Boston airport gives fast-track security clearance to bus passengers
Uber and Lyft passengers face a drop-off fee from October
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.One of America’s leading airports, Boston, is offering fast-track security clearance to anyone who travels from the city by bus.
Massport, the operator of the city’s Logan airport, is trying to encourage more passengers to use public transport rather than cars.
It is incentivising bus travel with lower (or no) fares but penalising people who arrive with “Transportation Network Companies” (TNCs) such as Uber or Lyft.
The bus fare for the Logan Express from two key downtown locations, the Hynes Convention Centre and Back Bay Station, has been cut by 60 per cent to $3 (£2.30). Passengers are handed a voucher that gives them priority access at the security checkpoint. Normally priority is reserved for passengers with elite airline status.
Journeys on the Logan Express from the airport into the city are free.
For some years, arriving airline passengers have been able to travel free from the airport to a wide range of locations in the city using the Silverline bus. It takes travellers to Boston South Station for connections to the Red Line of the underground rail network.
At the same time, people who chose to travel to the airport by Uber and Lyft will find the fare increased by $3.25 (£2.50) from 1 October, when a mandatory drop-off charge is introduced at the airport.
TNC users already pay a $3.25 pick-up fee at Boston airport.
The fee is cut to $1.50 for those who share a ride. The money will go to boosting bus services.
The airport aims to cut the number of “deadhead vehicles”, those coming to or leaving the airport without a passenger, by 30 per cent.
In 2018, there were five million such journeys, out of a total of 12 million TNC trips.
The acting CEO of Massport, John Pranckevicius, said:“Our goal has always been to move more people in less vehicles while providing a better customer experience, and we think this plan achieves that.”
The Independent asked the top four airports in the UK if they were planning anything similar.
Manchester Airports Group, which owns Stansted as well as Manchester airport, said: “At both Manchester and Stansted, passengers being dropped off at the forecourt at either airport by taxi, or by private vehicles, are subject to a charge.
“This measure makes an important contribution to encouraging alternative, more sustainable transport options and reducing congestion on the airport and surrounding roads.”
The drop-off charge at both is £4 for 10 minutes, though Manchester has a lower fee of £3 for up to five minutes.
Heathrow and Gatwick declined to respond.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments