Massport, Flight Information for Silver Line Passengers at South Station

Flight Information Available for Silver Line Passengers at South Station
Massport and the MBTA Present Customer Service Gift in Time for Holiday Travel

BOSTON – 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Just in time for the holidays, Massport and the MBTA unwrapped a customer service initiative that will improve the experience for airline passengers heading out of town. Today the agencies announced two new flight information display (FID) monitors at South Station showing departing flight information for the next four hours – and the arrival time of the next Silver Line bus headed to Boston Logan International Airport. This will improve the airport experience for those public transit riders who use the Silver Line to get to one of more than 100 domestic and international nonstop destinations from Logan. The new monitors are one of a number of amenities recently implemented by Massport for the holiday traveler.

“Catching a flight can be a tense time, especially this time of year,” said Richard A. Davey, Chairman of the Massport Board and Secretary & CEO of MassDOT. “These cost-effective information displays reduce the number of variables our customers face when taking a trip.”

Massport spent about $14,000 to purchase and install the two new FID monitors. The screens display airport-wide flight information including airline flight numbers, destination, expected departure times, flight status, and departure gate information. The screens also display a minute-by-minute countdown to the arrival of the next Logan-bound Silver Line bus.

“Creating a better travel experience for our customers is a top priority,” said Thomas P. Glynn, Massport’s CEO & Executive Director. “We already have several FID monitors at the Blue Line’s Airport Station and rapid transit passengers heading to the airport appreciate checking on flight status at the station. Now, the new monitors installed at South Station will benefit the growing number of travelers using the Silver Line.’’

Earlier this year, the MBTA and Massport installed the first Silver Line minute-by-minute countdown clock display at Terminal C as part of a joint customer service effort. Additional displays were placed curbside at Logan’s other three terminals later in the spring. This collaboration led to the FID monitors at South Station. This past summer, Massport, MassDOT, and the MBTA teamed up to promote HOV ridership to and from the airport, and announced a pilot program offering free inbound Silver Line bus service to South Station. The program will continue in 2013.

“Getting to Logan Airport via public transit is a good value and a sustainable travel option. I join all our Silver Line passengers in applauding this new amenity,” said Dr. Beverly Scott, MBTA General Manager.

“We want everyone to have a good experience at Logan, and that is especially true for holiday travelers,’’ said Massport’s Aviation Director Edward C. Freni. “Our public service representatives will be available to assist passengers, and musicians will be entertaining passengers throughout the terminals beginning the afternoon of Dec. 19 through Christmas Eve.’’

Travelers should allow extra time to get to and through the airport. Massport recommends holiday passengers should arrive two hours prior to departure for domestic flights and three hours prior for international flights. Travelers should also monitor www.massport.com for updated airline and airport information and familiarize themselves with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) carry-on luggage regulations to help lessen delays at security checkpoints.

All of Logan’s terminals now have a bilingual virtual assistant located at security checkpoints to help educate the passenger ahead of time about the screening process. “Carla” speaks English and Spanish.

For travelers driving to the airport, ample parking will be available, and for travelers who do not wish to drive to Boston Logan, there are alternatives:

• Logan Express
Logan Express provides bus service every half hour between Logan Airport and Woburn, Braintree and Framingham, and hourly service between Logan and Peabody. Buses will be added to meet the anticipated increase in demand and maintain the posted schedule. Kids under 12 ride free.

• MBTA Blue and Silver Line Service
The MBTA Silver Line provides service between South Station and Logan’s terminals every 10 minutes. Inbound service from Logan Airport to the South Boston Seaport District and South Station is free. The MBTA Blue Line provides subway service between Boston and Airport Station. Massport provides free shuttle service to and from all terminals

• Water Transportation:
Several water taxi companies provide on-call service to points throughout Downtown Boston from the Logan dock.

• Taxi Service:
Because of heavy holiday travel, travelers may experience longer than normal waits for taxi service departing Logan Airport, especially during peak periods immediately after the holidays. Taxis are available at the arrival level of all terminals.

Massport recommends people meeting arriving passengers use Logan’s cell phone waiting lot to help reduce roadway and curb-side congestion. The lot is open 24 hours a day and is conveniently located just minutes from the terminals at the intersection of Hotel Drive and Service Road, near the airport Gulf Station.  Drivers are asked to stay no longer than 30 minutes and to wait with their vehicles.
MBTA subway lines, including the Silver Line, will operate on a Sunday schedule on Christmas Day (12/25/12) and New Year’s Day (1/1/13). For more detailed schedule information, please visit www.mbta.com.

Boston Logan, 15 minutes from the intersection of Route 128 and I-90 and five minutes from downtown Boston, serves as the gateway to the New England region and offers nonstop service to 72 domestic and 31 international destinations and in 2011 handled 28.9 million passengers. Boston Logan is the Air Line Pilot Association’s Airport of the Year for 2008 because of its commitment to safety. Over the past decade, the airport spent $4.5 billion on a modernization program that includes new terminals, public transportation access, parking facilities, roadways and airport concessions, and has been transformed into a world-class 21st Century facility.  The airport generates $7 billion in total economic impact each year.

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The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) owns and operates Boston Logan International Airport, public terminals in the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport. Massport is a financially self-sustaining public authority whose premier transportation facilities generate more than $8 billion annually, and enhance and enable economic growth and vitality in New England. No state tax dollars are used to fund operations or capital improvements at Massport facilities.

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