A research team led by Fabio Caiazzo of MIT recently quantified the impact of air pollution and premature death in the United States for the year 2005. They found that road-related particulate matter was responsible for about 19% more deaths, nationwide, than car crashes. Read all about it. Our own Wig Zamore adds: Unfortunately, the air pollution death valuation is WAY…
Question 1 passed, repealing the 2013 law that automatically increases gas taxes according to inflation. Does that mean funding for the Green Line Extension is at risk? Fortunately, the answer is no. At the Somerville Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner this past Wednesday, MBTA GM Beverly Scott very clearly stated that the GLX will not be affected by the failure of…
The Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership is writing you to urge you to VOTE NO on Ballot Question 1 on Election Day, November 4, 2014. By voting no you want the legislation passed in 2013 indexing the gas tax to inflation to remain in effect.
After many years of advocacy and terrific community support, Somerville is benefiting from major transportation improvements. The new Orange Line station at Assembly Square is open. While the MBTA and MassDOT are committed to extend the Green Line Extension and Community Path these projects could be delayed or even jeopardized if the Commonwealth does not have a stable source of funding for transportation infrastructure.
MassDOT announced that it has selected five artists for the second phase of the GLX Integrated Art Program. Out of 70 submissions, there are five artists whose work will become an integrated part of four of the new GLX stations (Gilman Square, Lowell Street, Ball Square & College Avenue). They will work directly with the design team architects in the incorporation…
The Green Line Extension Working Group met on Thursday and heard some important updates on the project. The good news is that the station designs for Lechmere, Washington St, and Union Square (referred to as Phase 2) are at 90%, and the other stations (Phase 4) are at 60% design. The bad news is that the schedule has slipped a bit…
The latest estimates are in, and the Green Line Extension will likely cost $1.6 billion, with an additional budget cushion increasing that potential total to $2 billion. (Of course, the project would have been cheaper if it were built to its original deadlines, 2011 or 2014!) Boston Globe: "Green Line extension cost is going up several million dollars"
The new Orange Line stop is MBTA's first new rapid-transit station in 27 years. Construction is expected to continue through November, but the stop will be open starting Tuesday. There will be a neighborhood walk and an opening ceremony in the afternoon with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey and local officials. Read the details.
Boston Magazine: "The New Assembly Row MBTA Stop Is Opening Soon" An MBTA official confirmed Friday that the new Assembly Square T Station will be welcoming riders to the Assembly Row mixed-use redevelopment site real soon, so they can shop, peruse the Legoland display, and check out an array of eateries, without having to rely on a car to get there.…
The Green Line Extension was originally supposed to open in 2011. Well, that didn't happen. So the State promised end of 2014 in a new legal agreement. Well, that won't happen either. It will be 2017 before any new stations open. However, in that legal agreement, the State agreed to implement interim offset measures in case they missed the 2014 deadline.…
