This is finally in motion after 40 years of discussion. This project will extend existing MBTA Green Line service from Lechmere Station through the northwest Boston corridor communities of Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford, with an extension of the main line to Medford and a spur line to Union Square in Somerville. Somerville being the most densely populated city in New England is in dire need of more public transportation hubs. The Green Line will provide just that. Although the exact stops are not set in stone they are discussing potential stops in Union Square, Somerville High School & City Hall, Lowell Street, Magoun/Ball Square, Tufts, and ending in W. Medford. Neighborhoods in East Arlington will also benefit from this. The goals of the project are to increase mobility, encourage public transit usage, improve regional air quality, ensure a more equitable distribution of transit services, and support opportunities for sustainable development. The current phase for this project is scheduled to last 18 months and is focused on finalizing best route and station locations for the new transit service by moving into conceptual engineering and preparing the necessary state and federal environmental review documents. The project is expected to open by the last day of 2014 and is projected to cost $700 million. Katherine Fichter of the Office of Transportation Planning said the EOTPW “hopes to get half of the project costs from FTA grants,” and the rest will be borne by the state. If no FTA funds are granted, the state will bear the entirety of the cost.
Overall I think there is a tremendous opportunity for buyers to take advantage of investing in property near neighborhoods that will be seeing the Green Line. Just remember what the Red Line did to Davis Square back in 1984. I particularly would pay attention to the Somerville neighborhood behind Ball Square in between Broadway and Highland Ave on either side of Willow Ave. Residents in these neighborhoods will not only be walking distance from the Red line, but also the Green Line as well.
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