State Implementation Plan Public Meeting
Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation
September 18, 2012 – 1:30pm to 2:30pm and 5:00pm to 6:15pm
Mass DEP
One Winter Street
Washington Street Conference Center
Boston, MA
Attendees at Afternoon Session:
Nancy Seidman, Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Waste Prevention, Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP)
Christine Kirby, Director of Transportation Program, Department of Environmental Protection
David Mohler, Executive Director, Office of Transportation Planning, Massachusetts
Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
Bill Deignan, City of Cambridge
Stephen Kaiser, Association of Cambridge Neighborhoods
Maureen Kelly, Central Transportation Planning Staff
Rafael Mares, Conservation Law Foundation
Anne McGahan, Central Transportation Planning Staff
Alan Moore, Friends of the Community Path, Somerville resident
Denise Provost, State Representative
Wig Zamore, Somerville resident
Attendees at Evening Session:
Nancy Seidman, Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Waste Prevention, Department of
Environmental Protection
Christine Kirby, Director of Transportation Program, Department of Environmental Protection
David Mohler, Executive Director, Office of Transportation Planning, Massachusetts
Department of Transportation
Maureen Kelly, Central Transportation Planning Staff
Ken Krause, Medford Resident
Anne McGahan, Central Transportation Planning Staff
Ellin Reisner, Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership, Somerville resident
Carolyn Rosen, Green Line Advisory Group of Medford
Dr. William Wood, Green Line Advisory Group of Medford
Wig Zamore, Somerville resident
Introduction
Nancy Seidman, Assistant Commissioner, MassDEP opened the public meetings on MassDOT’s
annual status report on the commonwealth’s State Implementation Plan (SIP). MassDEP requires
MassDOT to report annually on its progress for implementing uncompleted SIP projects under
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its authority pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 111, Sections 142A through 142M, subsection (7) of
310 CMR 7.36, the Transit System Improvements regulation. MassDEP is seeking public
comment on the annual update and status report for these transit projects.
Within 120 days of this meeting, MassDOT is required to summarize and respond to public
comments. Within 60 days of the summary and response, MassDEP must then determine
whether the public process requirements of the regulation have been met. Written comments will
be accepted until 5:00 PM on September 25, 2012. Comments should be submitted to Kate
Fichter, MassDOT, Office of Transportation Planning, Room 4150, Ten Park Plaza, Boston, MA
02116 or Katherine.Fichter@dot.state.ma.us, and Jerome Grafe, MassDEP, Bureau of Waste
Prevention, Boston, MA 02018 or Jerome.Grafe@state.ma.us.
This meeting was originally scheduled for September 6, but was rescheduled so as not to conflict
with the primary elections.
Attendees were asked to limit their spoken comments to five minutes.
MassDEP held a public hearing on September 13 regarding MassDOT’s request to amend the
SIP to remove the requirement to complete the design of the Red/Blue Line Connector project.
The public comment period closes on September 24 at 5PM.
MassDEP issued a certification letter on the 2011 SIP report on March 15, 2012.
MassDEP has approved MassDOT’s petition to delay the Fairmount Line Improvement project.
Status Report
David Mohler, Executive Director of MassDOT’s Office of Transportation Planning, provided a
summary of the status on the SIP projects.
The Fairmount Line Improvement project was required to be complete by December 31, 2011.
The project includes the construction of four new MBTA stations and the reconstruction of two
stations. The Morton Street and Upham’s Corner Stations are complete and open. The Four
Corners Station is 80% complete and expected to be complete in April 2013. The Talbot Station
is 90% complete and expected to be complete in January 2013. Newmarket Station is 70%
complete and expected to be complete in June 2013.
Blue Hill Avenue Station is being designed. The project was at the 60% design stage in 2009. As
a result of concerns expressed by neighbors and abutters to the station, MassDOT is submitting
its designs for a peer review. The station will probably not be open until 2015. MassDOT has
implemented two projects to mitigate for the delay: a new shuttle bus between Andrew Square
and the Boston Medical Center, and increased to frequency of MBTA bus route 31.
