Green Line Extension Update

Posted by Kate Fichter, Green Line Extension Project Manager

This is a friendly reminder that written comments on the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Section 4(f) Evaluation for the Green Line Extension project are due on Friday, November 18, 2011.

Please send your comments to:
Massachusetts Department of Transportation - Office of Transportation Planning
Attention: Katherine Fichter
10 Park Plaza, Room 4150
Boston, MA 02116
katherine.fichter@state.ma.us

The Environmental Assessment is available online at www.mass.gov/greenlineextension. It is also available at public libraries and City Clerks' offices in Cambridge, Medford, and Somerville. It is also available by request to Regan Checchio at 617-357-5772 or rchecchio@reginavilla.com. Please note that copies of the EA take approximately two days to arrive by postal mail.

As always, if you have any questions on the Green Line Extension project, you can email Kate Fichter at katherine.fichter@state.ma.us.

Comments

[Ray]

"The CPX will really help reduce traffic in a very crowded part of the Boston area."
Please define "really" and provide some evidence of this conjecture. Thank you.

[Val Grimm]

I support construction of the CPX in concert with the GPX, as the only way to cost-effectively build the CPX is at the same time as the GPX.

[Diane Andronica]

The CPX will really help reduce traffic in a very crowded part of the Boston area.

[Jocelyn Berger]

Ms. Fichter:

I am writing to comment on the Green Line Extension (GLX) Environmental Assessment and interim offset (mitigation) ideas for the GLX delay. With respect to the Environmental Assessment (EA):

1) I strongly support the construction of the complete GLX to Route 16 and without delay.

2) While the EA excludes the Community Path Extension (CPX), I wholeheartedly support the CPX being built to North Point in conjunction with the GLX. The GLX and CPX share a common right-of-way and infrastructure, so the only way to cost-effectively construct the CPX is together with the GLX. Due to a lack of funding prioritization at this time, the CPX is not presently planned for construction with the GLX. I hope it will be funded as part of the GLX in the future.

3) GLX/CPX Design at Fitchburg Line crossing: While two Massachusetts Secretaries of Energy and Environmental Affairs have consistently instructed the proponent to design the GLX to allow for construction of the CPX, the current design of the CPX crossing of the Fitchburg Line with the Green Line track appears to preclude a reasonable design at a reasonable cost for the CPX crossing of the Fitchburg Line. To remedy this, I strongly encourage MassDOT to incorporate the design alternatives proposed by the Friends of the Community Path that allow connections from Somerville to NorthPoint in compliance with the FEIR Certificate. These proposed changes will not require revisions to the EA and do not affect the benefits/impacts of the GLX.

For interim offset measures for the GLX delay, I endorse constructing the CPX along the GLX route. The CPX to Boston can be constructed earlier than the GLX, with planned staging. The huge long term environmental, health and economic benefits of the Community Path far outweigh any timing issues with respect to implementation of the interim offsets for the GLX delay.

Thank you.
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Thank you for your comment. It has been forwarded to Kate Fichter, Green Line Extension Project Manager