PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE
GREEN LINE EXTENSION PROJECT
SUBMITTED BY
GREEN LINE ADVISORY GROUP FOR MEDFORD (GLAM)
Chairperson Carolyn Rosen
c/o 25 Bussell Road
Medford, Mass.
02155
SUBMITTED TO
The Honorable City Council of Medford
Transportation Subcommittee
Medford City Hall
85 George P. Hassett Drive
Medford, Mass.
02155
With copies to
Katherine Fichter and Stephen Woelfel
Executive Office of Transportation
Office of Transportation Planning
Room 4150
Ten Park Plaza
Boston, Mass. 02116
February 25, 2008
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The public comments submitted herein are the
observations and input of Green Line Advisory Group for Medford (GLAM) committee members from their attendance at the civic
engagement meetings held by the Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) and conducted by its engineering consultants, Vanasse
Hangen Brustlin, and its communication consultants, Regina Villa Associates, since mid January.
In this public comment report, we will speak
to the lack of adequate outreach to the Medford community, particularly those abutters who will be directly impacted by this proposed transit project. Based upon the first announcement of the January 23, 2008 meeting by EOT, GLAM members immediately
took action together and individually in conveying our dismay directly to Regina Villa Associates and to EOT on the short
timespan of public notices and inadequate outreach in our community. There appeared
to be, in our opinion, a seeming favoritism toward the Somerville advocacy community with their meetings placed later in the calendar.
In speaking of the Somerville community, there appears to
be a cultural war growing within the Green Line process. Our members were surprised
to find many Somerville and Arlington residents, including members of the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP), a public transportation advocacy
group, attend station workshop meetings regarding Medford station locations. In comparison, GLAM is neutral on its position of the proposed Green Line Extension. GLAM does not attend Somerville workshop meetings on purpose since we are only trying to serve Medford.
Many of these Somerville residents and Somerville groups conducted lobbying efforts
to sway Medford residents on station locations. At one such “Medford” station workshop, one of
our members even recognized a staff member of the Somerville Community Development Department in heated debate with Medford
Hillside abutters regarding their concern of eminent domain and traffic issues in the three proposed station sites there. In the last workshop meeting for the proposed Route 16 Somerville site, Arlington residents also attended to advocate
for their ability to access the Green Line through Medford neighborhoods. If EOT was trying to determine potential
neighborhood impacts by learning those issues through Medford abutters and other Medford residents’ experiences, the question becomes how would a Somerville or Arlington resident know of such impacts. And how did EOT distinguish the Somerville and Arlington resident comments from Medford resident comments unless they
truly did not care?
We found EOT’s station proposal workshops
less than credible due to their avoidance of specific answers to questions asking for detail around station design, eminent
domain, traffic and bridge replacement impact among other issues. Instead of
performing alternative analyses first to determine mitigation and impact issues on the community, studies that would have
provided residents key information in making informed decisions, EOT instead chose to sell ideas of station locations leaving
one to wonder if these meetings were nothing but to soft/hard sell station locations.
We, in GLAM, support meetings that gather information from the people who will be impacted. General information meetings
should not be just to soft/hard sell station sitings to residents.
In the case of the Ball Square workshop, they proposed
Harvard and Boston Avenue, an intersection with many, obvious mitigation issues. When
community outrage became obvious, EOT quickly backed down on this proposal. Was
this a political ploy on the part of EOT? That is the question of GLAM members
since much of the drawings presented on proposed station locations through the Medford corridor seemed to be drawn to favor the benefit
of Somerville and Tufts University, along with transit advocates, while proposing threats to small business and residents homes for Medford.
Now we understand that this proposed station location maybe back on the table.
EOT often contradicted itself in various workshop
meetings. At the general informational meetings and in the first station workshop
meeting concerning Ball Square, EOT and the engineering consultants mentioned that they wanted to minimize land taking and
disruption to the community around concerns of traffic congestion. Yet in the
Route 16 Somerville station workshop that they held in South Medford they presented engineering drawings that illustrated
definite land taking of a gas station and adjacent housing based upon a proposed parking garage that had not been noted before
in presentations to the community concerning the Green Line extension. It
should be noted here that the proposed Route 16 Somerville site is beyond the State Implementation Plan (SIP). Therefore this site has not yet been studied for its feasibility and environmental impacts. Also, there was no mention of a possible small maintenance facility in the drawings nor were terminuses
shown. These two issues would impact the neighborhood greatly.
