Massport Executive Director and CEO Virginia Buckingham today announced that Massport will cut transportation fares in half during the Thanksgiving holiday. The discount measure is aimed at getting travelers out of their cars and into high occupancy public transportation during the busy travel season and is expected to reduce congestion around Logan Airport and local neighborhoods. From November 13th to the 27th, round trip tickets will be half-price on Logan Express, Logan Direct and the Airport Water Shuttle. Buckingham said that 1.3 million travelers are expected to pass through Logan during the two-week period.

"Last year more than 60,000 travelers used public transportation to get to and from Logan during the Thanksgiving holiday," said Buckingham. "This year we will slash fares once again to encourage travelers to leave their cars at home and take the easy way to Logan."

The following services will be available with reduced rates:
Logan Express (kiss and ride only) - bus service from Braintree, Framingham and Woburn

Logan Direct - direct bus service from Hyannis, Sagamore, Plymouth and Rockland

Airport Water Shuttle - Logan to Rowes Wharf
The Thanksgiving holiday season is traditionally the busiest time for Logan's roadways, terminals and parking garages. The incentive was offered as a pilot program last year, as part of a commitment Buckingham made to the residents of East Boston.

"We are confident that once people experience how easy it is to use one of these services to get to and from Logan, they will become repeat customers," said Buckingham.

In order to take advantage of the Logan Express round trip discount, passengers must be dropped-off at the Logan Express site (kiss & ride), where they will receive a coupon for half-off a round trip fare. Massport will honor the tickets of travelers who purchase round-trip tickets but return after the November 27th cut-off date on the discount.

Massport will increase Logan Express service from twice an hour to three times an hour during peak times leading up to Thanksgiving and the weekend after Thanksgiving. Massport will also deploy additional ground transportation and public information staff in the terminals and curbside. To further assist travelers, Massport employee volunteers, known as the "Logan's Heros", will be stationed in the terminals assisting passengers.

Last year during the same two-week period, approximately 50,000 people used Logan Express, 5,000 people used the Rowes Wharf Water Shuttle and Logan Direct carried 5,000 passengers to and from Logan. Currently, 50% of travelers using Logan Express purchase round trip tickets.

For more information on public transit options and parking at Logan, log on to www.massport.com, call 1-800-23-LOGAN, or tune into Logan Radio 1650 on your AM dial.

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