MBTA Green Line Extension Opens

On March 21 Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler, and MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak   joined federal, state, and local elected leaders and community partners to celebrate the opening of the first branch of the MBTA Green Line Extension (GLX) Project. A ribbon-cutting event was held at the brand-new Union Square Station as well as the newly constructed and relocated Lechmere Station.

A Green Line train cuts the ribbon at the brand new, relocated Lechmere Station

The GLX Project extends the Green Line approximately 4.7 miles along two branches – the Union Square Branch and the Medford Branch – from the relocated Lechmere Station in East Cambridge. The Medford Branch of GLX, which is anticipated to open in summer 2022, will run approximately 3.7 miles parallel to the Lowell Commuter Rail Line to College Avenue in Medford. Seven new stations were constructed as part of the project, including the relocated Lechmere Station, along with a new vehicle storage and maintenance facility in Somerville. When fully complete, Green Line trains will operate every five to six minutes in the peak periods, providing fast and efficient service in areas that did not previously have access to reliable public transit. GLX will also significantly reduce vehicle emissions on the road by supporting anticipated increased ridership and dramatically improve local and regional air quality when GLX is complete. About 20% of Somerville’s population is within walking distance of rail transit today, and 80% will be within walking distance to a station at the completion of the project.

-via Press Release

This article was posted on: March 25, 2022