A lot of pieces have to come together
before the Green Line begins traveling into our city. The details are
not trivial when it comes to major transportation projects and the
maintenance facility presented a potential bottleneck. Without a place
to service its trolley cars, the MBTA would be looking at a logistical
nightmare along the extended portion of the line. Had this decision
bogged down everything else could have ground to a halt.

And the
state's initial location choices would have placed the maintenance
facility right next to Brickbottom residents. The city advocated for
better alternatives, including option L.

Only thanks to a
concerted effort along with Brickbottom residents, Ward 2 Alderman
Maryann Heuston, and other members of the board, Congressman Michael
Capuano and our State delegation were we able to make our case to
MassDOT. This is an important victory for Somerville because when a
project this big starts to go off the rails, it can take a massive
effort to get it back on the right track.

Now we move onto
environmental impact review for the maintenance facility and, before
the end of the year, station design meetings with the community. The
thoughtful, constructive input we received on where to locate the
maintenance facility will be needed every step along the way. The goal
is that in 2014 the Green Line extension opens in our city
incorporating every good idea Somerville had to offer.

We have
momentum on our side. Mass transit in Somerville is no longer the stuff
of science fiction, like time travel and flying cars. The Green Line
extension is coming together. It will mean that 85 percent of our
residents will live within half a mile of mass transit. It will mean
the completion of the Community Path across the heart of our city.

Also,
the Option L decision from the state will open up redevelopment
possibilities in the city's Inner Belt. The opportunity to transform a
large section of industrial land use lies within our grasp.