As noted above, many of the proposed station
sites brought forth many obvious issues of concern that caused fear among abutters who live along the proposed corridor. In Webster’s Dictionary, to mitigate means to “make less serious or severe.” Therefore, GLAM believes it is paramount that mitigation be brought to bear
now in studies regarding the Green Line Extension by the city of Medford to ensure our community is protected and that we are made aware in studies of impact to the community.
As one Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance
(MGNA) supporter stated to a GLAM member at the Hillside workshop, MGNA does not want mitigate for fear they will not get the Green Line. In EOT’s rush
to meet legal mandates and to pacify those external and internal political forces that have only the intent of self-interest,
we believe that our city officials need to speak up now to forge mitigation within studies for the protection of Medford residents.
Outreach and Public Participation
GLAM has been aware for quite some time that
many Medford residents are still not aware of the proposed Green Line Extension project and both its positive and negative implications. Much of this lack of information is due to the poor public notification and outreach
done by EOT and its communication’s company on this significant project.
Many of the public meetings held on this project in the past were located in Somerville with little publicity in Medford.
This is the same communications company that
did the original outreach to Medford in the first go round that was a dismal failure. We
are wondering if something is not awry here. The public choice theory states
that you should have all input, including abutters and their neighbors.
Therefore, GLAM members reacted with great
dismay at the short notice EOT provided the Medford community concerning the January 23, 2007 Project General Information meeting. While Somerville received ample opportunity on upcoming meetings, Medford received less than a week’s public notice
in its local newspapers, the Medford Transcript. We called EOT and wrote public
comments to them on our concern that EOT was again showing lack of good faith in educating the Medford public about the Green Line Extension
project. We requested in our comments and phone calls a second meeting in Medford to ensure that there was adequate
time for the public to take notice of this project and to arrange their schedules accordingly to attend.
Although we are pleased that at our urging
EOT scheduled another Project General Informational meeting in Medford for February 27th at Century Bank, we have
found EOT’s public outreach on its meetings, including station workshop meetings, very inadequate. We have received numerous complaints from abutters that they received flyers at their house the day
of a station workshop in their neighborhood. Some received no flyers at all and
only heard of meetings at the last minute through word of mouth from neighbors, friends and through GLAM’s information
listing notices.
Although a Medford representative of the EOT Advisory
committee advised them of these outreach problems, EOT instead bowed to Somerville’s way of doing things. Then Somerville worked in the background to discredit this advisor, who has been fair and equal in the process. What is the role of the Advisory Board if not to advise? Still EOT depends mostly on computer email notices without taking into consideration that there are
many people who chose not to or cannot afford Internet access.
Is the EOT advisory board only for Somerville,
the dominant group? Why is Somerville afraid of letting Medford have its own public meetings with
the majority of Medford residents? Somerville participants’ acrimonious style in meetings truly gives residents of Medford more of a reason not to go to
meetings, thus discouraging public participation.
It is apparent from talking to staff at Regina
Villa Associates that EOT has put little resources into public notices. GLAM
members suggested to EOT a couple of Advisory meetings back that they should specifically send letters through the mail abutters. We have seen the City of Medford successfully use this particular method when addressing neighborhood issues within the city. Yet,
EOT did not follow through with this recommendation to the best of our knowledge and feedback we have received through the
community.
In addition, the most recent Transcript edition,
there was no notification from EOT regarding the Feb. 27th meeting. The
Transcript is the most widely read paper in the community. Whether you are a
proponent, opponent or neutral on the subject, you should be made aware of public meetings as a citizen of Medford.
GLAM has instead put its own public letters in the paper encouraging all members of the community to attend these meetings. We hope that we have had some effect in getting the public to these important
informational meetings.
