EDITORIAL: Please, No Whining Boston

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

EDITORIAL

The Rhode Island Airport Corporation is running an ad pointing out that flying out of Logan is a nightmare due to traffic problems in Boston.

The ads also highlight all the new direct flights out of PVD and that it makes nearly every best airport list. 

Boston’s top tourism official — Martha Sheridan — says the ads are not nice — her exact words are, “While I understand the need to position the airport as a great alternative to Logan, I really don’t like the approach.” And, she goes on about the tone.

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Now, Sheridan is a talented tourism champion, and she used to work in Rhode Island. Now, she is doing Boston’s work. We get it.

Rhode Island International Airport is on a roll — more flights, direct flights to Los Angeles, and the possibility of direct flights to Europe in the next couple of years.

Yup, PVD is a growing threat to BOS.

Anyone who flies out of Boston knows that you need to leave about a week before your flight to be able to get through the usual hideous traffic.

 

Who says the traffic in Boston is hideous? 

The top traffic research firm INRIX ranks Boston as having the second worst congestion in America.

Then, add in that the tunnel to Logan — the Sumner Tunnel — has been and will continue for another year to be closed for repairs at times.

 

Who says that the construction will make things worse?

Massachusetts transportation officials warned that traffic will be a nightmare due to the tunnel repair.

"It cannot be understated," Massachusetts Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver told WBUR, adding the tunnel closure and spillover traffic will make it "very, very difficult" for those living in or regularly traveling through the area.

Add in the additional costs — Logan has the most expensive parking in the United States.

 

Who says Logan has the highest parking fees?

Logan was named the most expensive airport for parking in the United States. It costs a whopping $203 for a week's stay. It is the 6th highest parking cost in the world.

In contrast, RI International can cost about one-third of the cost of Logan per week.

The research was done by Zutobi, who compared parking prices at the busiest airports in every country to reveal which airport has the most expensive and cheapest parking rate for a week's stay. 

So, as RI Airport continues to grow, it becomes a greater threat to Logan.

No sane person living in Wrentham or Worcester would fly out of Logan rather than PVD if both offer similar direct flights.

Boston has lots to brag about -- its traffic and airport are just not some of them.

Score one for the little guys.

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