Green Line Expansion to Medford, Somerville Delayed
The completion of the Green Line extension to Medford and Somerville has been delayed until 2016 because the state is trying to get the federal government to pay for the project.
Members of the Medford and Somerville state delegations were frustrated to learn about the delay during a meeting with Governor Deval Patrick and Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen last week to discuss federal funding for the project.
The state wants the federal government to pay for half of the $800 million extension. Receiving the federal funds would subject the project to more extensive and time-consuming environmental reviews.
State Senator Pat Jehlen said they were concerned the state is giving a similar project for southeastern Massachusetts more priority because a lack of federal funding for that project means it will progress faster, though it will cost more.
“We said there is a possibility of a lawsuit should [the state’s] commitment be delayed, but we also discussed the state’s moral obligation to our community, which has been underserved and overburdened. [It’s] unfair for our transit to be delayed because it is more worthy and therefore eligible for federal match,” Senator Jehlen wrote in a Green Line update.
The Conservation Law Foundation, an environmental non-profit that recently won a lawsuit against the state for falling significantly behind in its transportation projects to mitigate increased traffic and pollution from the Big Dig, released a strong statement of criticism at this most recent setback.
“Not only does the Commonwealth have a legal obligation to stop backpedaling on the Green Line Extension, it has a moral duty to reduce air pollution, spur economic development and expand transit equity for these long-underserved communituies,” said CLF President Phil Warburg.
Sen. Jehlen said Transportation Secretary Cohen will get back to them by the end of the month with ideas on expediting the environmental review process. In the mean time, the delegation plans to meet with Mayor Michael McGlynn, Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone, the Medford Greenline Neighborhood Alliance (MGNA), and others shortly to discuss the situation.
In other Green Line news, MGNA member Ken Krause said the state Executive Office of Transportation recently completed its status reports on various projects, including the Green Line extension, and is accepting public comments until September 7. Comments can be submitted in person at two public hearings held in Boston on September 6 or in writing to Katherine Fichter, Executive Office of Transportation, Office of Transportation Planning, Room 4150, Ten Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116.