We recently suggested that EOT’s communication
consultants investigate a reverse 911 type system that would allow them to leave phone messages for Medford residents regarding these meetings. We have been told that EOT is investigating this suggestion, but we fear they have
no real intent since notices for the upcoming February 27th meeting have seen even less public outreach.
In fact, one of our abutter members who is
signed up on EOT’s website recently complained to Regina Villa Associates that EOT’s most recent email notice
to her suggests that the meeting is only for those with interest in public transit.
She felt in this way that EOT was downplaying this meeting and indirectly discouraging abutters and other Medford residents whom will be impacted
by this project.
The station workshop meetings were disorganized
and chaotic in regards to gaining feedback on survey drawings for station locations.
Only those who could push their way through were heard. In this method,
people with disabilities were left out of meeting participation, which was witnessed by a Medford community development staff member. Residents often had to jostle to get a space at the tables to be heard, often competing
with residents from Somerville and Arlington to get their comments heard. Residents with disabilities
could not hear in the rooms nor were they provided a separate table or designated space at the tables provided. Public address systems are always bad.
Sound systems at the station workshop meetings
have been poor. Both the hearing impaired and non-hearing impaired have had difficulty
hearing at these meetings. This is based on complaints we heard at the meetings
and complaints received at these workshops. Meeting rooms have been inadequate
in size. As one GLAM member was told by a staff member at Regina Villa Associates,
they did not expect much participation by the community. Who were they expecting,
public transit riders only? Or just Somerville since they appear to have done their homework
mostly in Somerville in earlier group meetings prior to the station workshop meetings?
Cultural War
GLAM members are aware that MGNA and STEP have
been working hand in hand as transit advocates to push the proposed Green Line extension to Route 16 Somerville and that they
have a close relationship with EOT officials, often on a first name basis. This
knowledge is based on MGNA meetings that some of us have attended and based on publicly available STEP minutes over the last
two years.
But many Medford residents just learning about
this project were surprised to find Somerville residents actively participating in the station workshop meetings that were
particular to Medford. In fact, one of our members recognized a staff member
of the Somerville Community Development department debating Medford residents who were commenting on consequences they saw in the Hillside proposals. There
also was lobbying of Medford residents by Somerville’s representatives on the EOT Advisory Committee.
In one station workshop meeting concerning
Route 16 Somerville, there even was Arlington residents in attendance pushing for the Green Line in Medford for access by Arlington. The presence of Arlington residents advocating for a Route
16 Somerville station, especially with the proposal of a parking facility before all meeting attendees without studies that
was obviously going to cause land taking of businesses and adjacent housing, gave the impression that Arlington was pushing for park and ride. Therefore, many Medford residents expressed to GLAM concern that their voices were being negated as they were being told
by MGNA members and Somerville and Arlington residents that they must sacrifice their quality of life for the greater good of Somerville and Arlington.
The Route 16 workshop was probably the most
acrimonious that we attended due to what we would categorize as a cultural war. Many
of the Medford abutters attending this workshop were moderate-income families who were fearful for their homes and property and other
impacts of the project. These moderate-income families included those with disabilities
and long time elderly residents who were faced with hostile advocacy tactics by mainly young professionals. These moderate-income families were also being pressured by outside advocates who seemed insensitive to
the fact that EOT had just presented a proposal that represented land takings and displacement, even after being advised by
Medford EOT Advisory member, City Councilor Fred Dello Russo, that this was a hot issue.
Both the Mayor of the city of Medford and City Councilors such as Bob Maiocco has stated that land taking is unacceptable.
There is the cultural war of those who trust
the government to do the right thing and want the Green Line at any cost to the community versus those who have experienced
a less than honest process where station sites proposed on paper actually show up in other areas. For example, although EOT documents state proposal of a station at Ball Square, they actually propose
a station instead at the intersection of Harvard Street and Boston Avenue to prevent construction disruption of Broadway in Somerville. They
propose a station siting across from the Brooking Street to provide access to Tufts while impacting on abutters across the track. EOT proposes a station at Route 16 with feasibility studies while also proposing a previously unannounced
parking facility that obviously requires land taking of businesses and adjacent housing.
This is significant, obvious land taking that in prior workshops EOT consultant’s state they are trying to minimize
regarding this public transit project.
