MGNA urges Medford City Council to get involved in Green Line

Medford Transcript: "MGNA lobbies council to take stance on Green Line"
“We have a vacuum and within that vacuum comes fear,” said Doug Carr of MGNA, “fear of parking, fear of a maintenance facility, fear for their homes. And we have no avenue for discussing this because the city is sitting on the sidelines and has been for three years.”

Green Line stops still being studied

Somerville News: "Proposed T stops reexamined by Executive Office of Transportation"
A good summary of the status of selecting station locations

Petition shows clear support for ending Green Line at Route 16

Over 2,000 people have signed a petition sponsored by the Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance (MGNA) that supports extending the Green Line to Route 16. A Route 16 station would put Green Line service within a half-mile walk of 9,116 residents of Medford, Somerville and Arlington who would not have such access if the extension were terminated, as some have advocated, at the intersection of College Avenue Boston Avenue.

The MGNA report also points out that a Route 16 station would provide transit service within a half-mile walk of five environmental justice neighborhoods that would not be similarly served by a terminus station at College Avenue. The Executive Office of Transportation is currently evaluating the College Avenue/Boston Avenue site and Route 16 (Mystic Valley Parkway) as possible locations for the terminal stations. EOT is analyzing factors such as environmental impacts including air quality, right-of-way impacts, costs, and ridership projections. A decision could come as soon as September.

View the petition summary or read more about it.

Medford Transcript: "MGNA petition lobbies for Green Line stop at Rte.16"

Boston Metro: "Debate over Green Line end continues"

MGNA member Doug Carr shows a map of the petitioned supporters

Boston Globe: "2,000 line up for new T station"

Minimize the burden for providing Green Line maintenance in our city

Opinion from the Somerville Journal

There is strong support for and interest in the coming Green Line extension throughout Somerville. With service scheduled to start at the end of December 2014, recommendations for station locations, the best route to Union Square and the location of the Green Line maintenance facility are under way as part of the Draft Environmental Impact Review conducted by the Executive Office of Transportation. The DEIR process includes opportunities for the public to participate in making recommendations. Fortunately, Somerville has many residents who are both very interested and knowledgeable about transportation and land use planning.

EOT has demonstrated openness to recommendations from the community regarding station siting and the Union Square rail alignment. Yet, we are very concerned that EOT has been less willing to consider the community’s concerns about siting an 11-acre maintenance facility and storage for 80 cars in Inner Belt next to the Brickbottom Artists Building, a vibrant, active artists’ community of 155 live/work units and 200 full-time residents. The location they are recommending is at the MBTA’s Yard 8 and adjacent land permitted for commercial development.

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EPA approves revised SIP transit commitments

EPA has approved the revised SIP transit commitments, including the Green Line extensions to Somerville and Medford. Massachusetts DEP had adopted the new regulations in 2006 but this final approval from EPA is also a necessary and important step forward. Next, the Boston MPO must finalize and submit a revised Regional Transportation Plan.

Without the initial and continued consideration of Conservation Law Foundation for Somerville's transit needs, the leadership of elected officials, the approval of the Boston MPO, AND overwhelming support from Somerville citizens, this simply could not have happened. In a world of environmental challenge, energy crisis, and economic strain we are incredibly fortunate to be the future beneficiaries of the only new subway stop and the only two new light rail extensions in many years. It is incumbent upon us all to make sure that we make the most of this opportunity.

Boston Metro: "Transit projects get EPA approval"

STEP at ArtBeat

Thanks to all who visited STEP at ArtBeat this year!

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Aldermen discuss moving Brickbottom Green Line stop farther from Brickbottom

Somerville News: "Brickbottom transit may hit rock bottom"
A resolution was proposed at the Board of Aldermen meeting Thursday to move the remaining Brickbottom stop, at the intersection of Washington Street and Joy Street, across the train tracks to Cobble Hill, at the intersection of Washington Street and New Washington Street.

Study of Green Line effects on East Somerville

Somerville News: "Group studies possible Green Line effects in east Somerville"
According to Sam Zimmerman-Bergman, a project director for Reconnecting America, 30 percent of Somerville's population today lives within a half-mile of transit centers. With the extension of the Green Line and a proposed Orange Line stop in Assembly Square, that will jump to 85 percent of Somerville residents - an "incredible richness of transit," said Zimmerman-Bergman.

Arlington board supports Route 16 terminus

Arlington Advocate: "Town’s letter about the Green Line"