Green Line Route 16 Station Funding Preserved

On Thursday the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) voted to support a plan that continues to fund the Route 16 portion of the Green Line extension in the 2016-2020 time-frame, according to State Representative Carl Sciortino (D-Medford, Somerville).

“For all of us who care about ensuring the Green Line Extension Project is completed in full to Route 16, these past three weeks offer us a valuable reminder…the reality is that with extremely limited finances available to the MPO we really are fortunate to have their continued backing. And with so many competing priorities, I am particularly grateful to have the continued support of the Patrick administration,” said Rep. Sciortino in an email update to supporters.

According to the Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance (MGNA), the MPO’s Transportation Planning and Programming Committee had been considering a variety of projects and programs to include in the next Long Range Transportation Plan for the Boston region through 2035. Extending the Green Line to Route 16 almost didn’t make the cut for the new long range plan. The MPO received more than 100 public comment letters in favor of keeping the Route 16 station in the plan while eleven letters were against the idea.

Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn sent a letter to the MPO in favor of maintaining the Route 16 station in the long range plan.

“It has been the vision of this administration to support the preservation of residential neighborhoods in the Hillside while identifying opportunities for the expansion of our commercial tax base and the creation of jobs…It is premature to eliminate the funding opportunities of the extension of the Green Line to Mystic Valley Parkway by allocating funds to other projects in the Long Range Transportation Plan. Do not preclude opportunities for improved mobility, growth and the expansion of the city’s tax base at this stage,” said Mayor McGlynn in his letter.

– InsideMedford.com