Blue Line Extension: Next Step Announced

 

Transportation Secretary James Aloisi, Jr. today announced that the Patrick Administration will fully fund completion of the next step in the planning process to extend the MBTA Blue Line to Lynn. 

Standing next to Congressman John Tierney, local elected officials and Chamber of Commerce officials, Secretary Aloisi said the Executive Office of Transportation has committed the $300,000 necessary to complete the Draft Environmental Impact Statement required for the proposal to move forward.

“Extending the Blue Line will transform Lynn, opening access to jobs for Lynn residents and access to affordable housing and commercial development for everyone," said Governor Deval Patrick.  "That's why investing in public transit projects like this one is one of our foremost priorities."

“Careful analysis has shown the tremendous value to commuters and local businesses of extending Blue Line service beyond Wonderland Station to Lynn," said Secretary Aloisi, "and we are committed to moving forward on this critical project.”    

Completion of the Environmental Impact Statement will include answering comments from federal and state environmental agencies and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).  Following FTA approval, the Executive Office of Transportation and MBTA will schedule a public hearing on the Environmental Impact Statement in Lynn.   

Comprehensive analysis of public transportation improvement options by the MBTA earlier in this decade found communities south of Salem -- including Lynn -- would be best served by high-density transit service such as the Blue Line.  The 2004 Transportation Bond Bill approved by the legislature included language to provide funding for a 50% match of federal funding for the Blue Line extension. 

Comments

[Mommy Jane]

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[Klark Jessen, Executive Office of Transportation]

Dear Salem Citizen: Thank you for your comment. Transportation Secretary Aloisi in late July did say the Patrick Administration is funding the next required planning step to extend the MBTA Blue Line to Lynn. Governor Patrick said the Blue Line extension to Lynn would create new access to jobs, housing, and commercial development in Lynn.

As the federal environmental review moves forward, MBTA will schedule a public hearing in Lynn, and we will pass that along as soon as it is available.

[Salem Citizen]

The commuter rail north, Newburyport/Rockport line, is a joke. Lynn is 9 miles north of Boston. Braintree is 10 miles south of Boston. Why is Braintree on the red line, but Lynn not on the blue line? It doesn't seem right to me.

[Kevin]

Is this a joke? Lynn has a commuter rail; they can get to Boston without driving if they want. Instead of building high-speed rail outside Boston, the city/state should either build more high-speed rail IN Boston (a circle "yellow" line as proposed by MassPIRG) or keep the T operating past 12:30am; at least one line (ie Red).

This is foolish and stupid.