Author: smulder

"Somerville Pol on new Green Line plan: 'It's stupid'" A sore spot was the extension of the bike path, which was slated to run alongside much of the proposed Green Line route. Initially conceived as a coordinated effort with MassDOT, a $16 million shortfall in funding has put the bike path on hold. Lynn Wiesman, of Somerville, spoke to Fitcher of…

Below you can watch the final presentations from the CCP (Community Corridor Planning) design workshops on June 2. Click To Play  

This is your chance to give the State your feedback on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), covering issues such as station locations, the maintenance facility, the Community Path, noise and vibration, and the community involvement process as the Green Line moves into full design and build. Or just show up and give moral support! Meeting details.
Here is a summary of STEP’s perspective on the FEIR.
KEY POINTS ON ACCESSIBILITY TO STATIONS

• Design all stations to provide maximum multi-modal functionality (ped, bike, bus, and kiss’n ride).
• Require that station siting and design make pedestrian, bicycle and bus access easy, safe, and convenient.
• Design and reconstruct the bridges requiring incorporate the best access to the proposed stations and to facilitate construction of the Community Path.
• Support the East Cambridge Planning Team’s (ECPT) community and development friendly plans for redesigning Lechmere Square.
• Support the ECPT’s efforts to improve pedestrian crossing at McGrath Highway.
• Design Union Square Station to make possible a future extension to Porter Square.
• Require that the design and siting of the Union Square Station allows for convenient bus connections to the Green Line as well as easy access for Union Square residents and business patrons, and for riders using the station from Inman Square neighborhoods.
• Although not covered in the FEIR, a Route 16 station would be the best terminus for Green Line because it would serve Somerville, Medford, and East Arlington residents. It would promote economic development, would reduce vehicular traffic, and would provide convenient multi-modal accessibility.

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This group will assist MassDOT and the MBTA with issues related to Green Line Extension station design, general construction, and other community concerns. They will review design plans, gather and share local input, and help plan public station design events, which will begin this fall. The list of Design Group members is after the jump.

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Boston Globe: "Extending Community Path in works" Getting the federal money "Would be huge," said Michael Lambert, the city's director of transportation and infrastructure. "Right now the state is committed to bringing the path to full engineering but they don't have the money to build it." The path is already being lengthened from Cedar to Lowell streets as part of the…

"Latest plan has Green Line ending at College Avenue" A Final Environmental Impact Report submitted by the state Department of Transportation last week validates concerns submitted by residents that a proposed extension of the Green Line to the Mystic Valley Parkway/Route 16 in Medford will be delayed indefinitely because of lack of funds.

MassDOT created what it calls a “conceptual map” of the Community Path, which is being designed along with the Green Line extension. Click to see a larger version or download the PDF.

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Boston Globe: "Nothing straight about Green Line" Somerville Journal: "Green Line extension planning chugs on through Somerville and Medford"