MGNA: Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will receive $26.6 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funding for transit upgrades and improvements in Boston, the agency said today.

 The grant will pay for the rehabilitation of the diesel ventilation system at Boston’s Back Bay Rail Station, installation of bike parking facilities at subway and commuter rail stations and the purchase of 108 lift-equipped, eight-passenger vans with three wheelchair berths for the RIDE paratransit service, the agency said. 

Meanwhile, the commonwealth has created website that includes an interactive project map for tracking

Federal stimulus funds available through ARRA are now being invested in “shovel-ready” projects across the Commonwealth. Massachusetts received authority under ARRA to spend $437.9 million over two years on road and bridge projects. An additional $319 million will fund urban and regional transit projects.

Source:

and Commonwealth Conversations/Transportation.

The Green Line is coming to College Ave. & Boston Ave. near the Somerville line

How do you think the Green Line will affect:

- Transportation?

- Pollution?

- Green space/open space?

- Rent and property taxes?

- Your favorite businesses?

Come talk with your neighbors and share what you value in your community

Your ideas are important!

Community Meeting
Sponsored by Community Corridor Planning (CCP)
Monday, June 29
6:15-8:15 PM

Tufts Administration Bldg (TAB)
169 Holland Street

Map of the location.

Parking: Those with a Somerville resident sticker can park on the street. Others can park in the lot in front of the building or on the side.

Interpretation and childcare services will be available (Please call 617 776-5931 x 230 to arrange)  A partnership of Groundwork Somerville, the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP), the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) and the Somerville Community Health Agenda, CCP is a grassroots, non-profit coalition committed to resident participation in planning for a livable, equitable Somerville.For more information: Contact CCP at 617.628.9988, 617.776.5931×230 or communitycorridorplanning@groundworksomerville.org

Jennifer Lawrence
Executive Director
Groundwork Somerville
“Changing Places, Changing Lives”
(617)628-9988 (p)
(207) 651-1972 (c)
(617) 623-5943 (f)

By Boston Globe Staff | June 17, 2009 08:31 PM

A landmark bill that would abolish the much-reviled Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and consolidate multiple state transportation agencies into a single, new entity has been agreed upon by the state House and Senate.

“This bill eliminates the antiquated and inefficient transportation structure in Massachusetts,” House Speaker Robert DeLeo said. “It also brings considerable cost-savings.”

“This is a landmark occasion for the Commonwealth, which has never seen such a dramatic restructuring of its transportation system” said Senate President Therese Murray. “We will all benefit from this major reform for decades to come.”

House and Senate leaders said in their joint statement issued this evening that they expected both chambers would pass the bill Thursday and send it to Governor Deval Patrick for his signature. The new agency would begin operating Nov. 1.

The legislation would be the second major initiative passed by the Legislature in two weeks. Last week, the House and Senate passed a pension reform bill. The bill was signed by the governor this week.

Formation of the new agency, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, would allow the elimination of layers of bureaucracy and sharing of resources and could save the state $6.5 billion during the next 20 years, the statement said.

The new agency would be overseen by a five-member board appointed by the governor. The agency would have four divisions: Registry of Motor Vehicles, Highway, Mass Transit, and Aeronautics.