Action
Notice of intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) intend to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) in accordance with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) for Phase III of the Silver Line. The Silver Line is comprised of two formerly separate MBTA bus rapid transit (BRT) projects: the South Boston Piers Transitway (now Silver Line Phase II), providing service from downtown Boston to the South Boston Waterfront area and Logan International Airport, and the Washington Street Replacement Transit Service (now Silver Line Phase I), extending from Dudley Square to downtown Boston. Phase III will connect Silver Line Phases I and II and will run from South Station to Washington Street along Essex and Boylston Streets. Two new Silver Line Stations are proposed: at Boylston Station (connecting to the MBTA Green Line) and Chinatown Station (connecting to the MBTA Orange Line). Alternative alignments for the tunnel extension to the portal connection to Washington Street will be evaluated in the SEIS. Phase III of the Silver Line incorporates what had originally been the second phase of the South Boston Piers Transitway, a tunnel connection between South Station and Boylston Station. An alignment for this phase, extending from South Station along Essex Street, Avenue de Lafayette, and Avery/Tremont Streets to Boylston Station terminating in a loop underneath the Boston Common Central Burying Ground, was reviewed and approved as part of the 1993 South Boston Piers/Fort Point Channel Transit Project Final Environmental Impact Statement/Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIS/FEIR). The FTA issued its Record of Decision (ROD) for the Full Build Alternative of the South Boston Piers Transitway Project (which was intended to be built in two phases) on May 12, 1994. The initial phase of the Transitway project (now Phase II of the Silver Line) is currently under construction between South Station and the South Boston waterfront. This SEIS will evaluate the alignment modifications from South Station (where it will connect to the Phase II tunnel) to Boylston Station and the alternative tunnel alignment and portal locations for the connection to Phase I of the Silver Line, which is currently providing service on Washington Street.