The state Department of Transportation and the MBTA will hold six public meetings to discuss noise and retaining walls proposed as part of the Green Line Extension project. The first meeting takes place from 6 to 8 tonight (Wednesday, Jan. 8) at the Holiday Inn at 30 Washington St. and will focus on the Inner Belt, Brick Bottom and Union Square (Union Square Branch) areas.

The proposed extension consists of two branches:  a “mainline” branch that will operate within the existing right-of-way for the MBTA Lowell Line, beginning at a relocated Lechmere Station in Cambridge and traveling north to Medford; and a branch line operating within the existing right-of-way for the MBTA Fitchburg Line to Union Square. There will be seven new stations constructed as part of the project, including the relocated Lechmere Station. A vehicle storage and maintenance facility will also be constructed.  Once completed, trains will operate every five to six minutes in the peak periods.

Anyone with questions can email info@glxinfo.com. More project information can be found at www.mass.gov/greenlineextension.

This meeting is accessible to people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency. For more information, or to request reasonable accommodations and/or language services, contact Joe Sgroi at jsgroi@gilbaneco.com or 617-996-0771. For TTY, call 857-368-0655 and ask to speak with someone about the Green Line Extension project.

Upcoming meetings

Washington Street to Medford Street
(includes Washington Street Station)
6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14
Holiday Inn, 30 Washington St., Somerville

Medford Street to Lowell Street
(includes Gilman Square Station)
6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan 15
Center for the Arts at the Armory
191 Highland Ave., Somerville

Lowell Street to Broadway
(includes Lowell Street and Ball Square stations)
6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22
Center for the Arts at the Armory
191 Highland Ave., Somerville

Glass Factory Condominiums area
(includes Lechmere Station)
6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb.  4
Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center
41 Second St., East Cambridge

Broadway to Winthrop Street
(includes College Avenue Station)
6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5
St. Clement School
579 Boston Ave., Medford

Green Line Extension timeline

• Phase 1 consists of the reconstruction of the Harvard Street Railroad Bridge in Medford and the Medford Street Railroad Bridge in Somerville, as well as the demolition of the MBTA-owned facilities at 21 Water St. in Cambridge. This work began in 2013 and is expected to be complete in 2015.

• Phase 2/2A extends service from the (new) Lechmere Station to Washington Street and Union Square Stations. The construction of this phase is estimated to be complete in late 2016, with completion of testing and commencement of revenue service by early 2017.

• Phase 3 constructs the vehicle maintenance and storage facility (VMSF). Phase 3 will commence construction in January 2016 and is scheduled to be completed six months prior to the scheduled date for Phase 4 revenue service to College Avenue Station.

• Phase 4 extends service from Washington Street Station (completed as part of Phase 2) to College Avenue Station. The initial risk-evaluation process indicated that there is a 50 percent probability that Phase 4 construction will be complete at the end of 2018 and that testing will be complete and revenue service will begin on or before July 2019.