No where in the station drawings was there
a depiction of the concept of a maintenance site, as referenced in the RFR. Nor
was there the concept of a terminus that would require vehicles to turn around. The
objection was made at the meetings that the drawings were not complete.
It also was objected to that the pollution
driven commuter rail was being placed next to the abutters’ homes from College Avenue to Route 16 Somerville where they would
be exposed to denser diesel pollution. EOT could not answer how they were going
to minimize the pollution from the commuter and freight trains. If they cannot
find a way to minimize this pollution, then Medford will easily become environmentally overburdened.
EOT did not mention that under the New Starts
program a maintenance center is required such as in the Haines
Square area to provide a base for buses coming from surrounding
cities and areas to park, thus creating more pollution.
From an objective point of view, you can see
Medford
residents’ concerns since it appears that EOT and advocates are protecting large institutions such as Tufts University while working to provide Somerville greater benefit. These types of issues should be part of the studies in order to provide information based upon facts upon
which Medford residents can make decisions before anything is decided. It is based upon
this view that we provide in the next section of our comments the need to begin the study process with EOT so that Medford community is protected from special
interests.
Mitigation Issues to Include in Studies
Although advocates often use the phrase that
Medford
residents and abutters must sacrifice for the greater good, the greater good can represent three people or five hundred people. The greater good is a utilitarian concept that is often subjective with varying degrees
of success around social equity.
Unlike Somerville, an urban city which appears to run under an
anarchistic form of democracy where special interests are often the squeaky wheel that gets oiled, Medford residents seem to prefer a more
representative form of democracy where they expect their elected officials to stay abreast of issues and to protect their
broader interests. GLAM has been pleased that Mayor McGlynn and some city councilors
have come forward to publicly speak up for residents concerns and to mention some guiding parameters of support for this project
during the last month. We believe that based upon resident concerns that we are
hearing that derive from the recent presentations by EOT that the City of Medford should begin its process of negotiating with the
state to ensure that the greater good does not end up representing the few while the many end up with possible severe consequences.
A plan to develop enforceable mitigation commitments
to become permit conditions for the project, if and when it is permitted, has never been presented. GLAM believes that it is important to include in the EOT’s studies mitigation issues up front and
that the City of Medford should early on throw in everything including the kitchen sink to protect our citizenry so that the
positive impact of public transit can eventually prevail.
Studies that include these mitigation issues
should consider impacts to neighborhood quality, social interaction, safety and security, and social equity. With due respect, GLAM offers the following study issues for consideration. These study issues will include measures associated with the operation of light rail system and its long-term
impacts.
Maintenance site
First and foremost, we believe the City of
Medford
should seek in writing a commitment by EOT that they will not locate a maintenance site of any kind within the City of Medford or at Route 16 Somerville at the
end of the Green Line. The Request for Response, which is a contractual bid document
released in March 30, 2007, for the Green Line Extension – Conceptual Engineering & Draft Environmental Impact Report,
on page 15 of the work order, within Section 3.2.2 called Refine Northern Section (north of Harvard Street). Medford Hillside
Alternative and within Section 3.2.3 called Refine Mystic Valley Parkway Alternatives states that the engineering consultants
“At the end of the line, identify locations for storage and layover space for Green Line vehicles, a lobby building
for MBTA personnel, and parking for supervisory and maintenance vehicles." (We have underlined the word maintenance
for emphasis.) This description as we know is similar to the facility in Haines Square.
EOT in many meetings has tried to confuse the
public between a light and heavy maintenance facility often disparaging the public comments around this work order statement. Although after public outcry EOT has stated that this light maintenance facility
is unlikely in Medford since Medford has offered no space at this time, we believe that the City of Medford should get this
commitment in writing and have EOT also exclude such a facility at Route 16 Somerville.
Since the proposed Route 16 is in that portion of Somerville that you must get to through Medford, we believe that
the City of Medford should get a commitment in writing that no such facility will be placed at Route 16 Somerville or thereabouts
as well.