The 1,000 New Park and Ride Parking Spaces project is complete. MassDOT was required to
construct 1,000 new parking spaces in the Boston MPO region by December 31, 2011.
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Wonderland Garage opened on June 30, 2012, six months behind schedule. To mitigate for the
delay, MassDOT increased Saturday service on MBTA bus route 111.
MassDOT was required to complete the final design of the Red/Blue Line Connector project by
December 31, 2011. MassDOT is petitioning MassDEP to remove this requirement from the SIP.
MassDOT is required to complete the Green Line Extension to Medford Hillside with a spur to
Union Square in Somerville by December 31, 2014. State environmental review has been
completed and the federal government has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) gave approval to enter into preliminary engineering
under the New Starts Program on the condition that MassDOT be able to solve its transit
underfunding problem. MassDOT has selected a firm to conduct the preliminary design work.
The MBTA is reviewing proposals for Green Line vehicle construction and expects to present a
recommendation to the MassDOT Board this fall. MassDOT has hired a relocation consultant for
right-of-way work.
The Green Line Extension project will be conducted in four phases. Phase 1 is the widening of
the Harvard Street Bridge in Medford and the Medford Street Bridge in Somerville, and the
demolition of the building at 21 Water Street in Cambridge. Phases 2 and 2A involve the
relocation of Lechmere Station and construction of the Union Square spur. The second phases
are expected to be complete by mid-2017. Phase 3 is the construction of a maintenance and
storage yard. Phase 4 will provide service from Washington Street to College Avenue. The
Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) delivery method will be used. The project
cost estimate is $1.1 billion exclusive of finance charges. Projects to mitigate for the delay are
being selected.
Oral Testimony – Afternoon Session
Denise Provost, State Representative
Rep. Provost expressed dismay about the prospect of the elimination of the Red/Blue Line
Connector project from the SIP. She then advocated for the Green Line Extension project
emphasizing the importance of the project for Somerville residents to get justice and for access
to good transit, for improving air quality, and for improving the region’s economy.
She expressed concern about efforts in the legislature to stop the expansion of the transit system
and the Green Line Extension project, and she expressed the need to recommit to the expansion
of the transit system. She referenced the Global Warming Solutions Act and noted that cities in
the urban core have lower emissions contributions than those in the suburbs, and that transit
expansion would allow other communities to reduce their emissions. She also referenced the
state’s Healthy Transportation Compact and called for a health analysis to be conducted for the
Green Line Extension project. Lastly, she explained how the Green Line Extension would allow
for an increase in availability of work force housing as Somerville is zoned for density.
Rafael Mares, Conservation Law Foundation
Mr. Mares suggested that the deadline for the Red/Blue Line Connector project be extended
rather than eliminating the project from the SIP.
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He expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Fairmount Line Improvement project and
asked that an eye be kept on delays so that the project can be completed. He noted that the SIP
requires measures to increase service and ridership on the Fairmount line.
He also expressed satisfaction that interim offset measures have been put in place for the 1,000
New Park and Ride Parking Spaces project. He urged DEP to require MassDOT to report on this
project next year. He expressed concern that MassDOT has no measures in place to ensure that
only MBTA customers can use the South Garage at the Wonderland Garage. He also questioned
whether the requirement to create 1,000 new parking spaces has been fulfilled since not all the
spaces are new ones.
He asked that MassDOT also continue to report on the Blue Line Modernization project. He
noted that the Government Center Station has not yet been modernized.
He stated that the public should continue to be involved in the development of the interim offset
projects for the Green Line Extension project.
Stephen Kaiser, Association of Cambridge Neighborhoods
Mr. Kaiser referenced the laws governing the SIP process and gave a reminder that government
is for the common good of the people, not for the profit of any individual or class (as noted in the
Article 7 of the Declaration of Independence). He called on the government representatives to be
wary of actions that will use public funds for the benefit of private developers.
