MBTA to give free Silver Line rides from airport Options

[KevinKorell]

Boston, MA Globe, 6/5/12:

Passengers taking Silver Line buses from Logan Airport will ride for free starting Wednesday, a move that also means free transfers to the subway system at South Station and appears to make Logan the first major airport to provide free public transportation for travelers heading downtown.

The story is here.

Important points here:

It will allow one to ride for free on the rest of the subway system by virtue of the free transfer between the Silver and Red Lines at South Station, provided one originates their trip on the Silver Line (SL1) at the airport. But if I understand correctly, if one plans to continue on the Silver Line (SL5) Washington, which requires leaving the paid system and reboarding another bus at street level, then one pays the fare anyhow on the SL5 bus.

This may have an adverse effect on ridership at the Airport Station on the Blue Line. While the shuttles between the airport and Blue Line station are free, one does have to pay the fare when entering the Blue Line station.

[EdFindlay]

Boston, MA Globe, 6/5/12:

Passengers taking Silver Line buses from Logan Airport will ride for free starting Wednesday, a move that also means free transfers to the subway system at South Station and appears to make Logan the first major airport to provide free public transportation for travelers heading downtown.

The story is here.

Important points here:

It will allow one to ride for free on the rest of the subway system by virtue of the free transfer between the Silver and Red Lines at South Station, provided one originates their trip on the Silver Line (SL1) at the airport. But if I understand correctly, if one plans to continue on the Silver Line (SL5) Washington, which requires leaving the paid system and reboarding another bus at street level, then one pays the fare anyhow on the SL5 bus.

This may have an adverse effect on ridership at the Airport Station on the Blue Line. While the shuttles between the airport and Blue Line station are free, one does have to pay the fare when entering the Blue Line station.

It is aimed at the people who are driving into Logan, not those who are already utilizing public transportation. Saving $2 isn't going to drag people away from the Blue Line, those who are already taking public transportation or who are staying in downtown are still going to use the Blue Line regardless.

[KevinKorell]

Boston, MA Herald, 7/19/12:

Massport-MBTA extend free rides on Silver Line

Massport will continue offering free rides on Silver Line buses through the end of September.

The collaboration between Massport and the MBTA runs between Logan International Airport and Boston’s South Station terminal, a key hub for commuter rail and the MBTA’s Red Line.

Read this.