Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, along with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler, and several other state, local, and federal elected leaders to celebrate the opening of the first branch of the Green Line Extension (GLX) project during a ribbon-cutting at the new Union Square Station and the newly relocated Lechmere Station.
The $2.3 billion project extends the Green Line approximately 4.7 miles along the Union Square Branch and the Medford Branch from the relocated Lechmere Station in East Cambridge. The Medford Branch is anticipated to open in the summer of 2022 and 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.
“The Green Line Extension is a transformative project that is the result of collaboration among federal, state, local, and community partners, and our administration is thrilled to celebrate today’s launch. This expansion of the Green Line will improve access to educational and job opportunities throughout the MTBA system and across the region,” Baker said. “This milestone will have a significant impact on this region of the Commonwealth by providing better MBTA service to riders and spurring economic growth, and we are grateful to everyone who worked together to make this day possible.”
When completed, the Green Line trains will operate every five to six minutes during peak periods, providing services to areas that previously did not have access to reliable public transit. Officials said GLX would also reduce vehicle emissions by supporting increased ridership, improving local and regional air quality. About 20 percent of Somerville’s population is within walking distance of rail transit today, and about 80 percent will be within walking distance to a station when the project is completed.
“Residents within these communities and across the region will now get to experience the many benefits of expanded MBTA service in Somerville, Cambridge, and Medford,” Polito said. “The Green Line Extension has been an important part of our administration’s work to expand transit options for travelers across the Commonwealth, and we look forward to the opening of the second branch of GLX later this year.”