Land Taking in Medford
GLAM has taken the public position that we
are against any kind of land taking. We believe that property rights for both
abutters and small businesses are paramount especially in an area where affordable housing and jobs for working people are
essential in sustaining socioeconomic diversity. Property rights should not outweigh
property benefits especially when it appears that many abutters who will be impacted appear to be moderate income and vulnerable
populations.
So far EOT has presented station proposals
that would require encroachment upon small business in the Harvard
Street and Boston Avenue area.
They also have proposed land taking at the corner of Route 16 and Boston Avenue, Somerville, where a gas station, the
U-Haul building and adjacent housing are located. EOT also has inferred that
there will be areas of the Hillside and South Medford
that will be tight areas along the corridor that may need real estate acquisition.
The City of Medford should require that EOT immediately
identify land taking and real estate acquisition needs so that informed decisions can be made around support for this project
in the community. To do otherwise is to put citizens and small business owners
in constant fear of losing their homes or business and opens the city to land speculation and destabilization.
We recommend that the City of Medford require that EOT contact directly
all property owners whose property would be directly affected to answer questions and provide additional information about
this proposed project. We suggest that the City of Medford’s community development
department provide oversight of any EOT advisory meetings with abutters to ensure that proper notification occurs and that
there is an honest presentation to abutters’ on their rights within this proposed project.
Many citizens also have recommended to GLAM
that EOT and the City of Medford consider Tuft’s athletic field located just below the College Avenue bridge as a substitute
for a Winthrop Street or Brookings Street station. Many abutters believe that this will preserve
the character of their neighborhoods while giving Tufts direct benefit of station access since they appear to be the primary
beneficiary of the proposed Green Line extension in the eyes of the abutters.
Transit impact on abutters by moving
commuter rail closer to homes
EOT has proposed moving the commuter rail closer
to abutters’ properties without mitigation of the diesel pollution that currently exists. Abutters all ready experience environmental pollution from diesel particles on their homes, cars and land. By moving the commuter rail closer to their homes, this problem will only exasperate
these environmental issues. EOT has not addressed this critical issue and its
possible health affects on abutters such as respiratory illnesses. The City of
Medford
should require a permanent solution to this problem before supporting this transit project, such as an electrified commuter
rail.
Ridership in Medford
Citizens in Medford have been told people in the neighborhood
within walking distance of the stations would use the proposed Green Line Extension. Advocates have told residents that stations
would not cause parking or traffic problems because local residents would be walking to the proposed Green Line. Supposedly
there is to be no need for parking facilities, although EOT has proposed such a facility at Route 16 Somerville. Many citizens are not convinced of these claims and remain skeptical of these points.
GLAM believes that the city of Medford should request that EOT conduct
a survey of area Medford residents to determine potential ridership. The survey should include
how many times during the day, week, month or year a resident would use the proposed line.
The ridership survey also should separate out the Tufts College community from community residents within walking distance to see where greater benefit lies. Such a ridership survey would also determine cost feasibility of the proposed project.
Elimination of Freight Movement in Somerville and its indirect
impact on Medford
There possibly will be the elimination of freight
rail in parts of Somerville. As noted in the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) planning
document and in other research, the elimination of freight rail often has the impact of increased truck traffic in other areas. Truckers often try to find diverse routes to avoid congested traffic areas. Because Medford has many routes that essentially allow it to be used as a cross route city, EOT in its study needs
to determine any impact on Medford of additional truck traffic if rail freight is eliminated in parts of Somerville. EOT also needs to determine the additional cost to Massachusetts’s citizens if trucking becomes the
prime delivery method for consumer goods since gas prices continue to go unchecked.
The city of Medford should be aware that analysis
work behind the State Implementation Plan (SIP) used 1963 survey data for truck traffic information for their analysis using
factoring methodology that is less than accurate in predicting the future since factoring is based upon assumptions and not
current information. The City of Medford should require a more updated truck traffic study
for the Greater Boston area since much growth has occurred in the greater Boston area since the 1960s.
