Silver Line
hearing testimony, Leather District Neighborhood
Association
LEATHER DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Secretary Robert Golledge
EOEA, Attn: MEPA Office
William Gage, EOEA No. 6826/11707
Via e-mail
Re: Silver Line Phase III Notice of Project Change
Dear Secretary Golledge:
I am the Chairman of the Leather District Neighborhood
Assoc. I am writing to express the LDNA's opposition to the
Silverline Project. At the recent public hearing, every
single resident of the Leather District, Chinatown and Bay
Village that spoke, was in opposition to the Silverline.
The real, detrimental impact of this proposed project on
these three growing and thriving downtown neighborhoods is
not justified by the speculative benefit to be provided by
the Silverline tunnel. In addition, downtown neighborhoods
such as the Leather District and Chinatown suffered
disproportionately from the construction impact of the
Central Artery Project. The idea that, as we finally see
the light at the end of the Big Dig construction tunnel,
the MBTA is proposing another tunnel project to be
constructed in our neighborhoods is simply untenable and
certainly unfair. The residents of Chinatown and the
Leather District have done their part and have been good
citizens in living with the negative impacts of the Big Dig
in our respective neighborhoods for the past decade. Enough
is enough. Downtown residents have the right to be free
from huge, disruptive public works projects for awhile.
This is particularly true where, as here, the alleged
benefit to the public for the proposed Silverline is not
supported by any hard evidence. I am writing to advocate
the 'no tunnel' option and urge the MBTA to use dedicated
lanes and new technologies (such as transponders that will
give Silverline buses priority at traffic lights) to
accomplish the same result without costing billions and
disrupting the businesses and residents of downtown Boston.
I urge a no tunnel plan for the Silverline.
Regards,
Chris Betke, LDNA Chair
116 Lincoln Street, Unit #5A
Boston, MA 02111
cc: Rep. Sal DiMasi
Mayor Menino's Office of Neighborhood Services
Councilor Michael Flaherty
Councilor Sam Yoon