A good day for Somerville! Politicians, residents, and businesses gathered yesterday to celebrate the kickoff of Phase 1 construction of the Green Line Extension.
“Today, we’re here to reaffirm our commitment to seeing this project get under way. For the residents of Somerville and Medford, the Green Line extension means expanded employment opportunity, housing opportunity and recreational opportunity. This project is about more than transportation. It’s about growth.” – Governor Deval Patrick
“You cannot have a growing and sustainable twenty-first century economy without a growing and sustainable twenty-first century transportation system.” – Mayor Joseph Curtatone
Construction will occur in phases:
Phase 1: Reconstructing two bridges and tearing down one building.
Phase 2 and 2A: Washington St and Union Square stations opening end of 2016.
Phase 3: New maintenance facility in the Inner Belt area opening end of 2017 or early 2018.
Phase 4: Washington St station to College Ave station, completed 2018-19.
Gov. Patrick’s remarks supporting the project:
Watch videos of remarks from Congressman Michael Capuano, Mayor Joe Curtatone, and Medford Mayor Michael J. McGlynn.
Boston Globe: “Green Line Extension work finally set to begin in Somerville”
Somerville Journal: “City, state officials mark start of Green Line Extension work in Somerville”
Somerville Patch: “Gov. Patrick Denounces ‘Naysayers’ at Green Line Extension Kickoff Celebration”
Somerville News: “GLX off and running”
Somerville Scout: “Green Line Construction Starts with Baby Step”
WBUR: “Ground Broken On First Phase Of Green Line Extension”
Mass.gov Commonwealth Conversations blog: “Green Line Extension Phase 1 Construction Begins”
Coverage from WBZ: