Route 16 Stop Depends on Federal Funds
A Green Line Train at Cleveland Circle. Photo by Alexander Svirsky.
Green Line to End at Route 16 or Hillside
Story Updated 7:13PM, Tuesday, February 3, 2009
– Allison Goldsberry
State transportation officials announced their preference on Tuesday to extend the Green Line to Route 16 in Medford, but the stop is contingent upon the receipt of federal funds.
Speaking at Tuesday’s Green Line Extension Project Advisory Group meeting, project manager Steve Woelfel said the state is legally obligated to extend the Green Line to Union Square in Somerville and the Hillside neighborhood in Medford, not Route 16. Route 16 is being considered as the end of the line due to extensive public support.
“Extending the Green Line terminus to Mystic Valley Parkway will bring rapid transit service to East Cambridge, Somerville and Medford neighborhoods that have waited a long time for rail transit. The Green Line Extension will advance community plans for smart growth and urban redevelopment and provide environmental justice communities with faster rides to jobs and destinations. EOT is very pleased to advance this project and we will continue to work with local officials to make it very successful,” said state Transportation Secretary James Aloisi in Tuesday’s statement.
Woelfel said the state had a “very competitive” application to receive federal funding under the New Start program. He said if the state does not receive the money, Medford’s station locations will have to be re-evaluated.
State Representative Carl Sciortino (D-Medford, Somerville), who was present at the meeting along with State Representative Sean Garballey (D-Arlington, Medford) and State Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville, Medford), expressed his support for extending the Green Line to Route 16.
“I applaud all of the local residents who have been pushing for the Green Line and for the Route 16 terminus. Our ability to work with the administration to commit to the full Green Line extension was successful because the voices of so many citizens were heard,” said Rep. Sciortino.
Three potential stations have been proposed for Medford- just over the Medford/Somerville line near Broadway by Ball Square, somewhere between College Avenue and Winthrop Street adjacent to Boston Avenue, and at Route 16 by the UHaul and Cummings Park properties.
The stations locations are not definite and project managers are still examining ridership, cost, and environmental impact, among other factors, before making a decision.
Several residents at Tuesday’s meeting raised concerns about taking land for the project and potential noise and pollution.
An MBTA real estate official provided an overview of the general process of taking land for projects like this one. He said the MBTA does have eminent domain powers and no land is taken without a vote of authorization by the board of directors. If land is taken by eminent domain, the MBTA is obligated to give the property owner what had initially been offered for the property.
The MBTA official did not speak specifically about what land would potentially need to be taken in Medford. Officials have yet to release land acquisition details, but preliminary station drawings indicate sections of properties will be needed if the Green Line ends at the Hillside, and even more property will be needed if it is extended to Route 16.
Woelfel said several public meetings will be taking place over the next couple of months in which more details about station locations, potential eminent domain, and the environmental impact of the project will be discussed.
At the last project advisory group meeting in November, officials said they expected 30,000 people to use the Green Line in Medford and Somerville everyday.
The project website is www.greenlineextension.org.