Author: smulder

"T stops could wake up sleepy squares"

Our friends at Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance (MGNA) wrote this excellent overview of what's happening in the coming months.... 1) The Executive Office of Transportation will hold two public meetings in mid- to late March. One will be in Medford and the other in Somerville. No new information will be presented here; instead, EOT will use the time to bring…

At yesterday's Green Line Advisory meeting, the State announced that it supports the Union Square Green Line branch following the Fitchburg commuter line, with a station near the Prospect St bridge. Project Manager Steve Woelfel claimed the operational challenges of the loop configuration are too significant. This recommendation will certainly create challenges for ensuring easy pedestrian access to the station. The…

Transportation Secretary James Aloisi, Jr. today recommended the Green Line be extended to Mystic Valley Parkway/Route 16. This is terrific news for Somerville, Medford, and Arlington because it means better public transit service for thousands of people. The Route 16 recommendation does depend on federal funding, however. Construction is still promised by the end of 2014. Read the state's press release.…

"EOT's Green Line report nearing completion"

Somerville News: "Brickbottom residents, Mayor concerned about Green Line"

The Executive Office of Transportation has released its responses to public comments on its July 1, 2008 Annual Status Report on the Green Line extension filed with the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection. Prefacing the responses was a section describing “Project Critical Path Issues” that EOT says have arisen since the submission of the Status Report. The report states, “While we…

"Many awaiting movement on Green Line extension" Commuters, residents, and environmentalists are all awaiting key decisions, including how far into Medford the Green Line trolleys eventually will go. The project is such a high priority that Governor Deval Patrick has pledged state money to finish it by the end of 2014, even if the Commonwealth loses its bid to get federal…

Dear Governor Patrick,
This letter follows up on correspondence from Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone to Bernard Cohen, Secretary of Transportation dated December 9, 2008 that was copied to you, our legislative delegation and Congressman Capuano. The Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP) is communicating our support and concerns directly to you because of your strong commitment to this project and your leadership in supporting economic development and smart growth in the state.
We support Mayor Curtatone’s goal of ensuring that EOT’s proposed siting of the Green Line Maintenance Facility does not interfere with Somerville’s economic development goals for Inner Belt/Brickbottom or add to the environmental justice burden our city already endures. Inner Belt/Brickbottom is ideally situated for the expansion of green, health and other technological development that your administration has identified as critically important for the economic future of our state.
Before a sound decision can possibly be made that addresses these critical issues, we urgently need the state’s assistance in carrying out a master planning process for Inner Belt/Brickbottom that will enable successful mixed use transit oriented economic development while minimizing the impact of the Green Line maintenance facility on the community.

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