Boston Globe: Green Line Extension progress

"Green Line Extension moves toward key milestones"
"Although federal funding remains up in the air, state Transportation Secretary Richard Davey has remained committed to fully funding the entire project....If the state loses out on a federal New Starts grant, then other projects will take a back seat in order to fund the extension of the Green Line."

Green Line bridge construction underway

Phase I work is underway, including utility work and excavation support work northeast of Harvard Street Bridge in Medford.

More coverage of inadequate transportation funding plan, including potential veto

Boston Globe: "Legislative transportation plan puts Green Line grant at risk, MBTA says"
"State House News Service reported that Patrick administration officials were warning that the legislative plan would eventually force 'steep' fare and toll hikes as well as force the state to pick up a larger share of the Green Line project."

Somerville Patch: "MBTA: Federal Funding for Green Line at Risk Under Recent Proposal"
"Curtatone said transportation funding in Massachusetts is bigger than the Green Line Extension. The state needs a transportation system that 'makes us globally competitive' he said, adding, 'We need to fix the problems now; we can't kick the can down the road.'
In regard to Tuesday's $500 million plan, the mayor said he has 'strong concerns whether this number actually solves the problem.'"

WBUR: "Gov. Patrick Threatens Veto Of Transportation Plan"
"Above all, the middle class of Massachusetts need better jobs and a stronger economy and needs it sooner rather than later," Patrick said. "My proposal provides that. The leaders' does not. The leadership's proposal is a return to an old way of doing business. It's the same short-term fiscal shell game that got us unto the Big Dig and the mess that followed."

Legislative plan could endanger Green Line funding

Boston Globe: "MBTA: Legislative transit plan would cost $500 million in Green Line project funding"
"The proposal released yesterday does not appear to provide funding for the MBTA's 'state of good repair,' work, meaning the Federal Transit Administration is not likely to fund any portion of the cost of the $1.3 billion project," MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said in an email. "Because the Commonwealth is legally obligated to extend the Green Line, $1.3 billion in state funding will be necessary to move the project forward."

Meanwhile, State House News Service reported that Patrick administration officials were warning that the plan proposed by legislative leaders would eventually force "steep" fare and toll hikes as well as force the state to pick up a larger share of the Green Line project.

State wants to throw out Green Line lawsuit

Boston Globe: "State looks to have Green Line Extension lawsuit thrown out"
The state is seeking to have a lawsuit against the Green Line Extension Project thrown out, arguing that its main complaints surround a portion of the project that has not been fully approved yet, and that the West Medford couple that filed the suit did not specify how they were negatively impacted by the project.

Somerville Patch: "State Wants Green Line Extension Lawsuit Dismissed"

Green Line Phase 1 construction ramps up

Somerville News: "MBTA gets set to lay tracks"
"Contractor Barletta Heavy Division will start work this month on the first phase of the long-awaited project....An important first step in the $1.3 billion mass transit project, Phase One takes care of two bridges and a building that stand in the way of plans to lay Green Line tracks alongside the existing commuter rail lines to Fitchburg and Lowell."

Somerville News: "Somerville to see road closures for GLX bridge work"

Gov. Patrick files transportation bond bill, including Green Line Extension

The bond bill includes over $1.3 billion "for the purpose of implementing the Green Line Extension improvements; provided, that funds may be used for transportation planning, design, permitting and engineering, acquisition of interests in land, vehicle procurement, construction, construction of stations, and right-of-way acquisition."

Mass.gov: "Governor Patrick Files Transportation Bond Bill"
Included: "$4.4 billion for regional rail projects identified in the Transportation Plan including Green Line expansion, South Coast Rail and South Station expansion"

State House News Service: "Two expansion projects will add $60 million to MBTA budget"
"The fate of both projects is contingent on the state's ability to finance the construction and operations, a capacity issue that's at the center of ongoing debate over Patrick's call to raise taxes and generate $1.9 billion a year in new state revenues....The Federal Transit Administration has required the state to shore up the transit system's finances in order for the state to qualify for New Starts funding for the Green Line Extension, which could fund half of the $1.3 billion capital cost."

Abutters' meeting on Phase 1 Green Line construction

Summary from our friends at Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance...
Phase I of the project consists of three main elements: reconstruction of the rail bridges over Harvard Street in Medford and over Medford Street in Somerville to accommodate the eventual addition of two Green Line tracks alongside the existing commuter rail tracks, and the demolition of an MBTA building at 21 Water St. in Cambridge, which will become part of the site of the new Lechmere Station. Read more.

Download the slides from the meeting.

Transportation Secretary defends Green Line Extension

Boston Globe: "Davey defends transportation plan, renews commitment to Green Line extension"
On the Green Line extension, a project that broke ground last year and intends to extend the line through Somerville to a terminal stop in Medford by 2020, Davey said: "We are absolutely committed to getting that project done."