Green Line environmental planning meeting

Hundreds came to Somerville High School’s Auditorium tonight to learn about the status of the Green Line extensions and the environmental review process that is just beginning. The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office is currently determining the scope of the review process, and you can give input until November 9. Learn what you can do to help.
Mayor Joe Curtatone called this meeting “an encouraging and exciting step forward” and said, “We’ve come a long way but we still have miles to go.” He announced that a Citizens Advisory Committee will be formed for the Green Line extensions.
The overall schedule:
– The Single Environmental Impact Review is targeted to be approved to proceed in May 2007
– Preliminary design will be complete November 2008
– Final design will be complete May 2011
– Construction will start November 2011
– Green Line service will open December 2014
Download the presentation (3MB PDF)
Green Line environmental planning meeting

(more…)

Continue ReadingGreen Line environmental planning meeting

MGNA proposes Medford Green Line stations

The Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance has published its proposal for Green Line stops in Medford along the Lowell line, with one stop located north of College Ave and the terminus located south of the Mystic River near Route 16. The plan also recommends a system optimized for pedestrians, bicyclists, and passengers of existing buses – with no parking garages.

(more…)

Continue ReadingMGNA proposes Medford Green Line stations

What is happening with the Green Line extensions?

Act Now!

As printed in the Somerville Journal…
In short, we are back on track. There will be an important public meeting next Monday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. in the Somerville High School auditorium at 93 Highland Ave.
At this meeting, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office will collect comments to be used in helping them determine what should be in the Single Environmental Impact Report for the Green Line extensions that will be prepared over the next two years. The SEIR will become the full and official description of this long-awaited transit project. Simply put, Monday’s MEPA “Scoping Session” will determine what is studied and then presented in the Single EIR for the project and what is not.

(more…)

Continue ReadingWhat is happening with the Green Line extensions?

Green Line environmental planning process initiated

Green Line path

In a much-desired sign of progress on the Green Line extensions, the State’s Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) has released an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) for the project. The EOT filed this document with the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act (MEPA) unit of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA). This represents the beginning of the mandatory environmental planning process for this huge project. In the coming year (or years), the EOT will submit environmental impact reports to the EOEA until they are fully approved.

The EENF states that the project is slated to start in 2011 and wrap up in 2014, costing $550 million. It describes two extensions from a relocated Lechmere stop: one extension along the west side of the Lowell commuter rail line to the Medford Hillside section of Medford (ending at College Ave or Winthrop St, but surprisingly not farther), and another extension to the Union Square area along the north side of the Fitchburg rail line (rather than into the square itself, which would better serve the area). No parking would be provided at the unstaffed platform stations, which tentatively include the following: Winthrop St (possibly), College Ave, Broadway/Ball Square, Lowell St, Medford St/Gilman Square, Washington St, and Union Square.
Download the EENF (large 18MB PDF).
On Monday, October 16, 6-8 pm, there will be a public hearing about the environmental review and planning process at Somerville High School. Come support the Green Line in Somerville!

(more…)

Continue ReadingGreen Line environmental planning process initiated

Green Line hearing delay

The following is from State Representative Denise Provost's newsletter today... The hearing on the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) for the Green Line extension —which we were originally told would be scheduled for September— is now being postponed until October. The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) has not given a reason for the delay. It is interesting to note that the Department…

Continue ReadingGreen Line hearing delay

Boston MPO updates transportation plans

The revised 2007–2010 Transportation Improvement Program and Air Quality Conformity Determination (TIP) has been endorsed by the Boston MPO and still awaits federal approval. The Green Line extension is in the TIP as a recommended medium-priority project, but awaits action by the DEP on the revised SIP commitments. Also in the TIP is a large $25 million earmark for an Orange…

Continue ReadingBoston MPO updates transportation plans

Take action and demand a Green Line

Act Now!

It has been more than seven long months since the Dec. 15, 2005, hearing held by the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection on the Ozone SIP “transit commitments.” Now the state is six months behind schedule in releasing the SIP commitments. This is critical because the SIP commitments must be submitted to the federal Environmental Protection Administration for review and approval before funding for construction of the Green Line can be secured. These delays are holding back progress on the Green Line.
Keep reading for how you can help.

(more…)

Continue ReadingTake action and demand a Green Line