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Tonight’s scheduled GLX question and answer/information table in Magoun Square has been cancelled due to weather. It will be rescheduled for another date in August.
In advance of planned bridge closures as part of the Green Line Extension Project (GLX), City staff along with staff from the MBTA, MassDOT, and GLX Constructors, are hosting a series of events and meetings throughout the summer and fall to provide information and answer questions about construction, which is already underway. Staff will be available at most summer events and have planned GLX-specific Q&A sessions and public meetings throughout the summer and fall as follows (subject to change):
· Thursday, July 26, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.: Drop-in Q&A Session (Magoun Square municipal lot, near CVS) ( cancelled due to weather. It will be rescheduled for another date in August.)
· Sunday, August 5, 2 -6 p.m.: SomerStreets on Holland St.
· Saturday, August 18, 9 – 11 a.m.: Drop-in Q&A Session (Ball Square)
· Saturday, September 8: Riverfest at Assembly Row
· Sunday, September 9, 11 a.m.: Rock and Roll Yard Sale (Union Square)
· Saturday, September 15, 9 – 11 a.m.: Drop-in Q&A Session (Ball Square)
· Sunday, September 16, 2 – 6 p.m.: SomerStreets on Highland Ave.
· Saturday, September 22, 3 – 7 p.m.: Fluff Festival (Union Square)
· Saturday, September 29, 3 p.m.: Evolution of Hip Hop Festival (Union Square)
Draft plans available at www.somervillema.gov/glx.
Beginning in fall 2018 with the closure of the Ball Square Bridge for one year, five bridges throughout the City will be closed for varying lengths of time between 2018 and 2021 to allow for construction of rail right-of-ways and new GLX stations. For the full tentative bridge closure schedule and draft detour routes, visit www.somervillema.gov/glx.
While all dates and information are subject to change, current proposals by the GLX team call for the full closure of the Ball Square Bridge, connecting Ball and Magoun Squares, for one full year beginning in November 2018. The closure would apply to all modes of transportation, including bicycles and pedestrians. Additional bridge closures are planned through 2019 and 2020, including on Washington St. (between Union Square and Inner Belt), Medford St. (outside of Union Square), and School St.
Please check www.somervillema.gov/glx for updates, and ways to stay informed.
If you have questions, please call 311 (617-666-3311) or email construction@somervillema.gov.
Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun, atNSalamoun@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 2323.
~City of Somerville
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Cancelled due to weather? Are they kidding? Was there a hurricane in the area that I’m not aware of? This is how they tire people out and get them to stop coming to these meetings. You make plans to attend and they cancel it for some assinine reason. Maybe more people will be on vacation for the next scheduled meeting, or they’ll just tire of the whole thing and give up. Exactly how many snowflakes work in City Hall these days??
When you see tentative plans on re-reouting traffic around the Ball Square Bridge, keep in mind that tentative means definite. When the bids went out to contractors, the total closure of this bridge was included in that bid. When these bids were accepted last January, the closure was a done deal. So when they ask for your input, it will be a waste of time. The plans are in, the pre construction has started. Take a look any day during rush hour what Highland Ave is like, what College ave is like, what Powerhouse Blvd is like?
The most accurate count of cars traveling over the Ball Square Bridge is in excess of 28,000. Put a quarter of that or even a fifth of that over the proposed re-routing and what will you have?
Mr Mayor agreed to this closure long before any of the emergency services of the City of Somerville found out. There will be no more than 10 firefighters, 4 police officers and maybe a stand by ambulance on the west side of the bridges nights and weekends. During the day, maybe a few more of each. Think about this for a moment. You or your loved one is experiencing a heart attack or life threatening emergency? Your child is choking perhaps. The fire companies in Teele Square are on another call along with the police where is your help coming from and how long will it take to get there? I don’t know to be honest with you, because they will be stuck in that traffic on Highland, through Davis and up to Powerhouse or that area of Broadway. At best now during rush hour, maybe 4 minutes, hopefully sooner. At 4 minutes the brain starts dying, the choking child now needs CPR, the man breaking in has now attacked you. Think about it! Can you do anything about it? Make a voice!!! Say something!!! Inundate your alderman!!! (ps, they didn’t know about the done deal either).