Comments submitted by STEP on the 2014-2017 State Transportation Improvement Plan
The Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP) appreciates the opportunity to make comments on the 2014-2017 STIP. We believe that the funding in the STIP to extend the Green Line promotes better regional public transportation, will reduce mobile pollution and provide major improvements to multi-modal transportation in Somerville and our neighboring communities. STEP’s mission is to promote better regional public transportation, reduce mobile pollution and improve multi-modal transportation options in Somerville and the region. Thus, we strongly support the $1.042 billion funding for the Green Line Extension (GLX) in the Boston Region MPO Plan that is allocated over the next four years as follows:
2014 — $131 million to College Ave/Union Square
2015 — $244 million to College Ave/Union Square
2016 — $429 million to College Ave/Union Square plus $8.1m for Rt. 16 extension
2017 — $238 million to College Ave/Union Square plus $29.9m for Rt. 16 extension
Additionally, we want to note our strong support for the design of the proposed extension of the Community Path from Lowell Street through Inner Best in Somerville to connect with the already completed path in North Point into Boston. The completion of the two mile extension of the Community Path, along the future Green Line Extension (GLX) route, will link the extensively used Minuteman Bikeway and Charles River path networks and will result in 48 miles of continuous path network through 11 Boston MPO cities and towns. This contributes to accomplishing Mass DOT’s Green DOT goals to expand and improve multi-modal connections to the GLX and Red Line.
Sincerely,
Ellin Reisner, President
Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership
