"Will the Green Line Extension make Somerville real estate go crazy?" "When the extension is completed with six new stops (and an Assembly Square station is added to the Orange Line this fall), 85 percent of Somerville will be within a half-mile of a transit center, up from the current 15 percent. Perfect for the brave new Walk Scoring, bike-sharing world…
MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey today announced that as part of the Green Line Extension, the state will both design AND construct the multi-modal Community Path to be built along the GLX in Somerville and Cambridge.
The 1.9-mile path will connect four GLX Stations: Lowell Street, Gilman Square, Washington Street, and the relocated Lechmere. Davey shared the good news in Somerville today alongside Mayor Joseph Curtatone, MBTA General Manager Dr. Beverly Scott, members of the legislature, Somerville aldermen, community members, and activists.
Kudos to our friends at Friends of the Community Path for pushing to make this happen!
Boston.com: “State to Build $39m Bike, Pedestrian Path Between Somerville, Boston”
“This project is about much more than biking and walking – it’s about building a community and a region that is equitable, connected and vibrant,” Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said in a statement. “When we create connections between neighborhoods and communities, economic health follows as our squares thrive, local businesses get busier and a resilient, self-sufficient economic base is built for our city and the region. That is the connectivity and vibrancy that will also help us bring back our historic neighborhoods in Somerville like Brickbottom and Inner Belt.”
Keep reading for press coverage and more photos!
MassDOT has announced the three artists selected for the GLX Integrated Art Program: Mary Lucking, Randal Thurston, and Nader Tehrani. The artists were chosen from 80 submissions based in part on input from the community, and their work will be used as part of the first three new stations (Lechmere, Washington Street, and Union Square). They will work directly with the…
Metro Magazine: "Sustainable Service: Planning a Green(er) Line for Boston" "One of the largest infrastructure projects in the commonwealth and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA's) first expansion project in 25 years, the Green Line light rail service project in Boston is set to greatly improve sustainable public transit service in some of the region's most densely populated municipalities."
"How to make the Green Line beautiful" (Boston Globe) "In December, with Green Line plans advancing, state Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey announced the T will again solicit art for stations, with a budget of $225,000. Artists this time won't create pieces of art but instead have a hand in designing construction features, such as fencing, tile work, and windscreens. Dozens…
"In Somerville, Green Line Extension means higher rents" "A two-bedroom apartment near Union Square with a current market rate of $2,000, for instance, could see an increase of $265 with the Green Line station opening in 2017, according to recent projections by area planners."
Yesterday the Senate passed the Transportation Bond Bill, which includes authorization of $1.3 billion in state funding for the Green Line Extension. While that's enough to cover the entire anticipated price tag of the project, the state is also submitting an application for federal New Starts funding, which might pay for over $500 million of the cost. The bond bill doesn't…
Somerville Journal: "Feds propose $100M for GLX in Somerville" "Somerville owes thanks to President Obama and Congressman Michael Capuano for committing in this budget to economic and environmental justice for our residents and to smart, long-term infrastructure investments that will build the 21st century transportation system we need to have a 21st century economy," Mayor Joe Curtatone said in a press…
Yesterday afternoon at a meeting with MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott, community leaders and advocates learned that the Federal government will recommend the Green Line Extension project for New Starts funding, including $100 million for fiscal year 2015, starting September 1, 2014! MassDOT and the MBTA still have substantial work ahead in documenting the project and the state's long-term ability to…
What will riding the Green Line extension look like? Check out this simulation of a ride from the new Lechmere station to College Ave, as shown at a Feb 24 public meeting. Randy Henke, Director of Design for AECOM/HNTB, provides the narration.