State Implementation Plan – Annual Public Meeting
Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation
September 13, 2011 – 1:00pm to 3:00pm and 5:00pm to 7:30pm
Mass DEP
One Winter Street
Washington Street Conference Center
Boston, Massachusetts
Attendees at 1pm Session:
James Coleman, Assistant Commissioner, 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
Mary Ainsley, MBTA
Elisabeth Bayle, Medford resident
Mark Chase, Livable Streets Alliance
Brian Clements, Boxborough resident
Mayor Joseph Curtatone, City of Somerville
Bill Deignan, City of Cambridge
Karen DeSpirito, MassDOT
John Elliot, Medford resident
Alex Epstein, Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee
Kate Fichter, Office of Transportation Planning, MassDOT
Stephen Kaiser, Association of Cambridge Neighborhoods
Maureen Kelly, Central Transportation Planning Staff
Daniel LeBlanc, Somerville Community Organization
Merideth Levy, Somerville Community Corporation
Rafael Mares, Conservation Law Foundation
Mike McBride, HDR Inc.
Anne McGahan, Central Transportation Planning Staff
Alan Moore, Friends of the Community Path, Somerville resident
Jonah Petri, Somerville resident
Denise Provost, State Representative
Ellin Reisner, Somerville resident
Wig Zamore, Somerville resident
Attendees at 5pm Session:
James Coleman, Assistant Commissioner, 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
Page 1
Fred Berman, Somerville resident, Somerville Community Corporation
Patricia Davis, Medford resident
Kate Fichter, Office of Transportation Planning, MassDOT
Ethan Contini-Field, Somerville resident
Micaela Preskill, MassPIRG
Jason Fuller, Somerville resident
Senator Patricia Jehlen, State Senator
Stephen Kaiser, Association of Cambridge Neighborhoods
Maureen Kelly, Central Transportation Planning Staff
Ken Krause, Medford resident
John Kramer, Marshfield resident
Robert LaTravoy, Cambridge resident
Karen Malloy, Somerville resident, STEP, Friends of the Community Path
Anne McGahan, Central Transportation Planning Staff
Jim McGuiness
Hayes Morrison, City of Somerville
Julia Prang, Medford resident
Brad Rosen, City of Somerville
Carolyn Rosen, Green Line Advisory Group of Medford
Rep. Carl Sciortino, State Representative
Rachel Stark, Walking Arlington
Heather Van Aelst, Somerville resident
Lynn Weissman, Friends of the Community Path
Dr. William Wood, Green Line Advisory Group of Medford
Introduction
James Coleman, Assistant Commissioner of MassDEP opened the public meeting 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
State Implementation Plan (SIP) projects under DEP’s 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 Status Report for
these projects [submitted by MassDOT to DEP in July 2011] and for MassDOT’s petition to
delay the Fairmount Line Improvement project and the 1,000 New Park and Ride Parking Spaces
project. DEP is also seeking preliminary feedback on MassDOTs petition to remove the final
design of the Red Line/Blue Line Connector project from the SIP requirements.
Within 120 days of this meeting, MassDOT is required to summarize and respond to public
comments in writing. Within 60 days of receiving that summary/response document, MassDEP
must then determine whether the public process requirements of the SIP regulation have been
met. Written comments on the SIP Annual Report will be accepted until 5:00pm on September,
20, 2011. 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 02108 or
jerome.grafe@state.ma.us.
Page 2
Status Report
David Mohler, Executive Director of MassDOT’s Office of Transportation Planning, provided a
summary of the status on the SIP projects, all of which are currently behind schedule.
The Fairmount Line Improvement project includes the construction of four new MBTA stations
and the reconstruction of two existing stations. The reconstruction of the two existing stations is
complete and the stations are open for passenger service. Three of the four new stations are
currently under construction and behind schedule. The Blue Hill Avenue Station is still being
designed. MassDOT has submitted a petition for delay [essentially a notification to DEP that a
project will not meet its SIP-mandated schedule] and recommended two interim offset mitigation
measures: a new MBTA shuttle bus between Andrew Square and the Boston Medical Center,
and increased frequency on two MBTA bus routes in the Roxbury, Mattapan, and Dorchester
corridor.
