Silver Line Phase III

Silver Line Phase III is the final segment of the seven-mile route from Dudley Square to the South Boston Waterfront, and will connect two existing services: the Silver Line Washington Street service now operating from Dudley Square along Washington Street, and Silver Line Waterfront service now operating from South Station to surface routes in South Boston - SL2 & SL3 to City Point or Boston Marine Industrial Park and the airport.

 

Bus
Photo Courtesy of MBTA.

Why it's important


Silver Line Phase III is an essential component of Boston’s transportation infrastructure and future economy.  When completed, Phase III will:

  • significantly improve mobility for residents living in neighborhoods throughout the corridor,
  • enable connections between previously disconnected areas,
  • connect Washington Street to the South Boston Waterfront, Logan Airport and other MBTA Rapid Transit services (Orange, Red and Green lines), and
  • support and encourage South Boston Waterfront development.


Phase III will also help relieve congestion on existing Boston subway systems that are either at or near full capacity (the Green Line, Orange Line, downtown core stations such as Park Street, Government Center and others).  All of these results are vital to the continued economic prosperity of the city and the region. 

MTA line
Map Courtesy of the MBTA

Click here to view a PDF of the full image.

Today, there are approximately 265,000 residents and 491,000 jobs located within a 1/2 mile radius of MBTA station stops with two-seat ride access to the Airport, South Boston Waterfront, and or Dudley Square via the existingSilver Line service. Silver Line Phase III plays a critical role in connecting people to jobs and economic opportunity. With the completion of Silver Line Phase III, in the year 2030 those figures increase to approximately 655,000 residents and 753,000 jobs located within a 1/2 mile radius of MBTA station stops with two-seat ride access to the Airport, South Boston Waterfront, and or Dudley Square via complete Silver Line service.

Source: CTPS

Our role

A Better City is committed to advancing this project through the work of the Silver Line Phase 3 Business and Institutional Committee, chaired by James E. Rooney of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority.  This committee brings together leading businesses and institutions throughout the project alignment and provides a forum for stakeholders and abutters to work towards its completion.

ABC organizes abutters served by the Silver Line so that affected parties have a clear understanding of the planning and construction process and potential impacts. We work with the MBTA to help identify and mitigate issues that would adversely affect abutters and neighborhoods. We engage businesses and institutions in Silver Line advocacy activities, and help to ensure that the most successful design, construction and operations procedures are employed.

Last December, the Committee partnered with Massport, the Convention Center Authority, and the MBTA to offer a tour of the Silver Line Phase II corridor to about 30 people. The tour was a resounding success because it visually and tangibly demonstrated the economic and mobility benefits of the project. In the coming
months, ABC is currently partnering with the MBTA Silver Line Phase III Community Relations office to help them continue building support for the project.


What's new

On December 10, ABC's Silver Line Business & Institutional Committee, chaired by Jim Rooney of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, heard a special presentation by the MBTA's technical consultants on their plans for surface elements, traffic mitigation, and construction management for the Silver Line Phase III project.

And early on September 8, this committee also heard a presentation from the consultant team regarding construction methodology and mitigation measures. The detailed technical presentation includes construction methods, construction staging, new stations, groundwater control, ground settlement, and soil stabilization.

 

In March 2008, the MBTA briefly updated the Committee on the progress of the project. Click here for slides from that presentation.

The MBTA also recently released an updated 2008 project schedule for the remainder of this calendar year for Silver Line Phase III that will significantly advance the project through its technical phases. By September, they expect to complete the environmental review document and release it for a full public review, including public comment period. In December, they will complete the Preliminary Engineering (PE) and request permission from the FTA to enter Final Design. In December 2009 they will enter Final Design. They then expect to be recommended for federal funding from the FTA in early 2010, begin construction in 2011, and see Silver Line Phase III open for passenger service by 2016. ABC and our Silver Line Phase II Business & Institutional Committee will continue to work collaboratively with the MBTA as they work toward these critical milestones.

 


Additional Resources