Green Line Extension Info

THE PROJECT

• The MBTA is evaluating alternatives for extending transit service to Somerville.  Please find additional information about this process on the EOT's website at http://www.greenlineextension.org

THE NEED

• Somerville grew prior to the automobile age as a streetcar suburb with narrow streets, little off-street parking, and better transit service than today
• This historic development has created the most densely populated community in New England
• Our roadway system is at capacity and bears large regional traffic volumes
• Existing traffic produces high levels of mobile source air pollution
• Most residents are required to take slow moving, unreliable buses operating on congested streets requiring a transfer to transit stations
• The City suffers from the unbalanced tax base and needs economic development to provide better city services, support capital investment, and operate a sustainable budget

THE BURDEN

• Somerville bears more burden than benefits from existing transportation infrastructure and service
• A large portion of Somerville includes environmental justice population areas designated by the State based on factors related to household income and minority populations
• Eight passenger rail lines pass through Somerville and only one stops
• The city is home to the 46-acre (tax-free) MBTA Commuter Rail Facility that has major environmental impacts on the East Somerville and Ward 2 neighborhoods
• The City bears the regional roadway infrastructure of I-93, Route 28, and many major arterials that carrying large volumes of the regional traffic
• The City currently pays an annual assessment of $4.5 million to the MBTA

THE COMMITMENT

• The extension of the Green Line to Ball Square/Tufts University is a legal commitment in the State Implementation Plan (SIP) to meet federal air quality regulations
• The extension of the Green Line to Ball Square/Tufts University is a transit mitigation project in the Administrative Consent Order (ACO) from the Big Dig
• Both commitments require the project to be constructed and operating by December 31, 2011

THE BENEFITS

Better transit means frequent, fast, direct, and reliable transit service 

Better Transit will:

• Improve community health, environment, and quality of life
• Create better access to employment, cultural and education opportunities
• Increase off-road transportation system capacity and improved connections to Boston and the region will assist our commercial districts to reach their full potential, create economic development, and facilitate future growth
• Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled and promote alternative travel modes
• Provide opportunities to fulfill regional development demand from Cambridge and Boston
• Only with transit improvements can the City facilitate the concentrated development that promotes smart and sustainable growth for the region
• Reconnect Somerville’s urban fabric to the inner core, COMPLETING THE HUB