He cited a study by the Urban Land Institute that reported that the MBTA system is already at
capacity. He cautioned that the system cannot support the additional riders that would result
from development. He stated that developers should pay to support that extra transit capacity,
since they are the beneficiaries of the development.
He stated that the air quality goals for the MBTA should focus on running the system efficiently
and providing as much service as possible. He expressed concern that funding capital projects
will detract from that goal. He noted that MassDOT has $26 million worth of debt.
He suggested that the requirement to complete the Red/Blue Line Connector project be replaced
with a requirement that MassDOT report its budget (capital and operating) to DEP. This
information could be used to monitor whether any new project would result in failures of the
transit system.
Alan Moore, Friends of the Community Path, Somerville Resident
Mr. Moore expressed thanks to the DEP for requiring the Green Line Extension project in the
SIP, to EOEEA secretaries for ensuring that the Community Path project was not precluded, to
former MassDOT secretaries for including the Community Path to Inner Belt in the Green Line
Extension design contract, and to MassDOT and the MBTA for agreeing to build some shared
infrastructure between the two facilities.
He noted that the Community Path will deliver more riders to the MBTA stations and thereby
reduce emissions. He called for the Community Path to be constructed along with the Green Line
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Extension to minimize costs. He suggested that the project be used to mitigate for delays in the
Green Line Extension project. He also requested that MassDOT design the Community Path
between the Inner Belt area and Cambridge.
Bill Deignan, City of Cambridge
Mr. Deignan commented on the Green Line Extension project and expressed the City of
Cambridge’s support for the project. He suggested that interim offset projects should allow for
transit capacity increase, and that MassDOT should concentrate on making peak hour
improvements and enhance bus connections. He also suggested that consideration be given to
expanding the Hubway bike share program. Lastly, he expressed support for building a bridge to
North Point as part of the Green Line Extension project.
Wig Zamore, Somerville resident
Mr. Zamore responded to a couple of points made by previous commenters. He noted that there
is a jobs deficit in Somerville that correlates with a fiscal deficit, and he expressed his hope that
transit would be used to develop a better balance between jobs and the work force. He also
expressed that everyone should pay their share for transit and proposed that broad-based
measures be employed, such as a gas tax or diesel tax.
He then discussed the SIP as a means to improve air quality, particularly with regard to ozone
and particulate matter. He discussed the failure of the U.S. EPA to institute health protective
standards with regard to these pollutants. He said that the next ozone standards will have to take
into account mortality associated with ozone.
He submitted documentation regarding health protective standards, a study on air quality
monitoring in Somerville, and a Canadian study on particulate matter.
Oral Testimony – Evening Session
During Ms. Seidman’s opening remarks two attendees made comments regarding the time
allotted for attendees to speak. Dr. William Wood requested additional speaking time due to his
health issues. Carolyn Rosen stated that the public notice for the meeting did not specify that
members of the public would have only five minutes of speaking time. She also noted that
someone who attended the afternoon session was in attendance at this evening session, and that
he would be getting a total of 10 minutes of speaking time. Dr. Wood asked for 20 minutes of
speaking time, and the panel accommodated his request.
Ellin Reisner, Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership, Somerville resident
Ms. Reisner expressed appreciation to the MBTA staff for reaching a milestone on the design
and engineering of the Green Line Extension project. She called for the commonwealth to move
forward on the interim offset projects and emphasized that mitigation becomes more important
the longer the project is delayed. She advocated for building the extension to Route 16.
She recommended that DEP direct MassDOT to complete the design and construction of the
Community Path from North Point to the Inner Belt, an environmental justice community. She
stated that the Community Path meets the sustainable transportation goals of the federal
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government and the commonwealth. She expressed frustration that MassDOT is not meeting is
own sustainability goals.
She expressed support for roadway improvements in the Brick Bottom and Inner Belt area and
for bus service from Sullivan Square to Lechmere, Kendall, and the Longwood Medical Area.
Lastly, she expressed disappointment that the Red/Blue Line Connector project is not moving
forward as the project would reduce car ridership.