The 1,000 New Park and Ride Parking Spaces project is under construction, but construction of
the spaces at Wonderland Station is several months behind schedule. Given the brevity of the
delay, MassDOT is petitioning not to be required to provide any interim offset mitigation for this
project.
For the Red Line/Blue Line Connector project, MassDOT has completed conceptual design and a
Draft Environmental Impact Report. Per the requirements of the SIP, MassDOT must complete
final design of the project, but is not required to construct it. MassDOT is petitioning to remove
this project as a requirement from the SIP because it would cost $50 million to complete the final
design and because sufficient funding is not available to ultimately construct it.
The Green Line Extension to Medford Hillside with a spur to Union Square in Somerville is
required by the SIP to be completed by 2014. MassDOT is not able to meet that deadline and it is
now estimated that the project will take until 2018 to 2020 to complete. MassDOT is
recommending the creation Project Steering Group to expedite completion of the project. Soon
work will begin to identify interim offset mitigation measures, which much be operational by
2014 and which have the same or greater air quality benefit as the Green Line Extension.
Oral Testimony – 1pm Session
Mayor Joseph Curtatone, City of Somerville
Mayor Curtatone strongly objected to the delays on the Green Line Extension project. He spoke
about the benefits that the project could bring, including stimulating transit-oriented development
on under-utilized land, reducing vehicle miles traveled by 25,000 trips per day, improving
livability, fostering sustainability, and improving public health and the environment.
He emphasized that the anticipated delay in implementation perpetuates negative health effects,
such as heart and respiratory illnesses that stem from poor air quality resulting from traffic on I93. He also remarked on the declining quality of water in the Mystic River. He stated that a
cleaner mode of transportation is required. He urged adherence to the legal obligation and noted
that the Green Line Extension is the largest transportation control measure in the SIP.
Page 3
The Mayor expressed frustration with the ‘broken promises and lack of transparency’ from the
Commonwealth, and questioned why a risk analysis performed for the Green Line Extension has
not been made public. He stated that further delays are unacceptable and that the City of
Somerville will pursue every legal option to ensure the legal commitment is met.
Stephen Kaiser, Association of Cambridge Neighborhoods
Mr. Kaiser spoke to the issue of scheduling for the Green Line Extension project. He noted that
MassDOT successfully implemented the I-93 Fast 14 bridge replacement project this summer
and that much could be learned from the implementation of that project. He suggested that
expeditors be employed on MBTA projects.
He also spoke about the role the public can play to help MassDOT move the Green Line
Extension and other projects forward. The public could help to develop a financial plan for
MassDOT. He proposed a new schedule for the Green Line implementation with benchmarks for
completion of project segments (outlined more fully in a written comment). He also proposed
several cost saving measures for the MBTA.
Rep. Denise Provost, State Representative
Rep. Provost spoke regarding the Green Line Extension project and described the reactions to the
delay from her constituents, which she said ranges from cynicism about government, to shock,
distress, and chagrin. She stated that the project is essential to improve local and regional air
quality, for improving access to public transit, and for fostering economic development.
She noted that the project is a legal commitment and stated that delaying the project puts the
Commonwealth in danger of falling out of conformity with federal transportation requirements.
She remarked that MassDOT has backed away from statements made over the summer when it
reported that a design/build contractor would be retained by 2012, and also that the state has not
been transparent about how the project will be funded. She urged DEP to require that MassDOT
accelerate the project, make a clear schedule, and identify a funding source. She expressed
concern that the Commonwealth would find itself in a worse fiscal situation if it falls out of
conformity with federal law and regulation.
