MBTA Proposes Interim Plans in Lieu of Green Line Extension

Facing a court order to mitigate vehicle emissions by 2014, the MBTA is offering interim solutions as it works toward its long-term goal of extending the Green Line through Somerville into Medford.

The transit department released a lengthy list of possible interim solutions Monday.

They ranged from more frequent bus services to creating bike lanes on Route 28 to free or cheap Charlie Cards for riders living within the mitigation area.

"These ideas have not been endorsed or accepted by MassDOT," a MassDOT statement said. "These assessments will next need to be formally analyzed, using the air quality modeling methodologies of the Central Transportation Planning Staff."

The Green Line Extension was originally expected to be completed by 2011, then delayed to 2014, . Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Somerville, .

The extension, which would bring the Green Line trolley line into Somerville and Medford, is part of a settlement agreed upon by the state to address the environmental impact of Boston's Big Dig. As part of a court agreement, it was supposed to be complete by the end of 2014 in order to offset air pollution caused by the Big Dig highway project.

In the document released Monday, planning staff assessed about 122 different mitigation ideas in a spreadsheet, called a "matrix."

"The matrix includes a variety of types of potential mitigation measures, including operational improvements to the existing MBTA bus and rapid transit system, the introduction of new bus and rapid transit services, the construction of new MBTA stations and other transportation facilities (including multiuse paths), and policy and programmatic initiatives aimed at reducing vehicular travel and improving regional air quality," according to Monday's announcement.

The proposals are intended to reduce emissions of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides.

Here are some of the ideas:

• Increase frequency of Green Line trains to Lechmere
• Put Commuter Rail stations in Union, Gilman or Ball squares
• Increase bus frequency on a number of bus lines
• Provide financial subsidies to the public to purchase electric vehicles
• Lower the speed limits on highways
• Provide free air at gas stations for better tire inflation
• Use low emissions MBTA buses in Somerville, Medford and Cambridge
• Use "open-road" tolling on MassDOT tolled highways
• Retrofit Duck boats with hybrid engines
• Construct the Somerville Community Path
• Give out free or discounted Charlie Card MBTA passes in the area

You can read the entire document here or in the PDF attachment to this article.

MassDOT asks for public input on these "interim offset mitigation measures" by July 16. You can do so by emailing planning@state.ma.us.