MBTA Releases Revised, $2.3 Billion Green Line Extension Proposal

Boston, MA - Hoping to rein in cost overruns and make a long-debated, Somerville-to-Medford Green Line Extension feasible, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials presented a scaled-back proposal Monday.

The project would still cost about $2.3 billion, $300 million higher than originally budgeted, but still some $700 million less than previously anticipated overruns. The MBTA and Massachusetts Department of Transportation boards meet today to approve the revised extension plan or potentially deal the project a death blow.

According to the revised plan released by the MBTA Monday, the Medford and Union Square stations will be included as originally proposed. The plans relocates the current Lechmere Station and introduces six new stations to Somerville and Medford.

The savings come by stripping down the planned stations to maintain "basic functionality" and accessibility. For the most part, that means "simple, open air platforms" with three "bus type" shelters, station lighting, and video monitoring systems. Planned escalators have been scrapped.

It also scraps plans to introduce bike lanes along the College Avenue bridge, and recommends putting a hold on a proposed additional bridge near Tufts University that was meant to accommodate bike traffic.

It also recommends axing, delaying, or realigning a planned extension of the Community Path, designed to served both bikers and pedestrians. The realignment's $20 million price tag is included in the MBTA's revised cost proposal, with savings garnered by reducing or eliminating planned retaining walls and a path over the viaduct north of Lechmere Station. It also reduces the number of access points and shortens the path, going from Lowell Street in Somerville to Washington Street in Somerville, rather than extending it from Lowell Street to Water Street, in Cambridge.

A packed-to-capacity public hearing and passionate testimony greeted MBTA and Mass DOT board members this afternoon. Speakers included the mayor of Somerville and Cambridge's city manager, who last week pledged to provide a combined $75 million in local funding to help cover the cost overruns.

Patch will report out the boards' decision later this afternoon.

>> Image courtesy MBTA