Alan Moore, Friends of the Community Path, Somerville resident
Mr. Moore expressed concern about the delay of the Green Line Extension and the Community
Path projects. He stated that the delay is unacceptable from a legal standpoint with regard to the
SIP commitments, in terms for funding conformity, and given that the Governor made a promise
to build the Extension. Citing a misallocation of transportation funds, he remarked about the
large amount of funding that was directed to the Big Dig and called for a shift away from
investment in highways to fund transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects, as the latter will help
meet MassDOT’s GreenDOT goals. He urged that the state fully fund the Green Line Extension,
rather than waiting for federal funding that likely will not materialize. State funding would allow
the project to move more quickly. He asked DEP to reject MassDOT’s petition.
Brian Clements, Boxborough resident
Page 4
Mr. Clements, an engineer, remarked upon the MBTA’s fiscal condition that is resulting from its
debt burden. He expressed concern that the SIP projects – although he believes they are all good
projects – could come at the expense of the existing MBTA system. He stated that the Governor
and Legislature must act to bring new revenue into the transportation system. He expressed his
desire to see public transit become the preferred transportation choice in Massachusetts and
made suggestions for interim offset measures. These include giving MassDOT credit for
increasing transit ridership. He suggested that when the current MBTA Commuter Rail contract
is up, it should be bid anew. The existing bonus structure should be removed, and penalties for
not meeting contract requirements and bonuses for increasing ridership should be added.
While he noted that MassDOT makes a good case for not completing the final design of the Red
Line/Blue Connector, he suggested that the conceptual design should be completed to the point
that areas can be identified that must be protected from development so that the future
development of the Connector is not precluded.
Jonah Petri, Somerville resident
Mr. Petri concurred with the comments made by Mayor Curtatone regarding the Green Line
Extension. He commented that the public has received few answers regarding MassDOT’s
reasons for delaying the project. He stated that this is not the time for the government to abandon
its most vulnerable citizens who are suffering the health impacts from poor air quality. He urged
DEP to make this project a priority, to reject MassDOT’s petition to delay the project, and to not
miss this opportunity to protect the health of citizens.
Rafael Mares, Conservation Law Foundation
Mr. Mares, an attorney, expressed doubts about the ability of one agency to oversee another, and
made a point about rubber stamping. He commented on each of the SIP projects.
Regarding the 1,000 New Park and Ride Parking Spaces project, he objected to MassDOT’s
petition to have no interim offset projects and stated that a four month delay in the project is not
without air quality impact. He also stated that the Wonderland Garage will be built in an area
with surrounding less expensive private parking options, so that the new garage will be underutilized.
He questioned why the Commonwealth is now claiming that the Red Line/Blue Connector
project has no air quality benefits and expressed support for designing the project so that it will
be ‘shovel-ready’ when federal money becomes available. If MassDOT believes the design
would become stale, it should petition for a delay rather than full removal.
Regarding the Green Line Extension, he noted that the risk analysis is the basis for the petition to
delay but that the analysis has not been released to the public. He also objected because
MassDOT asked CTPS to model potential interim offset projects prior having a public process.
He also objected to CTPS modeling potential interim offset projects for the Fairmount Line
Improvement project prior to disclosing the options to the public. He expressed disappointment
that the fare reduction proposal for that line does not go into effect sooner.
Page 5
He also submitted written comments.
Elisabeth Bayle, Medford resident
Ms. Bayle expressed disappointment regarding the delay of the Green Line Extension. She
remarked upon the extensive public outreach process, but stated that it has been a charade. She
expressed support for building the Green Line to Route 16, which was the preferred alternative
supported by over 2,000 petitioners and public officials. Changing the terminus to College
Avenue would make air quality worse for the residents of Medford Hillside due to traffic that
would come to that station, she said. She asked DEP to not allow further delays and to support
full funding for the project to a Route 16 terminus.
