Mayor Curtatone reasserted his commitment to the GLX cause at last week’s rally at SHS. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

MassDOT not out of the woods yet

By Andrew Firestone

The Green Line Extension (GLX), delayed until at least 2018, saw the shovels drop to the ground in a mockery of the delayed process. Community members from Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington and Medford displayed their solidarity in support of the Green Line extension, on Thursday, Oct. 20, as a large group held a rally outside Somerville High School the night of the Federal environmental impact report.

Mayor Joseph Curtatone was joined by Aldermen John Connelly, Bruce Desmond, William White, Maryann Heuston, Representatives Denise Provost and Tim Toomey, Senator Pat Jehlen, and a host of community activists. Many were armed with shovels, to show that the community was “shovel ready” for the GLX, as a literal “green line” of fabric was splayed out on the park lawn.

Later on, members of the community heard the federal environmental impact report from MassDOT and gave their comments to state officials. Kate Fichter, project manager for MassDOT, said that they hoped to be approved for federal “New Starts” money and needed to be in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in order to do so, thus necessitating the new report.

Rafael Mares of the Conservation Law Foundation, the group that successfully sued the state in 2004 to legally mandate the GLX, said that the new report, while immersive, failed and would fail to meet federal requirements due to it’s lack of expansion to Route 16 in Medford. The current report lists the final stop at College Avenue in Somerville along the Northwest border; a condition Mares said was unacceptable.

“[MassDOT] has not petitioned for the delay yet, and that delay has not been approved by the DEP [state Department of Environmental Protection],” said Mares, referring to the fact that the GLX project, while having an announced delay, cannot legally delay the project until approved by state officials in the DEP. “Until that happens, the planning documents are supposed to reflect the current requirements and are supposed to prioritize them. That is not the case right now, and that is against national environmental policy.”

He added that they will not complete the NEPA process, and thus the study is incomplete and might lead to “serious political fallout.”

The report listed a timeline that includes two separate phases in construction. According to plans, once land acquisitions are completed under eminent domain, some time in 2014, the reconstruction of bridges and the relocation of the commuter rail lines adjacent to the new rails will take place. A total of 11 bridges, in two separate phases, will be reconstructed. Mitigation of noise and vibration requires 17,000 feet of walls around the 4.3 miles of tracks, seven stations built between 2015-2018, with start-up and testing beginning in June of 2018.

Curtatone was unequivocal in his desire to see the project through in the rally. “Because of all of you here, and thousands like you, we sent a clear, unmistakable message to the governor and officials at MassDOT, that they had to reengage on this project and get it going. And let me tell you, you rattled their cages because they are now working with us, talking about putting together a concrete predictable timeline for this project: one that delivers stations a lot sooner than 2020,” he said, referring to the inclusion of phasing the project to open it earlier.

“The state now seems to understand how imperative it is to get this project rolling, especially before the economy improves, and construction costs balloon with it. And you need to stay on them. You have to keep it going. If we’ve learned anything, it’s that constant vigilance will be required to make sure that the Green Line Extension becomes a reality and they’re not just going to hand us anything,” he said.

“We’re going to have to keep on fighting for it. That’s in our history, that’s who we are. It’s that inherent pride and tenacity that’s going to make sure this project happens,” he said.

Stephen Mackey of the Somerville Chamber of Commerce spoke in similar tones at the rally, highlighting the environmental impact upon people dealing with pollution from traffic and noise.

“The debt is past due,” he said. “Fulfilling this promise will unlock a redevelopment zone that is as big as downtown [Boston]. It will open the doors to the most densely populated city in New England. Government will not ride over us anymore. We are not a highway. State and federal leaders need to hear us: keep your promise. Clean the air. Complete the [community] path. Serve the people. Generate the jobs and stimulate the region. Keep your promise,” he said.

Curtatone likewise was adamant that the project would create opportunity for thousands to gain employment and start businesses. “You’ll leave a hell of a lot more money on the table if you don’t build this and build it now,” he said.

One member of the crowd, Grace Lotty, 10, of Somerville said that she loved riding the T, and would love to ride the T in Somerville and see the GLX built. “I’m a lot upset about this, not a little,” she said.

The crowd, who made several suggestions and comments regarding their outrage at MassDOT, was united in their disbelief and intolerance of any further delay to the GLX. With shovels raised, they met inside the SHS and made their feelings plain to the state officials. Complaints included air pollution, the perception that Somerville, not a wealthy city, was purposely being placed on the backburner, and financial mismanagement by the state.

“You are, of course, welcome here,” said Rep. Provost to the MassDOT officials. “We are reasonable people and we like to participate in public process but based on comments I heard from our constituents, I think it’s fortunate that the people outside carried shovels and not pitchforks.”