the outbound stop near Union Park.-External links:... |
SL4 and SL5 | July 20, 2002 | ||
| East Berkeley Street East Berkeley Street (MBTA station) East Berkeley Street is a street level Bus Rapid Transit station on the MBTA Silver Line Washington Street line, located on Washington St at Union Park St.-External links:... |
SL4 and SL5 | 10 to 12 minutes | July 20, 2002 | |
| Herald Street Herald Street (MBTA station) Herald Street is a street level Bus Rapid Transit station on the MBTA Silver Line Washington Street line, located on Washington St at Herald St.-External links:... |
SL4 and SL5 | July 20, 2002 | ||
| Tufts Medical Center | SL4 and SL5 | July 20, 2002 | 11, 43 and Orange Line Orange Line (MBTA) The Orange Line is one of the four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It extends from Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the south to Oak Grove in Malden, Massachusetts in the north. It meets the Red Line at Downtown Crossing, the Blue Line at State, and the Green... |
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| Chinatown Chinatown (MBTA station) Chinatown is an MBTA subway station on the Orange Line, located at the intersection of Washington and Boylston Streets, roughly at the northwestern corner of Boston, Massachusetts' Chinatown neighborhood.... |
SL4 and SL5 | July 20, 2002 | 11 and Orange Line Orange Line (MBTA) The Orange Line is one of the four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It extends from Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the south to Oak Grove in Malden, Massachusetts in the north. It meets the Red Line at Downtown Crossing, the Blue Line at State, and the Green... (inbound buses only) |
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| Boylston Boylston (MBTA station) Boylston is a station on the Green Line light rail service of the MBTA rapid transport network, and is located on the southeast corner of Boston Common at the intersection of Boylston and Tremont Streets.-Location:... |
SL5 | July 20, 2002 | 43, 55 and Green Line Green Line (MBTA) The Green Line is a streetcar system run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the Boston, Massachusetts area of the United States. It is the oldest line of Boston's subway, which is known locally as the 'T'. The Green Line runs underground downtown and on the surface in outlying... (outbound buses only) |
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| Downtown Crossing Downtown Crossing (MBTA station) Downtown Crossing Station of the MBTA, located at the corner of Washington Street and Summer Street and the corner of Chauncey Street and Summer Street in Boston, is the main transfer point between the Orange Line and the Red Line.... |
SL5 | 16 to 21 minutes | July 20, 2002 | Orange Line Orange Line (MBTA) The Orange Line is one of the four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It extends from Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the south to Oak Grove in Malden, Massachusetts in the north. It meets the Red Line at Downtown Crossing, the Blue Line at State, and the Green... and Red Line Red Line (MBTA) The Red Line is a rapid transit line operated by the MBTA running roughly north-south through Boston, Massachusetts into neighboring communities. The line begins west of Boston, in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Alewife station, near the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Route 2... at Downtown Crossing Downtown Crossing (MBTA station) Downtown Crossing Station of the MBTA, located at the corner of Washington Street and Summer Street and the corner of Chauncey Street and Summer Street in Boston, is the main transfer point between the Orange Line and the Red Line.... ; Green Line Green Line (MBTA) The Green Line is a streetcar system run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the Boston, Massachusetts area of the United States. It is the oldest line of Boston's subway, which is known locally as the 'T'. The Green Line runs underground downtown and on the surface in outlying... at Park Street Park Street (MBTA station) Park Street is a rapid transit and light rail station of the MBTA subway system in Downtown Boston. One of the four subway hub stations, Park Street is a transfer point between the Green and Red Lines. Park Street is the fourth-busiest station in the MBTA network, with an average of 19,836 entries... |
| South Station South Station (MBTA subway station) South Station also known as South Station Under is a station on the MBTA Red Line subway and Silver Line bus rapid transit located at Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue in Boston. It is a part of the South Station complex, the second busiest transportation center in New England... |
SL4 | 13 to 22 minutes | Oct. 13, 2009 | Silver Line SL1 (Logan Airport), SL2, Red Line Red Line (MBTA) The Red Line is a rapid transit line operated by the MBTA running roughly north-south through Boston, Massachusetts into neighboring communities. The line begins west of Boston, in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Alewife station, near the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Route 2... , MBTA commuter rail MBTA Commuter Rail The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate... , Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... , local and intercity buses |
Subway and Streetcar proposals
In 1948 a state study, Surging Cities, made proposals for transportation in Boston. It had four proposals and the second part proposed that the Washington Street ElevatedWashington Street Elevated
The Washington Street Elevated was an elevated segment of Boston's Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority subway system, comprising the southern stretch of the Orange Line . It ran from Chinatown through the South End and Roxbury, ending in Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain...