Merideth Levy, Somerville Community Corporation
Ms. Levy, a community organizer, discussed her work with residents of Somerville and the
impact that the Green Line Extension could have on their lives. The Extension could give access
to better jobs, allow for better commutes, improve economic development, and allow parents to
spend more time at home with children. She also spoke about the health issues facing Somerville
residents, such as asthma and other respiratory problems. She stated that the project needs to
happen as soon as possible to improve quality of life, and noted that a five-year delay can
represent a large timeframe in a child’s life. She also expressed concern that people could
become more disillusioned with government and cynical if the project is delayed, and civic spirit
could disappear.
John Elliot
Mr. Elliot asked MassDEP to reject MassDOT’s petition to delay the Green Line Extension
project, which he said is unacceptable in terms of air quality and a violation of the law. He called
the public process around the project a pointless charade. The consequences of delaying the
project could be a loss of federal transportation funding to the Commonwealth, he said. He stated
that a terminus at Route 16 should be fully funded as only that location meets the requirement to
bring the Green Line to Medford Hillside, will benefit environmental justice communities, and
can be the site of transit-oriented development. Further, he called for a proper accounting of the
cost of the Green Line Extension vehicle maintenance facility. He suggested looking oversees for
firms that can build the Extension if those here cannot do the work on a reasonable budget. He
advised that DEP should evaluate and publicize the environmental benefits of extending the
Green Line to Route 16, and urge the MPO to fully fund the project.
Daniel LeBlanc, Somerville Community Organization (SCO)
Mr. LeBlanc, CEO of the SCO, expressed support for Mayor Curtatone’s comments regarding
the Green Line Extension. He stated that it is incumbent upon MassDOT to visit the
environmental justice communities of Somerville to hear their views about the project. He also
asked DEP to assess the environmental considerations that will have to be mitigated if the project
is delayed. He will submit written comments.
Mark Chase, Livable Streets Alliance
Mr. Chase expressed concern about the delay of the Green Line Extension and expressed
agreement with Mayor Curatone's and Rafael Mares’ comments. He urged the state not to be
“penny wise and pound foolish,” noting that interim offset projects would be expensive and that
Page 6
the state could risk losing federal transportation dollars due to non-conformity. He also spoke
about the project’s benefits in terms of reducing the need for individuals to rely on cars; he said
that it can cost a person $7,000 per year to own and maintain a car. He urged DEP to not approve
MassDOT’s petition and noted that this action could force a frank conversation about how to
solve the state’s transportation finance problem.
Bill Deignan, City of Cambridge
Mr. Deignan spoke in favor of the Green Line Extension and noted the importance of expanded
transit options in the region which are critical for air quality, jobs, and mobility. The City of
Cambridge would like the state to focus more resources on the Green Line Extension. He will
submit written comments.
Ellin Reisner, Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership
Ms. Reisner expressed agreement with the former speakers, especially Mr. Mares. She then
commented on the Green Line Extension. She called on the MPO to show a funding source for
the project and noted that it is unlikely that the state will get federal New Starts funding. The
project will be further delayed if the state waits for New Starts funding and then gets rejected,
she argued. She suggested that the Massachusetts Port Authority, which has benefited from the
Big Dig, contribute to funding the Green Line Extension.
She remarked that MassDOT’s monthly status reports leading up to the July 2011 report showed
no indication that the project would be delayed beyond October 2015. She noted that other
alternatives besides monthly status reports should be looked at as way to monitor the project. She
called on MassDOT to put the same energy, creativity, and enthusiasm that it applied to the I-93
Fast 14 project into the Green Line Extension. And she noted the need to have the project
shovel-ready to be able to tap into funding when it becomes available. She also advised that the
project steering committee should work to open the Extension by 2015. She submitted written
comments.
Alex Epstein, Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee
Mr. Epstein expressed agreement with former speakers – Mayor Curtatone, Mr. Mares, and Ms.
