Brickbottom Gallery residents lined up to
take the microphone during the comments period and told the Executive
Office of Transportation (EOT) that the project – complete with glaring
lights in their windows – would kill the quality of life for the 150
families that live there, thwart the site's potential for the creative
industry, and divert dollars away from a commercial tax base.

The
impassioned pleas were followed by rounds of applause in the high
school auditorium that was nearly filled to capacity with Somerville
(and a few Cambridge) residents and city officials.

City officials were also unanimously against the maintenance facility proposal and urged the EOT to look for alternative sites.

"We
already have the commuter line and cargo lines right next to us, and
that is something that we can get used to," said Ramon Bueno, a 20-year
resident at Brickbottom. "But having a maintenance facility will
jeopardize our health, our quality of life, the air pollution…We have
families. We fear a loss of value…We should not take on this
permanent burden."

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone was quick
to say that a blog comment, "community path design running along the
Green Line Extension in exchange for building a maintenance facility"
was false. Nothing is final yet-though much of the angst that night was
over the reported action of the EOT "shoving the project down our
throats," as one Brickbottom resident described it. The project also
involves building a community path parallel to the extension, from
Cedar Street in Somerville to North Point in Cambridge.

The
EOT wants to build a "support facility" to store and maintain Green
Line vehicles that serve the extension. The EOT has recommended that a
mid-sized maintenance facility be constructed at the Yard 8 parcel 50
feet away from Brickbottom because the site is the best size and
location. Read the EOT's Support Facility Report at
www.mass.gov/greenlineextension.

EOT project managers defended
the facility, stating that few other parcels existed – if any – in the
city to build. They said that the EOT would incorporate mitigating
features like window treatments to mange vibrations and lights directed
downwards.

There's also the argument that building a
non-taxable facility will cut off chances for commercial development at
the Inner Belt. Brickbottom resident Susanna Darling questioned why a
tax revenue study has not been conducted for Yard 8.

Still
others pointed out that Somerville is relying on state aid right now –
which is also being cut. "We only have two areas to build
(commercially) and one of those spots is the inner belt," said Bill
Shelton, a Union Square resident. "Developers will not want to build
anything by a maintenance facility."

He also urged residents
to be informed with their battle. "If all we do is say 'no,' we can't
get what we want," he said. "People must educate themselves to find
creative solutions.

Yard 8 concerns dominated, but residents
did have a few other comments. Ward 3 Alderman Thomas Taylor said the
Union Square location is too far up Prospect Street and should be moved
closer to the square.

Ron Newman of Davis Square said that the
community path is important. The path in Davis Square is a key driver
for pedestrians to get to the T Stations there. But the path along the
Lowell Street, Gilman Street and Brickbottom stops should be
reevaluated as they needed a better interface with the path.

East
Cambridge resident Alan Green said that the Lechmere relocation is a
concern because people will have to cross many lanes of the O'Brien
Highway to get to the trains. He added that the EOT needs to hold more
meetings in Cambridge and involve citizens there more. Planners
acknowledged that the Lechmere issue is "a complicated one" and the EOT
is aware of neighborhood concerns. The EOT vowed to hold more meetings
there.

The Green Line Extension must be completed by
the end of 2014, or else the EOT will have to pay penalties. The
project – which has been in the works for 40 years – is still in the
infant stages. The EOT must apply for funding and create the final
plans. In the short term, in the spring of 2009, EOT expects to submit
a draft Environmental Impact Report detailing the transportation and
environmental impacts, followed by a public comment period. Preliminary
engineering plans will commence this summer, Victor said.

The
Extension consists of two branches. The "mainline," the longer of the
two lines, will travel north from a relocated Lechmere Station to
Mystic Valley parkway/Route 16. The shorter of the two lines will veer
off to Union Square.

The pros of the project-which residents and officials congratulate-include the following:

o
It will operate in existing railroad rights-of-way, reducing the need
to purchase or take local property and limit construction.

o The branches will open many neighborhoods to new development

o It will connect residents to jobs and services

o It will improve air quality and reduce traffic and congestion