(operational, 1901-1987) elevated train line be replaced by a subway line for the length of Washington Street through Dudley Square
Dudley Square
Dudley Square is the primary commercial center of the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, located at the intersection of Dudley Street and Washington Street...
to the line's terminus at Forest Hills. While $19,000,000 was initially budgeted, the subway part of the four proposals was shelved. Prior to the Elevated's removal, area residents petitioned to retain the line until a promised light-rail vehicle line could be established. Light-rail proposals generally envisioned extending the Green Line
Green Line
- Geographic demarcations :* Green Line, a name for the Gothic Line or "Linea Gotica", a German defensive line in Italy during World War II, renamed the "Green Line" in June 1944...
by reopening the southern part
Pleasant Street Incline
The Pleasant Street Incline or Pleasant Street Portal was the southern access point for the Tremont Street Subway in Boston, Massachusetts, which later became part of the Green Line .-History:...
of the Tremont Street Tunnel (operational from 1897 to 1961) and extending surface light-rail trackage along Washington Street to Dudley Square. After the line was scrapped in 1987, the MBTA withdrew its streetcar promise.
The Silver Line
The collection of services currently branded under the Silver Line umbrella have varying origins. The first section opened, known as Silver Line Phase I, was the line along Washington Street currently referred to as SL5; it is the ultimate product of community demands for restoration of local service after the Washington Street ElevatedWashington Street Elevated
The Washington Street Elevated was an elevated segment of Boston's Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority subway system, comprising the southern stretch of the Orange Line . It ran from Chinatown through the South End and Roxbury, ending in Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain...
portion of the Orange Line
Orange Line (MBTA)
The Orange Line is one of the four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It extends from Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the south to Oak Grove in Malden, Massachusetts in the north. It meets the Red Line at Downtown Crossing, the Blue Line at State, and the Green...
was demolished in 1987. Proposals to build a new subway line under Washington Street or a new trolley line along Washington Street were deemed impractical, so the Orange Line was re-routed about 1/2 mile west onto the Southwest Corridor right-of-way, leaving many local residents without a rapid-transit option. Eventually, BRT was chosen to provide this service, and the MBTA feels it meets the needs of the communities affected by the Orange Line relocation. The line started running July 20, 2002, replacing service provided by the 49 bus (which had existed as a feeder route before 1987).
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
–era dry dock
Dry dock
A drydock is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform...
and floated into place. Phase II opened on Friday, December 17, 2004, with the first route (Silver Line Waterfront, referred to within the MBTA as 746) running only to Silver Line Way, temporarily using new electric trolley buses borrowed from the trackless trolley
Boston-area trackless trolleys
There are currently four trolleybus routes in the Boston, Massachusetts area, all run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the Harvard Square area, and all former streetcar lines...
routes that have their hub in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, as not enough dual-mode buses were available initially.
When dual-mode bus
Dual-mode bus
A dual-mode bus is a bus that can run independently on power from two different sources, typically electricity from overhead lines or batteries, alternated with conventional fossil fuel ....
es were placed in service on December 31, 2004, two routes, dubbed SL2 and SL3, began service. As still not enough dual-mode buses were available, some rush-hour service was provided by CNG
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
buses, with transfers at Silver Line Way. Through service was suspended after January 5, 2005, and was not brought back until March 5, with all buses dual-mode starting on March 14. Beginning on March 26, late night and weekend trips ran combined, running both around the BMIP loop and to City Point. SL3 ran to City Point
City Point (MBTA station)
City Point was a transportation station in South Boston, Massachusetts, on the MBTA's Silver Line, the terminus of the former SL3 line. It lacked waiting facilities for passengers, and existed solely as a turnaround for the buses on the SL3....
via the Boston Marine Industrial Park; it ceased operation in 2008 due to insufficient ridership.
