Abstract: LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN EAST BOSTON IS LOCATED CLOSER TO THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT THAN ANY OTHER MAJOR AIRPORT IN THE UNITED STATES. ALTHOUGH IT IS ONLY 2 AIRLINE MILES FROM THE AIRPORT ADMINISTRATION BUILDING TO BOSTON'S CITY HALL, THE AIRPORT IS NEVERTHELESS SOMEWHAT ISOLATED GEOGRAPHICALLY FROM THE PEOPLE IT SERVES, BOTH AIR TRAVELERS AND THOSE WHO WORK THERE. THIS ISOLATION COMES ABOUT BECAUSE LOGAN IS ON A PENINSULA SURROUNDED ON THREE SIDES BY ARMS OF BOSTON HARBOR. DIRECT LAND ACCESS IS FROM THE NORTHWEST ONLY. HIGHWAY ACCESS BETWEEN LOGAN AIRPORT AND DOWNTOWN BOSTON IS VIA THE MYSTIC RIVER BRIDGE OR VIA THE SUMNER AND CALLAHAN TUNNELS (REALLY ONE TUNNEL IN WHICH SUMNER TUNNEL CARRIES WESTBOUND TRAFFIC AND CALLAHAN TUNNEL CARRIES EASTBOUND TRAFFIC). THESE ROUTES ARE SEVERELY CONGESTED DURING RUSH HOURS. TO GET TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES TO THE WEST, SOUTHWEST, AND ALONG THE SOUTH SHORE MUST FACE THESE BOTTLENECKS, NOT TO MENTION THE DOWNTOWN FITZGERALD EXPRESSWAY. THE PEOPLE ON THE NORTH SHORE ARE MORE FORTUNATE. THEY HAVE THE MCCLELLAN HIGHWAY (ROUTE C-1). PEOPLE WHO LIVE TO THE NORTHWEST OF THE CITY AS IN EVERETT AND CHELSEA FACE A SYSTEM OF SECONDARY ROADS AND BACK STREETS. UNTIL CLEVELAND OPENED ITS NEW AIRPORT TRANSIT LINE, BOSTON WAS THE ONLY U.S. CITY THAT COULD BOAST A DIRECT RAIL TRANSIT LINE TO ITS AIRPORT, BUT THE SITUATION IS NOT AS GOOD AS IT SOUNDS. FIRST OF ALL, THE MBTA BLUE LINE, OR EAST BOSTON LINE, ONLY PASSES BY THE AIRPORT AND DOES NOT GO DIRECTLY TO THE TERMINAL AREA. IT IS NECESSARY TO TAKE A SHUTTLE BUS FROM AIRPORT STATION FOR ABOUT A MILE OR SO TO THE VARIOUS TERMINALS. SECOND, THE BLUE LINE, WHEN IT GETS DOWNTOWN, TERMINATES NEAR GOVERNMENT CENTER AND IS NOT A THROUGH ROUTE. PEOPLE DESTINED FOR BACK GAY OR BROOKLINE (THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN SUBURBS) MUST TRANSFER TO OTHER RAIL LINES SERVING THESE AREAS. PEOPLE DESTINED FOR CAMBRIDGE, DORCHESTER, OR THE SOUTH SHORE MUST MADE TWO RAPID TRANSIT STATION TRANSFERS. POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING SITUATION ARE DISCUSSED. /AUTHOR/
Publication Year: 1970
Publication Date: 1970-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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