MGNA: Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance

A Medford resident has taken to the blogosphere to campaign for a Route 16 station on the Green Line extension.

A new blog, GreenLineRoute16.blogspot.com, outlines the case for the Route 16 terminus station to be built as part of one construction project, not in a second phase as currently proposed, and implores Medford’s elected officials to join the overwhelming majority of citizens and other elected officials who support the Route 16 station.

“It’s past time for Medford’s mayor and city council to get on board,” states the blog, whose creator is not identified.

(For the record, one Medford City Council member, Stephanie Muccini Burke, did write in favor of the Route 16 terminus in her comment letter on the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Report. However, the rest of the City Council, as well as Mayor Michael J. McGlynn, have not demonstrated any such public support.)

The Route 16 blog includes a link to send an email to Medford officials voicing support for the Route 16 station, and also offers pro-Route 16 buttons, magnets and bumper stickers for sale.

The blog is not affiliated with the Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance, although the MGNA strongly supports the Route 16 station and one-phase construction. A disclaimer on the blog reads:

“This site is not affiliated with any government agency, transit agency, or neighborhood group such as MGNA or SMRTO [South Medford Residents Together]. Opinions expressed are those of the authors, who are hoping to inform the public and persuade MassDOT and the MBTA to extend the Green Line to Route 16. We believe that public transit projects need public participation and public support.”

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has been performing field work in support of the extension of the MBTA Green Line to Somerville and Medford. Staff members have been undertaking field surveys, noise and vibration testing, and soil borings. The data collected will be used to advance the design of the Green Line Extension Project.

We’re including a more detailed schedule of activities (below). Please do not be concerned if you see people performing the work described here; they are authorized to be in and around the MBTA right-of-way.

Should you have any questions or concerns about these activities, please contact Kate Fichter, Project Manager for the Green Line Extension, at 617-973-7342 and katherine.fichter@state.ma.us. Please share this information with your neighbors.

Boring Program:

Soil borings will be taken to obtain subsurface soil and groundwater information for future Green Line facilities such as bridges, walls, stations, and stormwater management systems. In most instances, borings along the MBTA right-of-way will be required for retaining walls, bridge abutments, or bridge piers. Additional samples will be retrieved from approximately half of the boring locations and tested separately to identify the presence of oil and/or hazardous materials. All borings will be backfilled with clean sand, gravel, or pavement.

Week ending 2/26/10 - Broadway and Medford Street, Somerville
Week ending 3/5/10 - Walnut Street, Somerville
These borings will be taken on the streets near the existing bridges over the MBTA Lowell Commuter Line. Drilling typically occurs between 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM on weekdays.

Field Survey:

The survey program will involve performing a topographic survey, in which staff members will locate surface features such as terrain, pavement limits, sidewalks, pipes, hydrants, fences, walls, trees, and other items. Surveyors will stake out proposed boring locations for use by the boring contractor. Survey crews generally include 2 to 3 persons.

Weeks ending 2/26/10 and 3/05/10:

Medford/Somerville intersection in Somerville
Washington/McGrath intersection in Somerville
Broadway Bridge in Somerville/Medford
Harvard Street Bridge in Medford
College Avenue Bridge in Medford
Cedar Street Bridge in Somerville

We will be sending these messages on a periodic basis, to keep you informed about the progress of the field work.

Thank you for your interest and cooperation.

The Green Line Extension Project Team

The state’s largest foundation will give $50 million to Boston-area nonprofits and efforts that fight climate change - one of the biggest gifts in recent years to that cause - in a campaign that marks a strategic shift for an organization that has never before publicized its charitable works.

Over the next five years, the $1 billion Barr Foundation, the principal charitable vehicle for the famously private Amos Hostetter Jr. and his wife, Barbara, will give multiyear grants of $100,000 to $1 million to public transportation projects and local groups that help reduce greenhouse emissions.

Read more in the Sunday Boston Globe.