Wig Zamore, Somerville resident
Mr. Zamore expressed agreement with Ms. Reisner’s comments, though he said that he would
prefer light rail in the urban core rather than buses. He then spoke about health issues associated
with air pollution.
He noted that the World Health Organization has declared diesel emissions to be a Class 1
carcinogen, a fact, he said, which does not support the intense use of diesel vehicles in the urban
core. He provided the panel with various studies that report on the associations between
transportation emissions and heart attacks and with mortality associated with living in proximity
to highways. Due to health impacts from emissions, he advised against putting bicycle
accommodations on arterial highways. Rather he suggested choosing routes for bicycles that are
on less heavily traveled streets.
He expressed support for extending the Green Line to Route 16 and for completing the
Community Path.
He noted that the Fairmount Line Improvement project is problematic because it will expose a
population in a densely-settled area to diesel emissions.
Ken Krause, Medford Resident
Mr. Krause recognized the progress that has been made on the Green Line Improvement project
and the Boston Region MPO’s commitment to extending the project to Route 16. He noted that
DEP should be aware that the Harvard Street Bridge project, which is part of Phase 1, will
address a flooding issue. He expressed his hope that DEP will continue to be an advocate of the
project and for getting funding for the project.
He discussed the need for the project considering traffic congestion problems in the Medford
area. He noted that the Green Line Extension project’s DEIR identifies the intersection of Mystic
Valley Parkway and Boston Avenue as having the second largest traffic count in the project area.
He expressed some disappointment with the interim offset projects (further detailed in written
comments) and with the removal of the Red/Blue Line Connector project from the SIP. He noted
that a potential funding source for the latter could come from the development of the casino in
Revere. If the project is removed from the SIP, he said that the $50 million designated for the
project should be directed toward interim offset projects for the Green Line Extension project.
Carolyn Rosen, Green Line Advisory Group of Medford (GLAM)
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Ms. Rosen expressed opposition to the Green Line Extension project to Route 16. She remarked
that Congressman Capuano voiced concerns about state’s ability to pay for the project and she
said that the commonwealth has no funding to build the project beyond Lechmere and North
Point.
She noted that the NAACP is also opposed to the Route 16 terminus and that the group has stated
that position at an Boston Region MPO meeting. She claimed that the MPO discriminated by
holding a meeting to discuss the project financing that only white project proponents attended.
She also expressed her belief that the disabled and environmental justice community in Medford
is being marginalized from design working group.
She stated that the FONSI for the Green Line Extension project should be challenged because it
is based on old air quality data. She expressed concerns about particulate pollution from diesel
vehicles and noise pollution, and she called for environmental studies to be done. She referred to
the work of Dr. Marlene Warner, an environmental advisor to GLAM.
Ms. Rosen submitted written documentation.
Dr. William Wood, Green Line Advisory Group of Medford
Dr. Wood spoke regarding the Green Line Extension project and called for civil rights issues to
be addressed. He expressed opposition to extending the line beyond College Avenue to Route 16.
The extension to Route 16 would benefit Tufts University the most while destroying the oldest
African-American community in America, he said.
He called for a study on particulate pollution and a human rights study, and he called for the
project to be delayed until the state gets a report on the human rights element. He referred to the
work of Dr. Marlene Warner, an environmental advisor to GLAM.
He discounted the “highest and best use theory” as not proven an not considering low or
moderate income workers or blue collar workers.
He stated that the project would benefit developers, universities, and the political career of the
mayor of Somerville. He warned that the project would be “another Big Dig.”
Dr. Wood stated that he would be filing a complaint against the Boston Region MPO because he
believes that the MPO held meetings at which funding decisions were made, that did not involve
project opponents. He believes that opponents were only invited to meetings after the funding
decision had been made. He remarked that there will be significant opposition, including from
himself, to obtaining the necessary funding for the project.
He also voiced a complaint about DEP’s public notice for this meeting and stated that he was not
offered appropriate accommodation. He accused the agencies of not following FTA’s rules.
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