SL1 service to Logan Airport began on an interim basis on January 2, 2005. CNG
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
buses ran on a Sunday-only (4 pm–10 pm only) shuttle route between Silver Line Way and the airport terminals. The agreement with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, responsible for protecting the environment in the state. Its areas of responsibility include preventing pollution of air, water, and ground; protecting wetlands; waste and recycling issues;...
had called for airport service by January, but the MBTA did not yet have enough dual-mode buses for full service. Full-time SL1 service began on June 1, 2005.
For nearly five years after the opening of Silver Line Phase II, the two segments of the Silver Line were disconnected from one another. The MBTA wanted to connect the two via an underground tunnel, however the construction of this section, dubbed Silver Line Phase III, is no longer included in the region's long term plan due to funding concerns (see below for more details).
A partial solution that did not require a new tunnel opened on October 13, 2009, after fast-track construction using federal stimulus money
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
. The new route, SL4, covers much of the same ground as the proposed Phase III in a dedicated bus lane on the surface that terminates across Atlantic Avenue from South Station, allowing a somewhat circuitous pedestrian transfer between Phase I and Phase II. When SL4 began operation, the existing Silver Line Washington Street service was rebranded SL5.
As of the day that SL4 began service, there were 29,670 Silver Line boardings per weekday: 14,709 on SL5, and 14,961 on SL1 & SL2.
Phase III
The proposed Phase III would connect the first two phases of the Silver Line via an underground busway from Boylston station on the Green Line to South Station, allowing a single-seat ride between the phases. Silver Line Phase III received a "not recommended" rating from the Federal Transit AdministrationFederal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
, which expressed skepticism that the T's operating cost estimates were reliable. Capital cost was estimated at $780 million at the time, but this price tag depended upon the route selected. Completion was estimated by 2013.
Four possible routings were debated, but neighborhood opposition to the placement of portals, and to the use of BRT as a replacement for the Washington Street Elevated was problematic. In August, 2005, the MBTA put the Phase III project "on hold" in order to avoid a second such determination, and to build community consensus on a locally preferred routing.
In February 2006, Massachusetts State Transportation Secretary John Cogliano proposed a much less expensive plan that would eliminate most of the tunneling, running the Silver Line on the surface via Kneeland Street to a new tunnel portal on Essex Street, near South Station. The estimated cost of this proposal was $94 million and it includes expansion of Silver Line service to Copley Square, Grove Hall, Mattapan, and Ashmont, connecting at the Fairmount commuter rail line
Fairmount Line
The Fairmount Line or Dorchester Branch is a line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Except for a short portion in Milton, it lies entirely within Boston, progressing in a southwesterly trajectory, passing through the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park...
.
In March 2006, yet another plan was put forward, with support from most transportation leaders, including Cogliano. The plan was a fifth underground variation, calling for a mile-long tunnel with a portal at Charles Street and Tremont Street. Environmental review and preliminary engineering were expected to be completed by the end of 2008. A federal funding decision had been expected in 2010, with construction, if approved, starting in 2011 and ending in 2016.
As of May 2009, the estimated price of the tunnel plan, dubbed the "Little Dig," had risen to $2.1 billion, and the U.S. Federal Transit Administration
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
(FTA) assigned it a Medium Low overall rating, making it ineligible to move into the final design phase for federal New Starts funding. The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization removed Phase III from the list of recommended projects in its long range plan because of funding limitations. In April 2010, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), concluding that it could not successfully compete for more than one New Starts grant, informed the FTA that MassDOT was no longer seeking New Starts money for Phase III, concentrating instead only on its proposed Green Line Extension. No further money is being spent on designing Phase III until some future funding becomes available, placing the project on indefinite hold.