Reisner – who spoke about the Green Line Extension in terms of health effects, emissions, and
legal commitment under the Clean Air Act. He spoke to the need to prioritize the project. Noting
that the FFY 2012-15 Transportation Improvement Program contains about $200 million for
highway expansion funds, he advocated for allocating highway funding to prioritize transit.
Much like the state completed the I-93 Fast 14 project, it could expedite the Green Line
Extension as a “Fast 2014” project. Further delays to the Green Line Extension project would
result in higher cost for taxpayers. He also noted the unlikelihood that any interim offset project
would have the same air quality benefits as the Green Line Extension project, which would be
equal to taking 25,000 vehicles off the road.
Wig Zamore, Somerville resident
Mr. Zamore spoke regarding the Green Line Extension project. He noted that the federal
transportation conformity regulations require fiscal constraint and environmental compliance,
however, the MPO’s LRTP and TIP are not fiscally constrained since there is not enough
funding included in it to fund the Green Line Extension and no line items or funding for interim
Page 7
offset projects in TIP. He also commented on the extraordinary length of time the project has
been in the works.
Speaking to the air quality benefits of the project, he stated that it would take 50 Fairmount Line
Improvement projects to produce the same air quality benefits of the Green Line Extension. He
also cited public health studies that linked pollution from mobile sources to increased mortality,
learning disabilities, and respiratory illness in people who live near highways.
Oral Testimony – 5pm Session
Senator Patricia Jehlen, State Senator
Senator Jehlen – speaking also on behalf of State Senator Sal DiDomenico, and State
Representatives Denise Provost, Timothy Toomey, Sean Garballey, and Carl Sciortino –
objected strenuously to the delay of the Green Line Extension project, which is a high priority for
each of these legislators and the cities they represent. She stated that the project is also important
for the Commonwealth for environmental, legal, and economic reasons. The project is a legal
obligation and delaying it will violate the SIP and the Clean Air Act, she said. Also, she said, the
Green Line Extension will provide the greatest air quality benefits of all the SIP projects.
To expedite the project, she said that it would be unnecessary to wait to construct the project
until all land parcels can be acquired and she stated that the maintenance facility could be
constructed in the final stages of the project. She asked DEP to require MassDOT to accelerate
the project and develop a financial plan that will allow for a timely completion. She noted that
with the I-93 Fast 14 project MassDOT has shown its ability to construct projects quickly. She
advocated for building the project to Route 16 and for building the Community Path.
Rep. Carl Sciortino, State Representative
Rep. Sciortino spoke to the environmental and economic benefits of the Green Line Extension
project, which he said has the best air quality benefits of the SIP projects. He noted that it would
take about five bus rapid transit projects or 40 Fairmount Line Improvement projects to equal the
air quality benefits of the Green Line Extension, and that the Commonwealth cannot afford the
mitigation that would be required for delaying the project. He called for a creative and aggressive
approach to meeting the project deadline. He also remarked that it is problematic that the
project’s risk analysis is not available to the public. He called on DEP to keep the pressure on
MassDOT, and for the development of a project timeline with benchmarks and a transparent
finance plan.
Dr. William Wood, Green Line Advisory Group of Medford (GLAM)
Dr. Wood made comments regarding the Green Line Extension project. He opposes terminating
the line at Route 16 due to concerns that extending the line to West Medford will result in
gentrification of that area and displacement of residents. (He did, however, express support for
the project if it terminates at College Avenue.) He expressed opinions regarding what he believes
are violations of civil rights and ADA laws. He expressed concern about the potential for land
takings of homes in West Medford and about his perception that African-American,
environmental justice, and disabled populations are not included in the project planning process.
He also stated that the Green Line meetings were held in buildings that are inaccessible to the
Page 8
disabled, and that no meetings were held in West Medford. He advocated for delaying the overall
Green Line Extension project.
Carolyn Rosen, GLAM
Ms. Rosen made comments regarding the Green Line Extension project. She also opposes
terminating the line at Route 16 due to concerns about gentrification of that area and
displacement of residents.
