Phase II would extend the Transitway underground from South Station to Chinatown Station on the Orange Line and Boylston Station on the Green Line, a distance of approximately one-half mile. This profile, however, only evaluates and rates the 0.5-mile underground Transitway portion of the project. By combining the Transitway and Washington Street projects at Boylston Street Station, the Silver Line is expected to improve transit service for Roxbury, South End, and Chinatown neighborhoods to the downtown financial district, new development in South Boston Seaport District, including the Boston Convention Center and Exhibition Center and Logan International Airport. Not Recommended The overall project rating of Not Recommended is based on the project's lack of an updated financial plan and lack of committed local funding. The overall project rating applies to this Annual New Starts Report and reflects conditions as of November 1999.
Project evaluation is an ongoing process.
As new starts projects proceed through development, the estimates of costs, benefits, and impacts are refined. The FTA ratings and recommendations will be updated annually to reflect new information, changing conditions, and refined financing plans. In February 1993, the MBTA completed alternatives analysis and selected a 1.5-mile underground transit tunnel from Boylston Station to the World Trade Center combined with surface bus operations as the locally preferred alternative. This alternative is referred to as the Full Build Transitway, which is proposing construction in two phases. The Final Environmental Impact Statement was completed in December 1993.