Hundreds Sign Petition to Extend Green Line to Route 16

Support for Route 16 Terminus Grows Online, in Neighborhoods

The above map, created by Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance member Doug Carr, shows the walking radius around a proposed Green Line station at Route 16 on the Medford/Somerville line. Courtesy photo.

– Allison Goldsberry

In a little over one week nearly 1,000 local residents have signed a petition started by the Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance to extend the Green Line all the way to Route 16 on the Medford/Somerville line.

MGNA members, who have been soliciting support both online and door to door, say they are surprised by the level of support to locate the Green Line terminus at Route 16.

MGNA member Ken Krause said a similar petition started in 2006 took five weeks to garner 264 signatures, while this petition registered as many signatures in just one day.

“I think that speaks to the increased recognition of the value of better public transportation service, particularly in these times of growing concern over global climate change, gridlock on our roads, and $4 a gallon gas prices,” said Krause.

MGNA member Jared Ingersoll said volunteers are busy gathering signatures both online and in paper, and in the next few weeks volunteers will be canvassing neighborhoods near the proposed station for support.

“Given the impersonal nature of the Internet, it’s always been a difficult task to gauge support for this project online, but now that we are basically engaging the citizens on the street, the process has been quite a revelation. We are early into the community outreach of the petition drive…but we have been shocked by the community support for this project and this extension,” said MGNA member Jared Ingersoll.

In a few weeks organizers will deliver the petition to the Green Line extension planners, the Executive Office of Transportation, the state delegation, and officials in Medford, Somerville, and Arlington.

“While there are many reasons for the petition, the biggest is perhaps to illustrate that it is the opinion of the MGNA and the surrounding community that a Route 16 terminus is not only widely desired but a necessity for a successful project,” said Ingersoll.

“Weighing all the pros and cons of each area under consideration, in my view the Route 16 location — within walking distance of thousands of people yet minimally impacting the nearest residences — is by far the best area for a terminus station. Carefully and thoughtfully designed, it will not only fulfill the objectives of the project today, but greatly exceed them for years to come,” said Krause.

Project planners are currently looking at several potential stops for the Green Line in Medford, including Ball Square, College Avenue, and Route 16.

In the most recent public meeting for the Green Line, state officials said no homes would need to be taken between College Avenue and Winthrop Street, yet significant property acquisition, mostly commercial, would be necessary if the Green Line is extended all the way to Route 16.

Project officials said more public meetings will be held over the next several months so residents can hear more about the project and provide feedback.

Though three potential station locations have been proposed for Medford, they are not definite and project managers are still examining ridership, cost, and environmental impact, among other factors, before making a decision.

The state said it plans to have the results of its analysis in September.