Somerville News: East Cambridge meeting on Green Line

"East Cambridge residents voice concern about Green Line changes"
While most attendees were in agreement that the Green Line expansion is a positive endeavor, the modest crowd of approximately 60 people were unanimously concerned about pedestrian access across O'Brien Highway, the newly scaled-down design of the station in comparison to that of the previously grandiose North Point Development Designs, better signage and the historic preservation of the current Lechmere Station.

Somerville Journal: Community Corridor Planning meeting

"Green Line extension plans excite neighbors worried about change"
“We want to amplify community input with an organized community process so that when we give our input to the city, we have a stronger voice,” said Meredith Levy from the Somerville Community Corporation. “It’s important for all of us to help plan for the future.”

State creates computer simulations of future Green Line stations

The EOT has published computer-generated animations of what the Green Line stops could look like, including trains arriving and departing. Check them out. You might also want to read various comments on the station designs over at Universal Hub.

STEP Green Line map updated

Our interactive Google map of the Green Line extension has been updated with the latest information on the locations of the planned stops, as well as early architectural drawings of the station designs. Check it out.

Residents' thoughts on the change that the Green Line will bring

The Boston Globe produced a video in which a few Medford and Somerville residents are interviewed.

Read more...

State releases report on impact to Brickbottom

Amid continuing community uproar over the proposed location of a Green Line maintenance facility, the state has published a new report outlining the expected impact on Brickbottom residents. The document includes a map and covers issues around noise, vibration, air quality, and visual environment.
Download the report (PDF)

Green Line concepts from Boston Architectural College students

Students and area residents gathered at SCAT on February 14 to look at Green Line design ideas and discuss the future of Union Square.

State hears complaints about Green Line maintenance facility but doesn't budge

Somerville Journal: "State officials: Like it or not, the Green Line maintenance facility will be in Inner Belt’s Yard 8"
“This has been a long time coming. I think it will do a lot of good to the community but there is a concern about the maintenance facility,” said Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston who wondered why no details have been given on why that is the only possible site for an 11-acre, 24-hour Green Line train storage and service building. “If economic development is a goal of this project, this does not foster that, in fact it hinders it.”

Somerville News: "A maintenance facility by Brickbottom will kill our quality of life, residents say"
"We already have the commuter line and cargo lines right next to us, and that is something that we can get used to," said Ramon Bueno, a 20-year resident at Brickbottom. "But having a maintenance facility will jeopardize our health, our quality of life, the air pollution...We have families. We fear a loss of value...We should not take on this permanent burden."

Green Line deal: City gets Community Path, State gets maintenance facility likely in Inner Belt

Transportation Secretary James A. Aloisi, Jr. and Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced an agreement today: The State will pay for planning and designing an extension of the Community Path, and the city will accept a Green Line maintenance facility in Inner Belt as long as it preserves "livability, access, and development potential." Read more on the EOT blog.

Come give the state your feedback on its Green Line recommendations

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) is holding two public meetings to discuss the Green Line extension. This is your chance to hear what's been happening, see the state's preferred station locations, ask questions, and give your thoughts. There's a meeting Monday in Medford and Wednesday in Somerville.

There is a lot of talk about how the state is going to pay for its transportation needs all around the Commonwealth. This is a time for Somerville residents to pay close attention to what is going on and to weigh in on support of the Governor’s transportation reform legislation and gas tax increase because that along with the extension of the Green Line will have a profound impact on the quality of our transportation, economic development and air quality for years to come. In December, 2007 the Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) initiated the Draft Environmental Impact Review (EIR) process for the Green Line after Governor Patrick committed to extending the Green Line by 2014 though Somerville.

Now that EOT is getting ready to release the Draft EIR it has scheduled these meetings to present their recommendations for station locations, track alignment and the location of a proposed maintenance facility. We strongly encourage you to attend one of the meetings to ask questions about what EOT has recommended for the Green Line extensions.