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Somerville public hearing to be held on Green Line environmental impact report
Posted Oct 19, 2009 @ 10:46 PM
Somerville —
The following is a press release from the Executive Office of Transportation.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, the Executive Office of Transportation (EOT)
submitted a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment
(DEIR/EA) for the Green Line Extension project to the Secretary of
Energy and Environmental Affairs, triggering a 45-day public review
period beginning Oct. 26.
The report provides an overview of projected environmental impacts
and benefits, the recommended route and station locations, and vehicle
maintenance and storage options for the Green Line Extension project.
Once completed, the Green Line Extension project will fulfill a
longstanding commitment by the commonwealth to increase public transit
through long underserved neighborhoods in Cambridge, Somerville and
Medford, furthering the efforts of the Patrick-Murray administration to
improve local and regional mobility and encourage sustainable economic
growth.
“The Green Line Extension will offer major transportation and air
quality benefits to Cambridge, Somerville and Medford, and will trigger
smart growth opportunities in neighborhoods along the route,” said
Transportation Secretary James A. Aloisi Jr. “This submittal represents
a crucial milestone in the project, advancing not only the
environmental review process and design, but also our efforts to secure
federal funding for the project. We take seriously our commitment and
look forward to continuing to work closely with neighboring communities
to finalize the design and begin construction.”
The neighborhoods to be served by the Green Line Extension are among
the densest in the Boston area and are currently surrounded, but not
served, by rail transit. By 2030, the completed Green Line Extension
project is expected to generate ridership at the proposed Green Line
Extension stations of 52,000 daily boardings and alightings;
systemwide, the Green Line will see an increase of 30,700 boardings
daily.
The commonwealth is recommending that Green Line service be extended
to Mystic Valley Parkway/Route 16 and Union Square using existing MBTA
commuter rail rights-of-way. However, because of current funding
constraints, EOT is recommending that the project be constructed in two
phases, with the first phase being constructed to comply with a legally
required Dec. 31, 2014, timeline. The first phase of the project will
construct the main line extension to Medford Hillside/College Avenue,
with a branch to Union Square at a year-of-expenditure cost of
approximately $932 million. The second phase of the project will then
extend the main line to Mystic Valley Parkway/Route 16 at a later date,
when funding becomes available.
The DEIR/EA is the product of a three-year planning and
environmental review process. This planning process entailed thorough
technical analysis and comprehensive public involvement, with
participation by corridor municipalities, a project advisory group,
neighborhood organizations, business and advocacy interests, and
members of the general public and other stakeholders.
Complete reference copies of the DEIR/EA will be available at public
libraries and at the offices of the city clerks of Cambridge,
Somerville and Medford. The DEIR/EA can also be viewed on the project
Web site at www.mass.gov/greenlineextension. An executive summary of
the document is also available on the Web site, along with a project
fact sheet.
A public hearing will be held Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. in the Somerville High School auditorium at 81 Highland Ave.
Written comments must be submitted in writing to be formally
considered by the Secretary of Environmental Affairs within the 45-day
review period. Letters should be sent to: Secretary Ian Bowles;
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs; MEPA Office,
Attention Holly Johnson, MEPA Analyst; EEA Number 13886; 100 Cambridge
St., Suite 900; Boston, MA 02114; fax, 617-626-1181; email,
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Copies of these comments can also be sent to Kate Fichter, MassDOT
Office of Transportation Planning, 10 Park Plaza, Room 4150, Boston, MA
02116. A 45-day comment period has been established. Comments must be
received by Dec. 9.
For transportation news and updates, visit the EOT blog at
www.mass.gov/blog/transportation or follow EOT on twitter at
www.twitter.com/massdot. |
