Somerville aldermen renew support for Rt. 16 station
At its February 25 meeting, the Somerville Board of Aldermen reiterated its support for the Route 16 terminus station on the Green Line extension.
The board approved an order by Ward 4 Alderman Walter Pero stating, ” That the Director of Communications draft a press release regarding this Board’s letter of support for the Green Line Extension Rt. 16 terminus, emphasizing that it is located in Somerville.”
In January,Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz urged the Board and the city to make a stronger statement in support of the Route 16 terminus station, after the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization approved a scope of work for the Green Line Final Environmental Impact Report and New Starts Application that only studied the extension to College Avenue. The state says it intends to build the extension to College Avenue in phase one of project, by December 31, 2014, and then build the extension to Route 16 in a second phase between 2016 and 2020.
Gewirtz’s position was strongly supported by Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane.
The Somerville Board of Alderman’s letter on the Green Line extension Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) also spoke in favor of the Route 16 station.
In fact, 91 percent of the comment letters submitted on DEIR that offered an opinion on the Route 16 station spoke in its favor (126 in favor 13 opposed). Included in this group were letters from Congressman Michael Capuano; State Senator Patricia Jehlen; State Rep. Carl Sciortino; Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone and Office of Strategic Planning Director Monica Lamboy; Somerville Alderman At-Large Bill White; Medford City Councilor Stephanie Muccini Burke; the Arlington Transportation Advisory Committee; Livable Streets Alliance; Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership; WalkBoston; Conservation Law Foundation; Friends of the Community Path; Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance; and dozens of citizens.