Traffic Congestion in South Medford and the Hillside to Route 16, Somerville
Although EOT is trying to sell the concept
of kiss and ride drop off station locations, many in the community are skeptical of this proposal. On the other hand many abutters on the Hillside and in South Medford do not want a parking facility in their neighborhood that will draw additional traffic congestion from surrounding
areas. It is important that the City of Medford realize that regarding future traffic congestion
EOT can actually drop the responsibility for this condition back into the hands of the city’s by stating that these
conditions are not attributable to the proposed Green Line Extension project.
This would mean the city would have no recourse
in obtaining EOT’s project funds for corrective action if future traffic congestion actually becomes the problem that
abutters and other citizens believe it can cause. The city needs to mitigate
now for up to date studies on existing traffic and parking patterns before the proposed Green Line and then require studies
on projected traffic and parking patterns if the Green Line extension is implemented.
In this way, the City of Medford can determine a threshold of attribute if EOT’s projections are wrong and go for recourse of
EOT funding.
We recommend then that the city and EOT must
work together to determine appropriate traffic controls. If any proposed station(s)
is/are open, the city staff will then monitor all parking and traffic controls during the first five years after the system
opens for operation. If EOT’s implemented controls are found to be insufficient
EOT will provide all funds for all corrective action as determined by the City of Medford.
Parking
ü Hide-and-ride impacts may occur in station areas. Many
citizens report to us that they are all ready experiencing this type of parking issues in West Medford around the commuter rail and in the Wellington station area neighborhoods. To identify appropriate parking controls, EOT should be required to conduct on-street
parking inventory surveys now around each proposed station area up to one year prior to the possibility of station openings
to document existing on-street parking supply within a half mile radius of the proposed station areas. Based upon surveys, we recommend that the City of Medford and EOT work with affected neighborhoods to identify and implement appropriate mitigation elements
within studies prior to any proposed station openings.
ü Mitigation issues may include time-limit signs, parking meters where appropriate, passenger drop-off/pick
up zones, truck and load/unload zones, and residential parking zones (RPZs) within a half a mile radius of each station. For proposed locations where the mitigation is accepted and approved by the City staff
and local community and neighborhood groups, EOT would provide funding for implementing appropriate parking controls, labor
and all other related installation costs.
ü City staff should monitor all parking controls during the first five years after the system opens
and determines if RPZs boundaries or other parking controls are insufficient. EOT
should fund any expansion of existing or newly created RPZs or other parking controls during the first five years following
proposed station openings.
Arterials and Local Streets Impact in
Medford
Congestion – EOT has proposed several station locations at known congested intersections. The city of Medford should require that EOT add to their cost analysis full costs to improve all intersections impacted
based upon peak hour project trips.
Sidewalks – EOT should be required to provide ADA accessible sidewalks on proposed station property and immediately adjacent to proposed stations. Proposed stations should include facilities for bicycle access, circulation and storage. Proposed stations should provide for safe and effective pedestrian access that would
include painted crosswalks and signals, appropriate street lighting, warning lights or signage.
Local schools – There needs to be determination by EOT of traffic impacts on local schools in the proposed area.
NonMotorized Access – The city of Medford should require that EOT include in its studies design features in proposed station locations to accommodate
the increase in pedestrians. Design improvements should include reduced speed
limit signs for bicycles, distinctive paving or other improvements to enhance visibility and slow bicycle travel speeds to
reduce the likelihood of bicycle/pedestrian collisions.
Visual Resources and Aesthetics
The Hillside area has many trees, vegetation and animal and bird habitats
along the commuter rail. This woodland habitat is an appealing, valuable environmental,
and neighborhood characteristic for those abutters who live along that area. This
woodland barrier also acts a sound and diesel particle emission barrier for the commuter rail and traffic and buses on Boston Avenue. It also acts as a light barrier for the railroad and Boston Avenue and provides shade in the summer. The State Shade Tree Law should be investigated as to its pertinence to this area.
We are aware that many abutters in that area
are concerned with the destruction of this area by EOT’s proposal to move the commuter rail closer to their homes, the
construction to accommodate the proposed Green Line tracks and the impact on the wildlife in that area. The City of Medford needs to require studies on this mitigation issue and should demand that EOT demonstrate how they
will protect this woodland area without removing trees and vegetation and disturbing animal and bird habitats.