She also expressed concerns that MassDOT is only hearing input on the project from a small
group of activists who support the project, while the voices of people in the environmental
justice and disability communities are not being heard. She stated that Green Line Extension
public meetings were held in buildings that are inaccessible to the disabled. She questioned the
relationship between MassDOT and ‘special interests’ which she said has resulted in the
marginalization of and discrimination against environmental justice and disability communities.
She noted that GLAM has called for a federal investigation into MassDOT to determine whether
the project planning process is in line with the Civil Rights Act and ADA, that a civil rights
complaint has been filed against the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, and
that the credibility of the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) is in question due to
its role in the public outreach process for the Green Line Extension project. She said that it is
imperative that Governor Patrick enforce Executive Order 478 [regarding non-discrimination,
equal opportunity, diversity, and affirmative action].
Ms. Rosen also raised financial concerns regarding the possibility that the Commonwealth may
have to fully bond the Green Line Extension project, and the ability of the MBTA to expand
when it is already faced with a maintenance backlog. She also expressed opposition to ‘land
banking’ by the state.
For her articulated financial and civil rights reasons, she does not support extending the Green
Line beyond College Avenue, as that is the legal requirement. She advocated for delaying the
project, conducting studies based on cost-benefit analyses and with financial breakdowns, and
conducting social equity studies. She suggested building the project in phases.
She submitted written comments and other documentation regarding concerns voiced by a
member of the public.
Stephen Kaiser
Mr. Kaiser raised a few issues concerning the design of parts of the Green Line Extension
project. He offered suggestions regarding the design of the Brickbottom area, including a
suggestion to implement the original master plan for the Boston Engine Terminal to allow
additional storage for MBTA Commuter Rail trains, and to relocate the drill track so that
Commuter Rail trains will not be idling outside residential buildings. He also raised concerns
about a pedestrian crossing at the Lechmere station.
Page 9
Karen Malloy, Somerville resident, STEP, Friends of the Community Path
Ms. Malloy urged DEP to reject MassDOT’s petition to delay the Green Line Extension project
and urged MassDOT to open the Extension by 2014, noting that the project is a model for the
vision of MassDOT’s GreenDOT policy. She cited the project’s ability to reduce the use of fossil
fuels. She also noted that other cities – Dallas and Salt Lake City – have built rail systems
recently in a similar timeframe and under budget. Lauding the I-93 Fast 14 project, she
questioned why the Green Line Extension project has not been given the same priority.
Jim McGuiness
Mr. McGuiness stated that MassDOT’s petition to delay the Green Line Extension project does
not meet the requirements of the SIP for three main reasons: air quality benefits will not be met
on schedule; the financing of the project is not credible; and building the line to College Avenue
does not meet the requirement to build the project to Medford Hillside.
He spoke regarding the project delays and missed milestones, and noted that the project has been
given low priority by MassDOT. He dismissed land acquisition as a reason to delay the project,
stating that the process for taking private land should only take 6-12 months and that business
relocations are not in the critical path of the project. He also noted that the construction of a
maintenance facility is not required under the SIP.
Mr. McGuiness also emphasized the importance of compliance with the Clean Air Act, and
noted that the project will benefit public health. He said that Somerville has significant
transportation burdens and residents experience higher mortality due to pollution from mobile
sources.
He asked DEP to reject MassDOT’s petition and to implement the project on a faster schedule.
He also submitted written comments.
Rachel Stark, Walking Arlington
Ms. Stark spoke in support of the Green Line Extension project and public transit in general,
citing role played by transit in improving national security. She stated that extending the Green
Line would be a small but meaningful step toward reducing the country’s ‘addiction to cheap
fossil fuels from foreign nations.’ She expressed support for extending the Green Line even
further to Arlington.