SL6
A study to extend the Silver Line to ChelseaChelsea (MBTA station)
Chelsea is a station on the MBTA Commuter Rail. It is located in Chelsea, Massachusetts, between North Station and River Works on the Newburyport/Rockport Line.Chelsea Station opened Nov. 29, 1985, after the city had been without train service since 1958....
is currently in the works. Early drafts show that between 240 and 620 trips per day systemwide could be added by 2020. Two of the three alternatives include the creation of a SL6 route.
Other future BRT
A new BRT corridor was proposed in 2010 for the number 28 bus route which stretches from Mattapan StationMattapan (MBTA station)
Mattapan or Mattapan Sq. is the southern terminus of the Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line in Boston, Massachusetts. It is in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston. The station is a major transfer facility, served by several bus lines.- Reconstruction :...
to Ruggles Station
Ruggles (MBTA station)
Ruggles Station is a MBTA subway station on the Orange Line; it is also a MBTA commuter rail station serving the Providence/Stoughton, Franklin, and Needham Lines. It is located at the intersection of Ruggles and Tremont Streets, where the Roxbury neighborhood begins and borders with the nearby...
. The new corridor would have included the installation of dedicated bus lanes, bus signal priority, and on-platform fare collection. However, the application for federal stimulus funding was withdrawn due to local opposition.
BRT is also being considered as a means of implementing the Urban Ring Project
Urban Ring Project (MBTA)
The Urban Ring is a project of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, to develop new public transportation line that would provide improved circumferential connections among many existing transit lines that project radially from downtown...
to providing improved crosstown service
MBTA Crosstown Buses
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority operates three crosstown bus routes in the Boston, Massachusetts area, CT1, CT2 and CT3, intended as limited-stop buses connecting major points. All crosstown buses have bicycle racks and offer transfers to the subway at a cost of an additional 45...
, and to relieve crowding in the radial lines leading to the downtown subway stations.
Criticism
Detractors of Silver Line service insist that BRT is still a bus, not a high-speed transit line, and provides equivalent quality and speed to other buses. Community groups in the Roxbury and South End neighborhoods, along with the Sierra ClubSierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, have presented findings that support this argument, and maintain that a light-rail line would be both cheaper and more effective than BRT; furthermore, part of the tunnel required for this already exists., These groups sometimes refer to the Silver Line Phase I as the "#49 bus" (this being the bus line with an identical routing that the Silver Line replaced) and the "Silver Lie" (used because of allegations from advocacy groups that the MBTA reneged on a promise of real rapid transit). Furthermore, the necessity to link Roxbury and Logan is not well explicated in any MBTA document.
The Silver Line's SL1 route from the World Trade Center stop to the Ted Williams Tunnel
Ted Williams Tunnel
The Ted Williams Tunnel, also known as the Williams Tunnel, is the name of the third highway tunnel under Boston Harbor in Boston, Massachusetts, the Sumner and Callahan Tunnels being the other two...
is considered by critics to be unnecessarily convoluted. Despite the fact that the Silver Line's portal is less than 100 yards (91.4 m) from the eventual entry ramp to the Williams Tunnel, the line must cross D Street at grade and proceed to the Silver Line Way stop to change over from overhead electric to diesel. This requires a loop back towards downtown on several surface streets before it can enter the tunnel, adding several minutes to the ride. The inbound route makes a stop above ground at the entrance to the World Trade Center stop, proceeds to Silver Line Way, and then goes underground for a second stop at the World Trade Center. If the headway between buses is as close as seven minutes, it is faster for travelers in the rear bus to disembark at the above-ground WTC stop, walk down the stairs, and then board the bus that used to be in front of them than to remain on the bus they started on. For some time after the Big Dig ceiling collapse in 2006, the SL1 used a closer entrance ramp normally reserved for the Massachusetts State Police
Massachusetts State Police
The Massachusetts State Police is an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Executive Office of Public Safety and Security responsible for criminal law enforcement and traffic vehicle regulation across the state...
. However, use of this shortcut was stopped for safety reasons after the affected sections of roadway were reopened for Silver Line use.
External links
- MBTA - Silver Line
- nycsubway.org - Boston Transit: The Silver Line
- Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district (PDF)
- A High-tech Keep Out - MBTA press release about security barriers at South Station tunnel
- Sierra Club report on Silver Line service