The money, which will be raised with bonding, will finance design, planning, vehicle procurement, and early construction over the next four years. Boston Globe: "Green Line Extension gets $476m promise" Somerville Journal: "Organization secures $500M in funding for Green Line Extension"
At the MPO meeting, Tom Bent, who represents Somerville on the MPO, read the following statement:
This Long Range Transportation Plan is not in compliance with the State Implementation Plan (SIP). The current SIP clearly states that the GLX must be open and operating by Dec. 31, 2014. Somerville concedes that this is an improbability considering the complexity of this project and they are truly disappointed by this.
BBC News: "Car fumes 'raise heart attack risk for six-hour window'" Prof Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which co-funded the study, said: "This large-scale study shows conclusively that your risk of having a heart attack goes up temporarily, for around six hours, after breathing in higher levels of vehicle exhaust."
The following State Senators and Representatives submitted two joint letters objecting to the Green Line delay: Pat Jehlen, Denise Provost, Carl Sciortino, Sal DiDomenico, Tim Toomey, and Sean Garballey. View DEP letter View MPO letter
Somerville News: "Mayor to DOT: 'We will exhaust every legal option'" "Further delays are just unacceptable and we are absolutely intent to pursue every available legal option and listen to me carefully: we will exhaust every legal option beyond until this obligation is met," he said, hammering his fingers against the podium.
Topics included the Grounding McGrath study, Mass DEP public hearing(s), and upcoming MPO meeting. Meeting notes (PDF)
"Phased Green Line construction could speed extension's arrival" "Governor Deval Patrick and Transportation Secretary Richard A. Davey met Wednesday with lawmakers and local officials to discuss a plan to build in phases the extension of the Green Line to Medford and Somerville, which could kick-start construction, officials said today."
"Green Line Expansion Delays Sparks Frustration In Somerville, Medford Communities" WBUR ran a great story about community reaction to the proposed delay, including recent discussions about a potential phased approach to building the extension. Make sure to listen to the story. "The people of Somerville are not going to let go of this, we are committed to this." Ellin Reisner, president…
Somerville Journal: "STEP: Less talk, more commitment to complete Green Line Extension" "It is no surprise that the City of Somerville and Green Line Extension supporters from Somerville, Cambridge, Medford, and Arlington are furious about the latest delays announced by MassDOT."
The Somerville Board of Aldermen declares its clear objection against delaying the Green Line Extension beyond 2014. View the resolution (PDF)