Quick links to Green Line and Community Path press coverage

"New Green Line stations are delayed until 2021" (Boston Globe) "John Dalton, the new project manager for the $2.3 billion extension, spoke about the new timeline at Somerville High School on Wednesday night and said the public should be confident that the T could complete the project in time. 'There's real momentum now,' he said. But the project still needs to…

Continue ReadingQuick links to Green Line and Community Path press coverage

New date for the ever-delayed Green Line Extension: 2021

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Key members of the Green Line Extension team came to Somerville High School last night, and so did hundreds of residents supporting the Green Line.

The good news is that the project is moving forward again, and now with an experienced project manager at the helm.

The bad news is that all of this delay has of course pushed back the timeline, and stations won’t start opening until mid-2021. Remember when the Green Line was supposed to open in 2011? Yeah, so do we.

The other bad news is that the State is still saying the Community Path is too expensive to build all the way to Lechmere. Many residents urged the team to try harder. So do we.

Keep reading for Ken Krause’s great summary of the meeting…

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Continue ReadingNew date for the ever-delayed Green Line Extension: 2021

Somerville favors the Green Line despite the $50 million contribution

"Residents pro-GLX, but worry of tax increases" (Somerville Journal) "At a November public hearing about the Green Line Extension (GLX), many decried the necessity for Somerville to contribute funding as 'legalized extortion,' and others deemed the loss of a full community path that would have connected to Boston a 'tragedy.'"

Continue ReadingSomerville favors the Green Line despite the $50 million contribution

Is the Green Line Extension in danger because of Trump?

"Could a Trump administration kill the Green Line extension?" (Boston Globe) "Trump campaigned on a platform that called for heavy infrastructure spending, a sign that could potentially bode well for transportation projects. That appeared to be good news for the embattled Green Line extension that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is moving forward on - and which is banking on $1 billion…

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Green Line Extension gets new manager

"New manager named to lead Green Line extension project" (Boston Globe) "[John Dalton] brings a wealth of technical knowledge, as well as familiarity with the federal funding process and the process of engaging stakeholders," Brian Shortsleeve, the MBTA's acting general manager, said at the weekly meeting of the fiscal control board that oversees the T. Dalton is "exactly what is needed to…

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Congressman Capuano’s Green Line summary

In a recent email, Representative Capuano shared his take on the current status and possible paths forward:

It’s been a few months since I’ve shared information about the Green Line Extension (GLX) so I thought it was a good time to provide an update on the status of the project.

Based on the information I have, here is where the GLX stands.  The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has been reviewing the MBTA’s updated submission detailing the project’s changes (i.e. station redesigns) and cost estimates.

  • The FTA seems to be in general agreement with the MBTA’s new project cost estimates as well as its revised project schedule;
  • The FTA seems to be in general agreement with the MBTA that project changes do not substantially alter the project.  This is good news because it means there is no need to start all over “at the back of the line”.

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Green Line update: Feds pretty happy, MBTA hiring

"Green Line extension getting close" (CommonWealth Magazine) "Andrew Brennan, director of energy and environment at the T, said federal officials who are being asked to provide $1 billion for the project are now comfortable with the redesign. He also said the T is in the process of recruiting the top officials to manage the project, and has a written agreement with…

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The search for new Green Line contractors begins

"Contractors Sought for Green Line Extension Project: MassDOT" (Somerville Patch) "The MBTA is currently seeking letters of interest from contractors as it prepares to begin the next phase of the Green Line Extension project." "MBTA begins Green Line extension contractor search" (International Railway Journal) "MBTA intends to enter into a design-build contract with the best-value design-build entity that will be identified…

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Green Line Extension gets (mostly) supportive words from the Feds

"Feds have reservations about Green Line, but encourage state to move forward" (Boston Globe) "FTA regional administrator Mary Beth Mello said the federal agency still needs a 'good deal of clarifying information' before signing off on the project and handing over nearly $1 billion in federal funding. 'Your project schedule is mechanically sound, but optimistic - any delays in your schedule would…

Continue ReadingGreen Line Extension gets (mostly) supportive words from the Feds

Two big transit projects had a $1 billion price increase. But only the Green Line was put on hold.

When the Green Line Extension estimate suddenly rose by $1 billion, the State immediately put the project on hold, seriously considered canceling it, and then greatly simplified it. But when another project, South Coast rail, not legally required, suddenly saw a $1 billion price increase, guess what? The State simply assured the public they would still complete this project, no problem.…

Continue ReadingTwo big transit projects had a $1 billion price increase. But only the Green Line was put on hold.