Silver Line Phase

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Silver Line Phase III The missing link between people and jobs Image courtesy of the MBTA Transportation: the New Deal for 21st century job creation Investing in transportation infrastructure is a critical component to economic development. When the economy is down, investing in building new infrastructure creates construction and ancillary jobs, which in turn stimulates the economy and boosts the competitive advantage of the region.

The Washington D.C. Surface Transportation Policy Project re- The Silver Line corridor between Dudley Square and the South ported in 2004 that every $1.25 billion invested in public trans- Boston Waterfront is expected to see a projected 40% growth in portation projects creates nearly 51,300 jobs (assuming half the population and 20% growth in employment by 2025. And upon funds are spent on new capital projects and half are spent on completion, roughly 245,000 jobs will be located within one half operations). Here in Massachusetts, the Silver Line Phase III proj- mile of Silver Line Phase III by 2030, bringing economic oppor- ect is our most promising opportunity to create new construc- tunities to the entire Silver Line corridor. tion and ancillary jobs during the economic downturn. Finally, building public infrastructure projects infuses federal In addition to creating construction jobs, completing the final money into the local economy because the federal government segment of the Silver Line affords residents improved access to provides matching funds for those projects. Silver Line Phase III is the most robust areas of job growth in the region. Silver Line well-positioned to be ‘first in line’ among new state transit projects Phase III is the ‘missing link’ in our existing transit system that eligible to receive significant federal funding toward the project would open a floodgate of opportunity for permanent job cre- at a time when federal dollars are scarce and highly competitive. ation in our rapidly developing areas of Roxbury and the South If transportation infrastructure is the New Deal of the 21st cen- Boston Waterfront. In fact, its completion is a prerequisite for tury economy, Silver Line Phase III is the state’s most promising reaching the target of 31 million square feet of development. opportunity to achieve the economic benefits of such a policy.

Job growth and enhancing our economic competitiveness for the future Silver Line Phase III: the missing link connecting people to jobs and economic opportunity in Roxbury and the South Boston Waterfront

Benefits of Silver Line Phase III • Potential to create upwards of 50,000 new construction and ancillary jobs during construction • Significantly improved access to major employment centers Elizabeth Thomsen Elizabeth • More one seat rides directly to Logan International Airport terminals Roxbury • Direct service to jobs in the Financial District, the South a destination for new business Boston Waterfront, and Dudley Square STONEHAM • ImprovedMELR connectionsOSE to Red, Orange and Green lines Connectivity and transportationWINCH areES provenTER to SAUGUS be linked to economic opportunity, and despite • Transit service enhancements to underserved corridors of being centrally located, transit dependent Washington Street and South Boston Waterfront LEXINGTON residents in Roxbury remain starkly disconnected. MALDEN Roxbury is a growing hot spot of business • Better access to over 5000 hotel rooms in the Back Bay developmentARLINGTON in Boston if onlyMEDF ORD from the airport and Convention Center we can ensure connectivity. • Encouraged sustainable landREVER use andE smart growth Local businesses Transit riders make decisions in Roxbury: based on number of transfers. • ReducedEVERETT congestion at existing core system stations and ADK Promos For businesses to grow in on roadways and neighborhood streets Community this corridor, their potential • 132,000 projected daily Silver Line riders by 2030 Development Corp BELMcustomerONT base will require CHELSEA SOSOMERVILLE • Improved air quality WAMorganLTHAM Memorial access from more points in

Goodwill Industries the city. STONEHAM MELROSE CAMBRIDGGE WINCHESTER SAUGUS Dimock Community Access to Jobs Today Increased connectivity also LEXINGTON Health Center MALDEN expands the pool of available ARLINGTON MEDFORD WATERTOWN WINTHROP Suffolk Construction talent willing to commute to REVERE Commuters west of Boston EVERETT places of employment in Rox- currently have to make 2 transfers

to reach job growth areas. BELMONT CHELSEA bury. Access to the airport is also essential – com- SOSOMERVILLE WALT HAM

pleting Silver Line Phase III gives visitors improved CAMBRIDGGE service to Roxbury businesses and in turn provides WATERTOWN WINTHROP Roxbury businesses service to the airport.

The ability to market Roxbury as a destination and a great place to do business depends on acces- NEWTON

sibility,NEWTON and Silver Line Phase III will provide that BROOKLINE much needed connectivity for residents and busi- BROOKLINE WELLESLEY ness to prosper.

BOSTON WELLESLEY Roxbury is an exciting destination and great place NEEDHAM to do business because of its central location, and this quality will be greatly enhanced with improved 1 - 2,000 BOSTON 2,001 - 4,000 DEDHAM transit connections. The ability for Roxbury to be QUINCY 4,001 - 8,000 MILTON

vibrant and for businesses to thrive will depend on DOVER 8,001 - 16,000 WESTWOOD 491,000 accessibility and the ability for people from all over 16,001 - 24,000 Boston to visit an arts or cultural center or commute 24,001 - 65,000 Total Jobs NEEDHAM BRAINTNTREREE One-half mile radius to their place of employment. CANTON NORWOOD Year 2000 00.5M1iles WALPEmOLployEment: MetroFuture, August, 2007 RANDOLPH Today, there are approximately 491,000 jobs within a 1/2 mile of MBTA stations offering a one transfer or less ride to the Airport, South Boston Waterfront, and/or Dudley Square. 1 - 2,000 2,001 - 4,000 DEDHAM QUINCY 4,001 - 8,000 MILTON

DOVER 8,001 - 16,000 16,001WEST - 24WO,000OD 24,001 - 65,000

BRAINTNTREREE One-half mile radius CANTON NORWOOD 010.5Miles WALPEmOLployEment: MetroFuture, August, 2007 RANDOLPH Silver Line Phase III: the missing link connecting people to jobs and economic opportunity in Roxbury and the South Boston Waterfront

Jobs in the South Boston Waterfront (by year by sector)

70,000 Hotel Industrial 60,000 Cultural/Tourism 60,000 of MassPort Courtesy Retail 50,000 O ce South Boston Waterfront

STONEHAM a growing economic powerhouse 40,000MELROSE WINCHESTER SAUGUS 35,000 The removal of the elevated Central Artery has created a revitalization opportunity in Boston’s South

# of Jobs 30,000 Boston Waterfront. Once seemingly isolated from LEXINGTON MAMALDL EN 25,000 the rest of the city, the South Boston Waterfront is experiencing an unprecedented level of develop- MEDFORD ARLINGTON 20,000 ment and job growth op- REVERE portunity, in addition to a Current job opportunities wide array of jobs already in South Boston: 10,000 EVERETT existing in the area. Office: Manulife Financial, World Trade Center

Source: BRA Source: Proposed and planned de- BELMONT 0 CHELSEA velopments such as Fan Industrial: Gillette, Marine 2008 (existing) 2015 2030 Industrial Park SOSOMERVILLE WALTHAM Pier, Waterside Place, Sea- Year port Square, and others Hotel: Seaport, Westin, STONEHAM MELROSE Renaissance Boston CAMBRIDGGE WINCHESTER SAUGUS will provide additional op- Access to Jobs Tomorrow LEXINGTON portunities in office, hotel MAMALDL EN With Silver Line Phase III, Green ARLINGTON MEDFORD WINTHROP and retail. The number of office jobs is expected to WATERTOWN Line riders have a new connec- REVERE double by 2030, and newly created office jobs will tion at Boylston station and EVERETT Orange Line riders have a new far outnumber the number of newly created hotel

connection at Chinatown.BELMONT CHELSEA SOSOMERVILLE and retail jobs. A completed Silver Line would en- WALT HAM

CAMBRIDGGE able better access to these jobs.

WINTHROP WATERTOWN The full build-out vision of the South Boston waterfront includes over 20 million square feet of development by the year 2030 that is expected to generate more than 55,000 new jobs. However, the planning NEWTONN NEWTONN BROOKLINE and permitting for that build-out vision includes the assumption that Silver Line Phase III will be built. BROOKLINE WELLESLEY Roadway capacity and parking in South Boston are

BOSTB ON limited; therefore, it will be imperative to have a reli- WELLESLEY able transit system in place to support this new de- NEEDHAM velopment and the job opportunities it affords.

1 - 2,000 BOSTB ON 2,001 - 4,000 DEDHAM QUINCY By the year 2018, up to 13 million square feet of MILTON 4,001 - 8,000 development will yield almost 20,000 new permanent DOVER 8,001 - 16,000 16,001WEST - 24WO,000OD 753,000 jobs in a variety of industries and more than 13,000 24,001 - 65,000 construction jobs. The revitalization of the South NEEDHAM Total Jobs BRAINTREE One-half mile radius CANTON Boston Waterfront depends in a large part on the NORWOOD Year 2030 00.5M1iles WALPEmOLployEment: MetroFuture, August, 2007 RANDOLPH successful completion of Silver Line Phase III. A completed Silver Line Phase III allows for roughly 753,000 jobs within a 1/2 mile of MBTA stations with a one transfer or less ride to the 1 - 2,000 Airport, South Boston Waterfront, and/or Dudley Square by 2030. Source: BRA and MassPort 2,001 - 4,000 DEDHAM QUINCY 4,001 - 8,000 MILTON

DOVER 8,001 - 16,000 16,001WEST - 24WO,000OD 24,001 - 65,000

BRAINTREE One-half mile radius CANTON NORWOOD 010.5Miles WALPEmOLployEment: MetroFuture, August, 2007 RANDOLPH January 2009 future geographicinourregion’s shifts employment centers. solutions, BRT affords greater flexibility to alter routes to adapt to buses to operate more likerapid transit. And unlikepermanent rail apart, BRT relies on a set of service enhancements that enable the often congested traffic, with frequent station stopsoften only blocks ban character of Boston. While regular bus routes run in mixed and cessfully implementing BRT. isagoodmodelfor BRT thedenseur cities intheUSsuchasSeattle, Cleveland andPortland are alsosuc to development. amodelofsustainableurban dysfunction And helped to transform ofseven thiscity millionfrom traffic-choked examples of other cities utilizing BRT to great effect, where BRT has with considerable(BRT) success. Bogotá, Columbia is one of the best World class cities all over the globe are adapting bus rapid transit The facts aboutbusrapid transit The Silver Line: Boston’s newest rapid transit line Boston’s 5 begin 2011. begin toConstruction expected Street Street. andCharles the corner ofBoylston an underground loopat under Essex Street to StationSouth andpassing element, beginning at completion, 2016 Completed 2004 International Airport. Waterfront andLogan to Boston theSouth Completed 2002 Downtown Crossing. corridor, Station Dudley to xpected Expected Phase III: Phase II: Phase I: The Silver Lineis rapid transit line: to be Completed Completed Washington Street South Station South Final connecting

th andnewest

Line stations at Boylston ontheGreen LineandChinatown ontheOrange Line. Silver new at systems transit existing the into service Line Silver entire the bring that existing Silver Line Waterfront service. This final link element provides new connections existingSilverLineWashingtontransitconnectingthe the and CorridorStreet service rapid bus for segment underground mile one approximately an is III Phase Line Silver Phase IIIindetail: Prepared by - - [email protected] 617-502-6244 Boston, MA 02109 33 Broad Street, Suite 300

Source: streetsblog.org