Somerville to get 'Community Path' in exchange for taking Green Line maintenance facility
By adamg - 3/10/09 - 10:20 pm
The city and state today announced an agreement that paves the way (lays the rail?) for the Green Line extension.
In exchange for the city dropping opposition to an Innerbelt-Brickbottom repair yard for new trolleys, the state will pay for planning and design of a pedestrian and bicycle path along the extension route through east and central Somerville.
Comments
Green Line meeting tomorrow nigh @ Somerville High School
By Ron Newman - 3/10/09 - 11:15 pm
If you want to learn more, i recommend attending the Green Line Extension meeting at Somerville High School tomorrow night (Wednesday 3/11). Open house at 5:30, more formal presentation and Q&A at 6:30. See http://www.greenlineextension.org/ for more info.
I was at that meeting tonight.
By independentminded (not verified) - 3/11/09 - 10:26 pm
It's unbelievable how the proponents of the Maintenence facility in Yard 8 just totally refuse to think outside the box, even though the elected officials and many, if not most other people have given them credible and legitimate arguments against having the maintenance facility at that sight. I'm beginning to think that maybe we should just forego the Community Path instead of having the Maintenance facility.
In his introductory remarks
By Blake Stacey (not verified) - 3/11/09 - 10:38 pm
In his introductory remarks at the meeting tonight, Joe Curtatone said that the community path project would go forward independently of the decision made about locating the maintenance facility. They're not making a trade.
Yeah, there is nothing about
By anon (not verified) - 3/14/09 - 4:48 pm
Yeah, there is nothing about an "exchange" on the STEP website or in the original press release on EOT's blog (http://transportation.blog.state.ma.us/blog/2009/03/green-line-extension-agreements-reached.html). Doesn't help anyone in Somerville to think of it as an either/or thing. The Green Line Extension pretty much needs the path to aid people getting to and from the stations.
However it is confusing to read that an agreement was reached about the Maintenance Facility on EOT's blog though, in the same sentence as the Community Path, especially given the pushback from city officials as well last the general public at the hearing Wed night.