She expressed that the MBTA’s debt from the Big Dig rightly belongs not to transit but to
highways. She asked the MBTA to ‘carry on boldly’ and tap the support it has from the public.
She called for improvements to the MBTA system in terms of vehicle frequency and reliability
and customer service, and she spoke to the need for better bicycle and pedestrian access.
Micaela Preskill, MassPIRG
Ms. Preskill urged DEP to deny MassDOT’s petition to delay the Green Line Extension project
and to require MassDOT to complete the final design of the Red Line/Blue Line Connector
project. Expressing support for investment in public transit, she noted that public transportation
takes cars off the road, reduces congestion, and relieves dependence on fossil fuels.
Page 10
Regarding the Green Line Extension, she pointed to the legal mandate to construct the project
and noted that the project is the largest transportation control measure in the SIP. She stated that
MassDOT must show realistic funding and complete the project in a timely manner, but that it
has not created a fiscally constrained plan. Further delays would harm the communities affected
by the project and would also jeopardize federal funding, she said.
Regarding the Red Line/Blue Line Connector project, she spoke about the project’s ability to
increase transit ridership, take cars off the road, provide critical links in the transit system, and
help the state meet the goals of the Global Warming Solutions Act. She advocated for designing
the project so that it will be shovel ready when federal funding is available.
Heather Van Aelst, Somerville resident
Ms. Van Aelst urged DEP to deny MassDOT’s petition to delay the Green Line Extension
project. She called the project a great piece of sustainable transportation that has been delayed
too long. The delays have harmful impacts in terms of air quality and in terms of how people are
planning their lives.
Lynn Weissman, Friends of the Community Path
Ms. Weissman urged DEP to enforce the legal and environmental obligations of the Green Line
Extension project. She noted that it will cost taxpayers an estimated $200 million more to build
the Extension and to mitigate the project if it is delayed. She stated that no other project could
have the same air quality benefit as the Green Line Extension project. She noted the large
number of supporters of the Green Line Extension and Community Path projects. On a personal
note, she expressed concern about the effect of poor air quality on her children. She noted that
the Commonwealth has not been treating the Green Line Extension project as a priority.
Julia Prang, Medford resident
Ms. Prang, a member of the Green Line Extension Design Working Group, expressed support for
the Green Line Extension project. She remarked upon the history of Somerville and stated that it
has been ‘trampled on and neglected,’ citing the the transportation infrastructure that runs
through the city but does not serve it. She said the Green Line Extension will provide Somerville
residents with the transit access they need and quality of life they deserve.
Ethan Contini-Field, Somerville resident
Mr. Field urged DEP to reject MassDOT’s petition to delay the Green Line Extension project and
called for the project to be completed by 2014. He remarked upon the unlikelihood of the state
getting federal New Starts funding, and stated that the project would cost more if delayed and
have a human toll in terms of health. The environmental and public health benefits of the Green
Line Extension and the Community Path are great, he said. He noted that no other mitigation
project would have the same positive impact.
Ken Krause, Medford resident
Mr. Krause remarked upon the very slow progress of the Green Line Extension project and stated
that the lack of progress in unacceptable. He expressed disappointment that DEP has not been a
stronger leader on this project, given the project’s environmental benefits, and frustration with
the public process. He called on DEP to reject MassDOT’s petition to delay the project, take a
Page 11
more aggressive and prominent role in overseeing the project, demand adherence to timelines,
and help MassDOT with resources for the project.
Hayes Morrison, City of Somerville
Ms. Morrison asked DEP to reject MassDOT’s petition to delay the Green Line Extension
project. She noted that Somerville, the most densely populated city in New England, has readied
itself for the project and its residents have signed petitions in support of it. She noted that the
project it the only one in the Regional Transportation Plan for the Boston Region that will result
in meaningful mode shift as it will reduce vehicle miles traveled by 25,000 vehicles per day, and
that it is the Commonwealth’s largest transportation control measure. She stated that the project
should be a priority for funding. To continue to delay would prevent Somerville residents from
moving away from auto dependence and ‘condemn their children to the same fate.’
