State: Green Line Extension on Schedule

A Green Line Train at Cleveland Circle. Photo by Alexander Svirsky.

Project on Time Despite Delayed Environmental Impact Report

Story Updated 8:59AM Saturday, July 11, 2009

– Ken Krause, Green Line Project Advisory Group Member

The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) reported last week that the Green Line Extension project remains on schedule for completion by the end of 2014, even though the agency is more than seven months late in filing the required environmental impact report.

In its Annual Status Report on the Green Line Extension project, filed with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on July 1, EOT said issues with siting the maintenance facility for the project as the primary reason it has not filed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the project, which was due on December 1, 2008.

EOT has recommended a parcel known as Yard 8, in the Brickbottom area of Somerville, for the maintenance facility, but the site has drawn strong opposition from the city, chamber of commerce, residents of the Brickbottom artists building and other citizens.

“Public and municipal opposition to this location is significant, ” the report stated, “and EOT has encountered months of delays in advancing the Green Line Extension project as a whole due to issues associated with the support facility. EOT continues to work with the City of Somerville and representatives of the surrounding neighborhoods to address public concerns about the proposed location of the facility, but public support remains elusive and EOT is uncertain that a mutually acceptable agreement can be reached.”

Virtually all of the other elements of the DEIR have been completed, including the identification of proposed station locations and conceptual engineering. Cost estimates also have been completed but are being reviewed by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and an independent consultant retained by FTA.

In the status report, EOT said it anticipated filing the DEIR in August, and submitting an application for federal “New Starts” funding for the project in the fall.

Three potential Green Line stations are proposed for Medford. One station is planned for the intersection of College and Boston Avenues, another planned for Ball Square on the Medford side of Broadway, and a possible Route 16 station. The Route 16 stop is contingent upon the receipt of federal funds for the project.

The public will be invited to comment on the Annual Status Report, although details have yet to be announced. In previous years, a public hearing has been held in early September, about a week before the deadline for written comments.

Click here to read the Annual Status Report on the Green Line and other transit commitment projects.