Council Looks to Mayor for Leadership on Green Line
Seeks Creation of Full-time, State-Funded Planning Position for Project
– Allison Goldsberry
The impending Green Line extension to Medford has many residents both curious and concerned, and they packed the room for what would normally be a sparsely attended City Council transportation sub-committee meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the project.
City Councilor Fred Dello Russo, Jr., sub-committee chair and a member of the Green Line Extension Project Advisory Group, said the Green Line is definitely coming to Somerville and Medford and the city needs to figure out how to make it work best for Medford.
“We’re beyond now whether we’re for or against the Green Line,” said Councilor Dello Russo.
Such things as eminent domain, a proposed maintenance facility, increased traffic, and diesel pollution have neighbors concerned, and city councilors are calling on the mayor to take the lead for Medford on the issue.
“I am going to be impacted. Nobody can tell me how I’m going to be impacted…I worked hard for my house…and now people want to take it away like it’s nothing,” said Rita Donnelly, a resident whose property directly abuts existing commuter rail tracks where the Green Line will likely expand.
Several councilors urged Mayor Michael McGlynn to take a public stance on the project and to put more muscle behind it to ensure that Medford’s concerns aren’t overshadowed by Somerville’s.
“Somerville’s getting answers because their mayor is front and center on this project. Our mayor still hasn’t told us where he stands…As the mayor of this community, it’s his job to get involved at this point,” said City Councilor Paul Camuso.
“Whether you’re for or against the Green Line, the mayor has to get engaged…[Somerville Mayor Joseph] Curtatone is acting as the quarterback on this project, and Tufts University is doing the blocking for him,” said City Councilor Robert Maiocco.
The Council unanimously supported a resolution by Council President Stephanie Muccini Burke asking the mayor to consider the creation of a full-time, state-funded planning position dedicated solely to the Green Line.
“There is an urgent need for this,” said Councilor Burke.
Tuesday’s meeting was one in a series of public meetings planned for the Green Line in the next month. A general information meeting is planned for Wednesday night at 6:30PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Two upcoming meetings about potential station locations will also take place in Medford- one on Thursday, January 31 at 6PM at Sophia Gordon Hall, 15 Talbot Avenue, at Tufts University, and another on Wednesday, February 6, at 6PM at the South Medford Fire Station at 0 Medford Street.
See GreenLineExtension.org for a calendar of public meetings and more information about the Green Line Extension.
Speculating about a maintenance facility in Medford is just an opposition scare tactic. These same voices failed miserably convincing everyone that there would be and Alewife-style terminus, so now they are on to plan B which is more of the same type of fear-mongering through misinformation.
There has been no indication in any of the official documents that a Maintenance facility would be anywhere near Medford.
Fear mongering and scare tactics? This was a concern that was echoed by many at the sub-committee meeting. There is no statement from EOT that it will NOT be in Medford. If Somerville fights having the heavy maintenance facility in Somerville (they expected a light maintenance facility) then Medford should be ready to advocate against it. Best to be ready than ambushed. What’s with the name calling? Why didn’t you speak up at this meeting?