Brad Rosen, City of Somerville
Mr. Rosen asked DEP to reject MassDOT’s petition to delay the Green Line Extension project.
He noted that Somerville contains a diverse and talented workforce that is disconnected from
jobs in the region and that the Green Line Extension will promote smart growth and transitoriented development that will create jobs and housing. This economic development will
generate tax revenue for the Commonwealth. He also remarked upon the Green Line’s potential
for removing thousands of cars from the roads each day.
Fred Berman, Somerville resident, Somerville Community Corporation
Mr. Berman asked DEP to reject MassDOT’s petition to delay the Green Line Extension project.
He remarked upon the strong level of participation by the environmental justice and disability
communities in Somerville who support the Green Line Extension but have concerns about
displacement. He noted that his organization is working with the city on development that
doesn’t displace people. He stated that the Green Line is essential to the well-being of the city, to
creating jobs, and to creating a modal shift from cars to transit. To not build the project would
undermine planning conducted by MAPC that forecasts job growth, and undermine the
credibility of government, he said. He called on the state to follow through on its commitment
and find the resources to build the Green Line.
Robert LaTravoy, Cambridge resident
Mr. LaTravoy, who has 35 years of transportation experience, expressed that he is pleased to see
the work MassDOT has done on the South Coast. He remarked that in the 1950s, mass transit
was destroyed for highway transportation, and now the resumption of mass transit is being
destroyed by burdening transit with highway debt from the Big Dig. He stated that this is
irresponsible. He stated that the Red Line/Blue Line Connector project is crucial because the
transit system downtown is overloaded. He advocated against shelving this project.
Patricia Davis, Medford resident
Ms. Davis expressed frustration about the delays to the Green Line Extension project. She noted
that the delays are insulting to the community that has put a lot of work into the project, and
expressed concern that work done on station designs will not be relevant if the project is delayed.
She noted Somerville residents suffer health problems due to pollution from transportation lines
Page 12
that run through it. She also remarked upon her neighbors who are low-income, hard-working
people who deal with difficult commutes.
John Kramer, Marshfield resident
Mr. Kramer expressed that the Green Line Extension project must be completed and delays that
result in cost over-runs must be stopped. He suggested selling or privatizing some of the MBTA
bus services, which he said are too expensive to run. He called for MBTA services to run 24
hours a day and seven days a week.
Jason Fuller, Somerville resident
Mr. Fuller expressed support for the Red Line/Blue Line Connector and the Green Line
Extension projects. Regarding the need for the Green Line, he noted that he commutes by bicycle
because the buses are never on time. He also noted that the MBTA service shuts down too early.
He asked MassDOT to deny MassDOT’s petition to delay the Green Line Extension.
Questions and Comments
A question was raised regarding the type and scope of interim offset measures that might be
approved to mitigate for the delay in the Green Line Extension project. Mr. Mohler explained the
process for developing mitigation packages, which will involve public outreach to develop
proposed projects that can be implemented and show air quality improvements that are equal or
exceed the benefits of the Green Line Extension by 2014. DEP will review the proposed
mitigation package to determine if the package will deliver the appropriate air quality benefits
and if it can be done on time. No single project will mitigate for the delay, rather a package of
projects will be needed. An example of such projects might include operating projects, such as
additional transit service, or parking projects. Ideas are welcome.
Dr. Wood and Ms. Rosen called for a study to be conducted on the potential health impacts of
siting the terminus of the Green Line Extension at Route 16. Ms. Rosen stated that the state’s
transportation reform bill requires such health studies and that it should be part of the mitigation
package. Dr. Wood also asked if the agencies would follow the Civil Rights and ADA laws and
Executive Order 478. Mr. Coleman and Mr. Mohler responded that the laws would be adhered to
and that the agencies would take corrective action if necessary.
Page 13