STEP's letter to Gov. Patrick on Green Line land use planning and the maintenance facility

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.

Read more...

City presents plan for Inner Belt that includes stadium

The city's plan is based on a study by the Kraft Group, which owns the Revolution soccer team and wants a new stadium. The city hopes the Green Line extension will also help revitalize the area, and would like to build on top of the proposed Green Line maintenance facility in Inner Belt.

Somerville News: "City presents stadium plans for Inner Belt"

Download the study (PDF)

State elected officials support Route 16 terminus

The following is a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick...

As elected representatives of Somerville and Medford we are writing to
express our concerns that the Green Line extension may not be extended far
enough to serve all of our communities as effectively as possible. We
strongly believe that the Green Line should terminate at Route 16. The Green
Line extension is one of the most important public transportation
investments that we as a state have made or are likely to make in the near
future. It is crucial that we get this investment as right as possible.


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Conservation Law Foundation supports Route 16 terminus

The following is a letter from Carrie Russell and Noah Chesnin of CLF...

We will pass up a major opportunity for cleaner air and regular transit service in neighborhoods in Medford, Somerville and Arlington if state officials don’t extend the Green Line to Route 16 in Medford Hillside. When the state makes a final decision on a Green Line terminus station, it should uphold the promise made to residents of these cities to reduce air pollution and extend public transportation by building the terminus station at Route 16 instead of stopping short at College Avenue.

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Notes from Green Line Advisory Group meeting

Keep reading for meeting notes from yesterday's meeting, kindly provided by Ken Krause. Topics of this meeting included traffic analysis, air quality, noise and vibration, environmental justice, disability access, and construction staging.

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Analysis of Green Line tunnel options

Some have wondered if tunnels might be a better option for part of the Green Line extension, and now the State has released its analysis of some tunneling options. Not surprisingly, it concludes that the additional cost isn't worth it. Read the study (PDF).

"Getting the Most From the Green Line" workshop

Yesterday, the city of Somerville conducted a workshop session at Build Boston, the Boston Society of Architects' annual convention and trade show. The workshop detailed the city's extensive efforts to try to maximize the benefits to be derived from the extension of MBTA Green Line service to Somerville. Somerville has been actively studying the possible implications of the Green Line from every conceivable angle, from economic development to preventing displacement to maintaining affordable housing.

Panelists included:
- Monica Lamboy, Executive Director, Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, City of Somerville
- Meredith Levy, Community Organizing Director, Somerville Community Corporation
- Sam Zimbabwe, Technical Assistance Director, Reconnecting America, Washington, D.C.

Download the workshop presentation (PDF).

All are invited to public meeting on Green Line terminus at Route 16

Come hear the latest updates and join the discussion at this joint STEP/MGNA community meeting. It's Monday night at 7pm at Tufts. Read more about it.

Green Line Advisory Group meeting to be shown on SCAT

If you couldn't attend the Nov 12 meeting, you can watch it on SCAT this Sunday, Nov 23, at 8:00 pm.

Highlights from the meeting:
- The State has spent recent months studying options for the Green Line support facility, and still recommends the Yard 8 location.
- The State provided ridership projections.
- Two Union Square alignments remain in the running: one following the Fitchburg line and the other looping up Somerville Ave, then following Prospect St to the Fitchburg line.