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 II 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

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.


What's new

The MBTA recently released an updated 2008 project schedule for Silver Line Phase III that will significantly advance the project through its technical phases. We expect the FEIS/EIR to be released in August, a New Starts application in September, and a Preliminary Engineering Completion Report/Request to Enter Final Design in November. 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.

In 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 will partner with the MBTA Silver Line Phase III Community Relations office to help them continue building support for the project.


Additional Resources