Green Line contract approved amid cost concerns

Statehouse News Service: "T board briefed on worker assaults, discusses Green Line project costs"
"Board members also approved a $19 million contract to Gilbane Building Company/HDR Engineering Inc. for design and engineering services for the Green Line extension project from East Cambridge to Union Square in Somerville. Before approving the contract, board members expressed concerns about escalating costs of the extension, which has risen from original estimates in the $700 million range to more than $1 billion."

New Somerville transportation working group

Boston Globe: "Panel to examine Somerville transportation systems"
The 13-member Transportation Research, Innovation and Planning group includes current elected officials, police, community groups, and consultants, and will have a broad mandate to recommend improvements to pedestrian patterns, vehicular traffic, bicycle safety, and parking systems, among other areas.

New images of Green Line stations

At two pubic hearings in March, MassDOT revealed revised site plans and 3D renderings of the future Green Line stations for Gilman Square, Lowell St, Ball Square, and College Ave. To view the large images, go to our interactive map and click on the stations. (Or you can download MassDOT's slides for Gilman Square and Lowell St and Ball Square and College Ave.)

MBTA proposes 23% fare hike, no Somerville service cuts

Boston Globe: "MBTA unveils 23 percent fare hike; limited service cuts also proposed"
"I can't emphasize enough this is a one-year solution. And all things being the same, we will be back in the same position a year from now, looking at service cuts and potentially more fare increases," Secretary of Transportation Richard A. Davey said.

MBTA press release
Map of service changes
MassDOT/MBTA presentation

STEP letter on McGrath overpass repair and de-elevation

Sent to the Board of Directors of MassDOT

As residents of Somerville advocating for good transportation for our city and the region, we are writing to express our dismay over the rush to repair the McCarthy Overpass on the McGrath Highway. It was with frustration and incredulity that we just recently heard of the decision by MassDOT to rush to repair the Overpass despite the strong objections of residents of Somerville and Cambridge. The fact that there was no public involvement with the community with Mass DOT about the impact of the repairs on travel in the area is completely unacceptable especially when compared to the significant community engagement that took place when the same roadway was closed for repairs at the Museum of Science and for the traffic restrictions due to repairs on the Longfellow Bridge.

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Slides from Green Line designers/contractors meeting

On February 27, MassDOT held a meeting for potential Green Line extension designers and contractors. Download the slides for more details on construction phases and the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) process.

Richard Davey on Green Line extension

Somerville News: "MassDOT Secretary talks GLX plan"
"The FTA and the administrator, Peter Rogoff, are well aware of the Green Line Extension being a top priority of the Patrick Administration, and obviously the Governor enjoys some close relationships in Washington and continues to remind folks in Washington that the GLX and South Coast Rail are top transportation projects for us," he said.

"In terms of attention in Washington, I don't think we lack for attention in Somerville. The question will be to continue to move our process alone, to continue to move along the New Starts process, and then the challenge for us is really demonstrating, as we have in the past, to show that we've got a finance plan in place for the MBTA for the long term."

Somerville fights back against proposed MBTA cuts

Boston Globe: "MBTA hearing on cuts draws rowdy, heartfelt crowd in Somerville"
"The MBTA is a lifeline, and what the MBTA wants to do would devastate the community," said Ronald Leaks, a community organizer for Groundwork Somerville.

Somerville Patch: "Residents Express Anger, Offer Solutions to MBTA Officials"
At the rally was Representative Carl Sciortino, who told Patch, "The current proposals are unacceptable. Statewide transportation finance reform is needed, not just at the MBTA, but in all of our transit sectors."

A comic look at a non-comic situation