By Seth Daniel
Nearly complete, the new Chelsea Station situated behind the Market Basket on Everett Avenue is on track to open service at the four new SL3 line stations in April.
Within months, the MBTA will launch service on Chelsea’s new Silver Line Bus Rapid Transit line, known as SL3, featuring four stations and a dedicated busway. The anticipated 19-minute journey from downtown Chelsea to Boston’s Seaport requires no transfers, as the transit authority applies final touches to the infrastructure.
Community enthusiasm has grown as the stations near completion and signage reading “Eastern Avenue” and “Chelsea” has been installed. According to an MBTA spokesman, the T anticipates commencing service in April.
Joe Pesaturo of the MBTA stated: “The MBTA and MassDOT are very excited to be just months away from introducing Bur Rapid Transit service for customers traveling to and from Chelsea,” “The MBTA anticipates beginning Silver Line Gateway service in the early spring of next year. The existing Silver Line in Boston has been very popular since its launch because of the frequent levels of service and increased capacity. MBTA General Manager Luis Ramirez is looking forward to a celebration in the spring in Chelsea to mark the start of service.”
Phase 1 of the Silver Line Gateway expansion project will be finalized with the completion of these four BRT stations and the dedicated busway, effectively extending the Silver Line from Logan Airport to Chelsea. However, the SL3 will not serve the airport directly; instead, it will stop at the Blue Line Train Station where passengers can access airport shuttles to reach terminals.
MBTA Board documents from last summer project total daily ridership of 8,730 people on the new service, with 2,500 new transit trips representing riders who currently do not use the MBTA.
Peak service is expected to deploy 22 BRT buses across all three Silver Line routes, with SL3 Chelsea wait times estimated at 10-12 minutes during peak hours and 12-15 minutes during off-peak periods.
Current travel from downtown Chelsea to the World Trade Center stop in the Seaport takes 37 minutes with two transfers. The SL3 line will reduce this to 19 minutes with no transfers.
From the airport to the World Trade Center station, travel time will drop from 20 minutes with one transfer to seven minutes with no transfers.
The first phase of the Silver Line Gateway project totaled $46.5 million and encompassed Washington Avenue bridge reconstruction, a 1.1 mile dedicated busway, a half-mile shared-use path, and four new stations.
Fully funded at approximately $29 million, Phase 2 will include the Chelsea Intermodal Center, featuring a new Commuter Rail Station and updated railroad signaling to enhance Chelsea traffic flow. Unlike the existing station, the new facility will be fully accessible. The MBTA plans to solicit Phase 2 construction bids this winter, with work commencing next summer.
MBTA General Manager Ramirez has prioritized developing a comprehensive marketing and promotion strategy for the new service ahead of launch. According to Ramirez, numerous recent MBTA service introductions have experienced low ridership partly because potential riders lack adequate information about the offerings.
The MBTA is currently selecting a qualified firm to:
•Advertise the new service to existing and prospective customers.
•Highlight the benefits of Silver Line Gateway service relative to existing bus services in the area, including dedicated lanes and limited stops.
•Promote the ongoing work the MBTA is doing to improve its transportation offerings.
Pesaturo added: “The firm will work with the MBTA to develop well-rounded marketing and communications strategies that achieve the goals, including but not limited to market research, specifying target audiences, generating message concepts, proposing an effective mix of media, and partnering with local community organizations as part of the public outreach strategy,”