Beating Traffic: Boston Readies for ASAE
By Rachelle Crum -- Tradeshow Week, 8/21/2006
Despite the Big Dig construction woes that have plagued Boston in the last several weeks, officials from the city and the American Society of Assn. Executives & the Center say the group's annual meeting and exposition taking place there Aug. 19–22 should go off without a hitch.
Following the July 10 collapse of a three-ton ceiling section of the Interstate 90 Connector Tunnel, ASAE and the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (operator of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, the meeting site) have taken precautionary measures to assure efficient transportation.
Luckily, two weeks ago, the I-90 access ramp reopened, connecting the South Boston Waterfront, where BCEC is located, and Boston Logan Intl. Airport. Although the groups suggested that attendees staying at airport hotels relocate to downtown, there are only 44 rooms involved, and a water taxi provides an additional transportation option for those two dozen or so attendees who chose to stay put.
The MCCA, said Executive Director Jim Rooney, has made the following efforts for ASAE, as well as several shows that precede and follow the 6,000-attendee event:
- Issued a travel advisory on its Web site (as did ASAE and the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau)
- Assembled a transportation information desk at the BCEC, staffed by transit, airport and center officials
- Allowed attendees to check luggage at the center for flights leaving later in the day
- Recorded a New England-wide radio address, informing the public that the center is accessible
- Provided bus service to supplement what the shows had scheduled, particularly in traveling from the center and hotels to the airport.
The MCCA said it would provide supplemental shuttles from the BCEC to the airport for ASAE, if needed.
ASAE noted on the meeting's Web page, "We traveled to Bean Town and are happy to report that the (meeting) should not be affected."
Immediately after the early July ceiling-collapse accident, Rooney said he contacted managers of each of the 17 events being held in Boston over the following three months.
Recent BCEC shows have included the American Federation of Teachers Convention July 20–23 and SIGGRAPH Aug. 1–3.
Mike Weil, SIGGRAPH exhibition manager, said his 19,000-plus-attendee show "went very well overall."
He added, "The tunnel closure turned out to be a non-issue."
For SIGGRAPH, Rooney said, the MCCA arranged for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Silver Line to re-loop transit buses to the BCEC on the show's final day to provide non-stop transportation for 1,100 people to the airport via an emergency ramp.
Also, during the AFT convention, the MBTA buses moved 5,000 attendees from the BCEC to the Boston Public Library during rush hour in the time allotted.
