Green Line Extension Gets Nod from President Obama

This press release was sent out by MassDOT.

BOSTON –

Wednesday, March 5, 2014 – President Obama in his budget released yesterday

recommended federal funding to support the Green Line Extension (GLX), marking

a significant milestone for a project that will bring thousands of new jobs to

the region and create new economic opportunity.

The

President’s proposal includes $100 million in Federal Fiscal Year 2015 and

paves the way for agreement with the federal government for greater support

over the next several years.

“I thank

President Obama and his Administration for recognizing the critical importance

of completing the Green Line Extension,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “This

historic commitment of federal New Starts Program funds, when matched with

state contributions, will fulfill a promise made during construction of the

Central Artery Project and complete the long-awaited extension of rail service

to Somerville and Medford.

With the

first phase of construction already underway, we are already clearly seeing the

economic opportunity and jobs created through this project. This wise federal

and state investment will unlock the potential economic growth along the new

Green Line corridor and leave a legacy of greater mobility for residents and

smart environmental benefits in one of the Commonwealth’s most

densely-populated areas.”

Earlier this

year, the Patrick Administration requested that the federal government fund 50

percent of the $1.428 billion project.

The Green

Line Extension project is an initiative of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation

(MassDOT) and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation

Authority (MBTA).This important project will extend existing MBTA Green

Line service from a relocated Lechmere Station in East Cambridge to Union

Square in Somerville and College Avenue in Medford.

“We have been

working closely with the Obama Administration on the Green Line Extension and

this is an important step forward in securing the federal funding necessary for

construction,” stated Congressman Mike Capuano, a member of the House

Transportation Committee. “The environmental and economic benefits of extending

the Green Line are tremendous and residents are overwhelmingly supportive of

it. Today’s news brings us closer to the day when commuters can enjoy expanded

transit service.”

The GLX

project will greatly improve public transit service in some of the most

densely-populated municipalities of the Commonwealth. Among its many benefits,

the Green Line Extension project will provide new and better opportunities for

residents and visitors to travel within their communities and within the

region, address longstanding transportation inequities. It will also result in

fewer automobiles on local roads and help combat greenhouse gas emissions and

other components of air pollution.

“The Green

Line Extension offers Somerville and the region both economic justice and

environmental justice, connecting residents with jobs that pay a livable wage

and health care while reducing the number of cars on the road and pollution in

the air we all breathe, as well shifting us to a more sustainable mode of

transit,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “Somerville owes thanks to President

Obama and Congressman Michael Capuano for committing in this budget to economic

and environmental justice for our residents and to smart, long-term

infrastructure investments that will build the 21^st century transportation system we need

to have a 21^st century economy. This commitment

needs local, state and federal government working together toward a common

goal, and we are fortunate to have our partners in Washington fighting to make

the Green Line Extension a reality, along with Gov. Patrick, Sec. Davey, the

MassDOT Board of Directors and all our state partners. Our 20-year

comprehensive SomerVision plan sets goals of creating 30,000 new jobs and 6,000

new homes in Somerville, all while creating walkable, bikeable,

transit-oriented neighborhoods that reduce our reliance our cars and boost our

economy, both in our city and across the region. The Green Line Extension is

crucial to reaching those goals and investing in it today means billions of

dollars pumping through the Massachusetts economy in the years to come.”

MassDOT has

already begun work on the project with early action bridge and roadway upgrades

currently underway in Somerville and Medford.   Major utility

relocation and site preparation work is scheduled to begin later this year with

full construction commencing in the spring of 2015.

In 2009, the

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) was created to unify the

state’s various transportation agencies. MassDOT now includes the Highway

Division, the MBTA and Rail Transit Division, the Aeronautics Division, and the

Registry of Motor Vehicles.  MassDOT is committed to providing a safe and

reliable transportation system to all those who travel in the Commonwealth and

works to deliver excellent customer service. MassDOT has been nationally

recognized for its innovative approach to transportation, including the

Accelerated Bridge Program, the “Where’s My Bus and Train?” apps and “Fast 14”

work.  For more information, visit MassDOT at our website: www.mass.gov/massdot  blog: http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/,

or follow MassDOT on twitter at https://twitter.com/MassDOT  

and Facebook at www.facebook.com/massdotinfo.