Massport is a financially self-sustaining public authority whose transportation facilities generate more than $600 million annually;[1] no state tax dollars are used to fund operations or capital improvements at Massport facilities. Its headquarters is located in the Logan Office Center, adjacent to Logan AirportinEast Boston, Massachusetts.[2]
The Massachusetts Port Authority was created in 1956 by the Massachusetts General Court to replace the locally controlled port commission;[3][4] however, the Authority was not enabled until 1959,[5] due to delay in bond funding.[6] The Authority is an independent public authority, not a state agency.[5]
In 1966, Castle Island Container Terminal was constructed for Sea-Land Corporation, one of the first intermodal container facilities. In 1971, the Authority constructed a second container port in Charlestown for the use of other shipping companies. In 1980, Sea-Land ended its exclusive lease, and the first container port was enlarged and made available for other shipping companies.[7]
In June 2019, by a vote of 5-to-2, Massport's board of directors selected the current port director Lisa Wieland to serve as the authority's chief executive. She will be earning a salary of $360,000-a-year and is scheduled to start the new position in September 2019.[8]
On May 29, 2024, the port authority board voted to offer Richard A. Davey the CEO position. Should he accept the offer, he would begin his role as CEO no later than September 9, 2024.[10]
Worcester Regional Airport – Formerly owned by the city of Worcester until ownership transfer to Massport was mandated by law in 2009,[11] and subsequently completed on June 22, 2010.[12]
[edit]A Logan Airport shuttle bus on route 22, which serves Terminals A and B, in the busway at Airport station
The Massport Shuttle connects all terminals at Boston Logan International Airport to Airport Station on the MBTA Blue Line, as well as the water transportation dock on Harborside Drive and the Rental Car Center.[14]
Route 11 serves terminals A, B, C and E
Route 22 serves terminals A and B, subway station and rental car center during peak hours
Route 33 serves terminals C and E, subway station and rental car center during peak hours
Route 55 serves all terminals, subway station and rental car center during off-peak hours in the early morning and late evening
Route 66 serves all terminals, subway station and water transportation dock.
Route 88 serves all terminals and the economy parking garage, along with the subway station in the inbound direction (from the garage to the terminals)
Massport provides financial assistance to the MBTA for operation of the Silver Line Bus Rapid Transit service to Logan terminals from downtown Boston, and contributes to the maintenance of Airport Station and ventilation of the Ted Williams Tunnel.[19]
State Police-Troop F patrols and provides primary law enforcement services for all Massachusetts Port Authority owned properties, including but not limited to Boston's Logan International Airport in East Boston, Boston's Seaport District, the Port of Boston, and Seaport Hotel and Seaport World Trade Center. Troop F is a unique force within the Massachusetts State Police. Specialized assets include a dedicated detective unit, a bomb squad, a community services unit, a marine unit and highly trained, federally certified State Police K-9 teams. All the members of Troop F are tasked to ensure compliance with airport security rules and regulations as mandated by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).[20]
Until 2010, its only barracks was located within the airport. It has since moved to a building on the outskirts, allowing for more space, parking, and better access to the properties.
The Troop F Commander also serves as Massport's Director of Aviation Security.[21]
The Massachusetts Port Authority maintains its own police force of sworn law enforcement officers. They work in seamless partnership with the Massachusetts State Police—Troop F who also provide law enforcement services for Massport. Massport police officers, also known as port officers, are responsible for physical security and law enforcement at the marine terminals, Boston's Seaport District, East Boston parks and various other properties and lands owned by the authority. The Massport Police Department is also responsible for the safety and security of the passengers and vessels which call on the Port of Boston through the Flynn Cruise Port and Paul W. Conley Cargo Container Terminal, in adherence with federal regulations and law enforcement requirements set forth by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. [22]
The Chief of the Massport Police Department also serves as Massport's Director of Maritime Security.[23]
By state law, under Section 110 of Chapter 205 of the Acts of 1996, municipal police (such as the Boston Police Department) do not have jurisdictional authority on Massport property.[24][25]
Massport’s Fire Rescue responsibilities include aircraft rescue and firefighting, structural fire protection, hazardous materials response, emergency medical services, responding to off-shore emergencies with the Marine division, which includes the 79-foot American United fireboat, as well as fire prevention and inspections. The Fire Rescue headquarters, a Fire Rescue satellite station and a Fire Rescue boat dock (shared with the Massachusetts State Police Troop F / Marine Unit) are all located on Boston Logan International Airport’s airfield, while two additional ARFF stations exist at both Laurence G. Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport. Massport Fire Rescue is part of the Massachusetts Metro Fire District and responds to surrounding communities on a mutual aid system.[26]
