(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)
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By Joseph A. Curtatone

Construction on the Green Line Extension is underway, so this month we’re taking a closer look at notable project data – and interesting numbers.

85 percent of residents to live within a half mile of rapid transit: One of our biggest community goals is to help our environment by reducing dependency on automobiles. However, we know that people have places to be and things to do, and when public transportation isn’t easily accessible, a car is often times the most convenient and most reliable way to get to work every day, make it to those appointments on time, grocery shop, and more.

Before the opening of the Assembly Square Orange Line Station in 2014, only 15 percent of Somerville residents lived within a half mile walk of rapid transit. With that station in operation – and once the Green Line Extension (GLX) is complete – the percentage of Somerville residents within a half mile walk of rapid transit will increase to 85 percent. The GLX and the Community Path extension (which will extend from Lowell St. to North Point Park) will bring increased transit access and reliability to historically underserved neighborhoods and giving more people an authentic opportunity to ditch the automobile and choose environmentally friendly transit every day.

2.5 million hours of work: The GLX project is certainly no small undertaking. Once completed, the project anticipates supporting an additional 50,000 passenger trips per day thanks to the six new stations along two different branches, as well as the relocation and reconstruction of the Lechmere Station. Working on an historical project of this scale requires a robust team. Across the country, there are currently more than 200 employees working on project design and more than 100 employees working on construction management. It’s estimated that by the time GLX is fully up and running (which is expected by the end of 2021), employees will have logged approximately 2.5 million work hours.

10 miles of new drainage infrastructure: Somerville faces a similar threat to that of densely populated cities with antiquated sewer lines: flooding. As such, we have to get creative and constantly be on the lookout for opportunities to assist with our storm water management policies. As part of the City’s partnership with the MBTA in regards to the Green Line Extension, we were able to negotiate a drainage access agreement, ultimately allowing us to send some of our storm water into the MBTA’s drainage system to help mitigate flooding impacts across the city.

That system will see 10 miles of drainage infrastructure installed as part of the GLX project, which will be designed to handle more than 75 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water in a 24-hour period.

Fewer than 20 employees in 84 percent of area businesses: Data shows that an overwhelming majority (84 percent) of Boston-area businesses, including many of those in Somerville, employ fewer than 20 people. These small businesses are the lifeblood our community and vibrant staples of our squares and neighborhoods. They are restaurants and cafés, book and art stores, clothing boutiques, repair shops, and so much more.

While expanded transit access the GLX will bring stands to increase economic vitality in the long-run, there’s no denying some of these businesses will face trying times during construction. It’s up to us as a community to band together and support our small, local businesses to help them thrive even during construction. The City is in the midst of launching the Loyal 2 Local campaign and will work continuously throughout the construction phase to explore ways to support local businesses, raise awareness, increase foot traffic in business districts, and more. Keep your eyes peeled to www.somervillema.gov for more information in the coming months, and remember to shop local and spread the word to your family, friends, and neighbors.

Data-based decision making is at the core of how the City of Somerville develops policy and sets priorities. Every day we check the latest 311 stats, and throughout the week we meet for in-depth review of departmental data and city trends. The Data Download column shares some of the data we’ve been reviewing recently, as well as interesting updates. To see more Somerville Data, visit the online Somerville Data Farm at www.somervillema.gov/datafarm.