Green Line Extension Opening: Festivities, When To Ride

MEDFORD, MA — It's finally here: the $2.3 billion extension of the Green Line from Cambridge to Medford — known as the GLX project — will start service bright and early Monday.

The GLX project began in 2017 as part of a larger nearly $10 billion MBTA capital plan. GLX adds five stops in a branch heading northwest from Lechmere: East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square, Ball Square and Medford/Tufts. The project also includes a spur to Union Square in Somerville, which opened in March.

The project was hard-fought: GLX was supposed to open in 2021, and then again over the summer, but was delayed by a host of issues, from the pandemic to an early row with a contractor.

Our transit advocates, our elected officials, and City, State, and MBTA staff all deserve immense gratitude for their tireless work to bring this historical public transit expansion to our area. As a frequent rider myself, I look forward to seeing my neighbors on the T soon — and at our two upcoming celebrations," Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne said in a news release.

Here are some activities planned around the GLX opening Monday:

• 4:30 a.m. - MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak will host a meet-and-greet at the new Medford/Tufts station
• 4:45 a.m. - The first train leaves Medford/Tufts station
• 7 a.m. - Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne will host a meet-and-greet at the Ball Square station. Free memorabilia will be distributed.
• 10 a.m. - Ribbon cutting ceremony at the Medford/Tufts station followed by an event at the Tufts Joyce Cummings Center.
• 2 to 4 p.m. (Dec. 17) — Community celebration at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave., with a kid’s train ride, music, indoor children’s activities, an oral history project, a food truck and hot cocoa and a speaking program, and more.