Opinion :: Guest Opinion
How to improve the Silver Line by Aaron Michlewitz
MySouthEnd.com ContributorWednesday Jul 29, 2009 In an effort to provide more transparency in our local government, I hope to do a regular opinion piece in several local papers. I hope this will let residents of the district know what my focus is and for you to give me your thoughts and beliefs on each subject. As the State Representative of the Third Suffolk District I have the opportunity to serve what I believe to be the most diverse constituency in the entire Commonwealth. When you break it down even further, I am fortunate enough to represent the South End, which I believe is the most diverse neighborhood in the entire City of Boston.
With a diverse constituency come diverse issues. As your state representative, I hope to work with you on a wide variety of topics that affect your quality of life. The Silver Line is one such topic, and one that I have immediately started to work on.
The MBTA has recently shifted its focus away from a Phase III tunnel connection that no one could ever agree on and onto a surface route-to be paid for with Federal Stimulus money-that will connect Dudley Square and Washington Street to South Station. These are important steps, but we need to find additional ways to improve the existing Silver Line, in the hopes of getting closer to the "Rapid Transit" system it had always promised to be. There is a group of South Enders who are proposing some small, but significant, enhancements that would make for a better commute. With Federal Stimulus dollars being directed towards the Silver Line, I believe this is an opportunity that none of us can pass up. Their improvements focus on four particulars.
A. Improving Crosswalks along Washington Street This would include rebuilding deteriorated crosswalks at all points from Herald Street to Melnea Cass Boulevard. Many of these are broken up and are in desperate need of repair. Potentially replacing them with pavement that is flush with the roadway and an imprinted style that can now be seen on Huntington Avenue would be ideal. Sufficient improvements would also mean installing traffic signals at places like East Concord Street, Waltham Street and at Peters Park where currently, only painted crosswalks exist.
B. Installing Off-Board Fare Machines As anyone who has waited for a new passenger to try and get a crumpled dollar bill into a machine to get on the bus knows, too much time is wasted at each Silver Line stop. Off-Board Fare Machines, similar to the Green Line D train stations, would limit the time spent at each stop and quicken the pace of the Silver Line. These can readily be installed at existing station kiosks, which already have needed electric and telephone service.
C. Real-Time Traffic Signal Synchronizing To give buses the ability to head down Washington Street without having to stop at every light would greatly enhance the Silver Line’s effectiveness. It could also reduce the likelihood of buses speeding in order to make their scheduled stops.
D. Purchasing New Hybrid Buses Residents and workers along Washington Street know how loud and disrupting the Silver Line buses can be. I heard this firsthand with my campaign headquarters located along the Washington Street route. New hybrid vehicles would start the process of eliminating the now-outdated buses. New buses would also potentially give the MBTA the ability to create additional service to off-peak hours.
Each of these ideas is not major, and together will not break the Stimulus bank. Instead they would present real improvements to the Silver Line that we see today. I support these measures and would like to hear your thoughts on how we can improve the Silver Line.
Please feel free to contact my office at 617.722.2488 or e-mail me at rep.aaronmichlewitz@hou.state.ma.us on this issue or any other issue that is of concern to you.
Aaron Michlewitz is the 3rd Suffolk District’s state representative.
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