Green Line Extension Delayed Again; Won't Open This Year

SOMERVILLE, MA — The partial opening of the Green Line Extension has been delayed once again.

The smaller of the two branches, which adds a single stop to Union Square, is now expected to open in March, MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said Thursday. It is the second time the branch's opening has been delayed – it was originally slated to open this month before being pushed to December amid supply chain issues over the summer.

"Senior MBTA and GLX leadership are working closely with GLXC to bring this project to fruition on this updated timetable," Poftak said in a statement. "We're strongly committed to GLX and very close to safely bringing extended Green Line service into Somerville and Medford."

Officials did not announce changes to the longer branch, which includes six stops in Somerville and Medford, although they are evaluating whether the timeline needs to be adjusted. That branch is expected to open in May, five months behind the original schedule, the MBTA said in June.

Poftak said the project has failed to meet key benchmarks, including completion of the first traction power substation, which powers the Green Line trains, as well as other construction and testing activities. Functional testing is underway as remaining work is finished within the substation, he added.

"We are disappointed that the schedule has had to be adjusted, but GLXC is dedicated to working with our MBTA partners to complete this project by March," said Thomas Nilsson, president of Fluor's Infrastructure business line and a Green Line Extension Constructors board member. "We are committed to providing MBTA Green Line passengers with a quality, safe, and affordable mode of transportation for decades to come."