The shutdown of the brand new Green Line Extension for six weeks is “cause for alarm,” Somerville state representatives wrote to MassDOT and MBTA this week as they raised a number of considerations in regards to the service disruption for T riders through the center of summer time.
Last Thursday forward of the vacation weekend, the MBTA introduced that Green Line service between Lechmere and Union Square stations will halt for 42 days from July 18 to Aug. 28. This is because of MassDOT restore work on the Route 28 Squires Bridge, which crosses over tracks close to Union Square station.
The Somerville reps — Mike Connolly, Christine Barber and Erika Uyterhoeven — on Monday wrote a letter to MassDOT Secretary Gina Fiandaca, the MBTA board and MBTA GM Phillip Eng about yet one more journey nightmare for the area.
The state reps stated they’re involved that the choice journey bus choices is not going to be sufficient through the six-week service disruption.
“We want to make sure that we’re serving the public, and that we’re not allowing a major gap in service to fall through the cracks here,” Connolly informed the Herald after the reps despatched the letter to MassDOT and the MBTA.
He famous that the Green Line Extension shutdown will begin on July 18, in two weeks.
“We’re hopeful that we can see some more robust accommodations for riders before then,” Connolly stated.
This T shutdown “isn’t your typical MBTA nightmare so to speak,” he added, pointing to the MassDOT mission on McGrath Highway as the explanation for the service disruption. MassDOT must restore deteriorating metal on the Squires Bridge, which can in the end impression the Green Line service.
When the MBTA introduced the six-week shutdown, the T stated riders might use present bus service. The state reps are skeptical that the T’s present bus service will probably be sufficient for all of Union Square’s Green Line riders all through the day.
“As elected representatives of Somerville, the most densely populated city in the Commonwealth and home to significant environmental justice communities — this is cause of alarm,” the state reps wrote within the letter.
“… The T must either do more to show how existing bus service can accommodate all Union Square riders, or else make provisions to schedule additional MBTA buses or to hire shuttle buses as needed,” they later wrote.
The state reps are additionally asking the T to make buses free at Union Square to assist velocity up boarding through the shutdown.
“It’s worth remembering the Green Line Extension was the product of a legal mandate designed to address the impact of air pollution associated with highway expansion in the first place,” the state reps wrote. “And yet, despite all this, the only alternative being offered here is to rely on existing MBTA bus service, which has often been unreliable and recently faced a fresh round of scheduling cuts, including to the 86 and 87 buses.”
The Herald reached out to the MBTA in regards to the letter from the state reps, and a spokesperson for the MBTA punted to MassDOT in regards to the restore mission.
A spokesperson for MassDOT stated in a press release, “MassDOT is reviewing the letter and working closely with the project team and the MBTA on developing a response and addressing concerns raised.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”