Somerville, state agree where to put new Green Line maintenance facility
The new "Option L" building and storage area will go in the Inner Belt, next to the MBTA's existing commuter-rail maintenancy facility, city and state officials announced today. In a statement issued by MassDOT, Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone said:
Not only does the decision about where to locate the Green Line maintenance facility ensure that the Green Line expansion into Somerville remains on its 2014 timeline, the chosen location creates the opportunity for significant redevelopment inside the city's industrial Inner Belt. Best of all, this will help preserve the quality of life for nearby residents, notably those in the Brickbottom artist lofts. Today we're significantly closer to achieving the better, brighter, more connected future we envision for this city.
Comments
Dedicated right of way, or streetcar?
What I haven't been able to figure out from the articles and references I've seen so far is, whether they're talking about the extensions running along some of the railroad rights of way that go through Somerville, or are they going to be running streetcars? If it's streetcars, then in my opinion as an experienced Green Line rider is that it's a waste of money. Even when a streetcar runs on a median, as it does on the B branch, it's still no faster than a bus. If it runs on the street itself, like parts of the E branch, then it's worse than a bus, as the whole thing can get messed up by someone double parking.
On the other hand, something like the D line would actually be useful.
All the maps I've seen seem
All the maps I've seen seem to parallel the commuter rail right-of-way, so I imagine they'll not be streetcars.
Yep, it will be running in
Yep, it will be running in the Lowell commuter rail right of way. Not only will it be more similar to D line service than B/C/E in having its own right of way, there will be an additional improvement: My understanding is the stations will have gated platforms so that all passengers can board at once, instead of lining up to pay the driver like most current above ground green line stations.
Gated Platforms are a Must
Gated platforms are absolutely critical. In addition to greatly enhancing throughput, it will also help the T to avoid losing at least as much fare revenue as it collects (just once I would like to see T cops on board a green line train validating that everyone has paid and handing out tickets to people who have not!). I also would like to avoid the near constant yelling in the morning: "Monthly passes in the rear!! Stored value and charlie tickets up front!!"
I have actually seen cops
I have actually seen cops checking that people had paid their fares, and using a handheld gadget to check CharlieCard histories. But, as you say, it was just once, more than a year ago.
It'll be like the D line.
It'll be like the D line. They will be using the existing ROW (and cutting into some peoples yards). it will have very few, if any, street crossings.
As for the selected location, is this the original location, which has been scoped out as living under a future soccer stadium?
Option L is different than
Option L is different than Yard 8, the originally preferred location. You can see a map showing both here:
http://www.somervillestep.org/2009/12/state_releases_4.html
I really do hope we get the
I really do hope we get the soccer stadium. It just makes too much sense. Who wants to drive an hour to whitebread southern mass to watch soccer in a cavernous football stadium? Somerville would be great, a conflux of people from soccer-loving nations as well as yuppies with disposable income.