The proposal of any retaining walls by EOT
in their studies that does not disturb the woodland area should incorporate aesthetic retaining wall design measures, such
as steps, patterning, texture, and vegetative planting that blends into the scale and character of the neighborhood all paid
for by EOT funds. In other words, this retaining wall should enhance the
character of what is all ready there, not replace it.
Air Quality
As EOT has stated at its informational and
station workshop meetings, this proposed transit project is about mitigating regional air quality. The City of Medford should require that EOT provide a stand-alone study of Medford’s current air quality to demonstrate the need
for this mitigation project. EOT needs to guarantee that Medford’s air quality is not going
to be negatively impacted by additional traffic congestion and or the movement of commuter rail tracks closer to abutters’
homes. We, as citizens, need to be guaranteed through scientific studies that
our air quality is not being negatively impacted by additional traffic congestion as we have seen in the Wellington Circle area.
Noise and Vibration
Noise: The city of Medford should require that EOT provide studies that demonstrate reasonable and feasible noise mitigation to reduce noise levels
at properties identified with noise impacts attributed to the proposed Green Line Extension project. Current noise thresholds should be identified to obtain a current baseline to compare to study projections
with the proposed Green Line.
In noise mitigation it is usual for transit
agencies to recommend noise barriers along the corridor. But as we have seen
with residents who live along I-93 in Medford, noise barriers can be a long time in coming if not guaranteed at time of study. The City of Medford should require the consideration of noise barriers in studies along the corridor as a reasonable
and feasible form of noise mitigation. But the City of Medford may also want to be creative and
require that EOT pay for sound insulation of impacted structures along the corridor.
The City of Medford should also require in cost analysis
that EOT perform an annual noise analysis to ensure that noise levels throughout the neighborhoods and surrounding areas are
below the FTA criteria. The city should require that EOT perform these analyses
on a regular basis. Failure to do so would be subject to monetary penalties that
would go to the city of Medford to institute recourse for residents and local businesses. Other
measures that the city should require is that EOT/MBTA perform ongoing maintenance for this proposed project and that EOT/MBTA
demonstrate that they can provide adequate funding for this type of maintenance:
ü Rail grinding and replacement – As rails wear, noise
and vibration levels from light rail vehicles can increase. By grinding down
or replacing worn rail, noise and vibration levels can remain at projected levels. Rail
grinding and replacement should occur every three years.
ü Wheel Truing and Replacement – Wheel truing is a method
of grinding down flat spots (commonly called “wheel flats”) on the light rail vehicle’s wheels. Flat spots occur primarily because of hard breaking. When flat
spots occur, they can cause increases in both the noise and vibration levels produced by the light rail vehicles.
ü Vehicle Maintenance – Performing scheduled and general
maintenance on items such as air conditioning units, bearings, wheel skirts, and other mechanical units on the light rail
vehicle will help maintain projected levels of noise and vibration.
ü Travel speeds and frequency of trips – Travel speeds
and frequency of trips must be identified in studies. Travel speeds to reduce noise and vibration must be analyzed and implemented
in any operational plan and drivers must be trained to reduce hard breaking. Operated
speeds must be the same as used in analysis plans or else noise and vibration will increase with additional speed. Hard braking can cause wheel flats and may also damage track. There
must be recourse of the City of Medford around assessing penalties to the MBTA regarding negligence in maintenance based upon FTA criteria
levels.
We cannot stress more that vibration and ground-borne
noise impacts must be analyzed early on and acceptable thresholds agreed upon before any plan can be agreed upon.
Vibration: The city of Medford should require that EOT provide reasonable and feasible vibration mitigation to reduce vibration
levels at properties identified with vibration impacts attributed to the proposed Green Line Extension project. Current vibration thresholds should be identified to obtain a current baseline to compare to study projections
with the proposed Green Line.
ü Reducing train speeds – Train vibration levels are generally reduced at lower train speeds and
operating speeds must be lowered as reasonable to meet agreed upon vibration levels.
We suggest that there be a current study incorporated to determine current vibration levels and a survey of abutters
who live near the track as to current vibration issues experienced with current housing and business structures.
ü Train passby – How does EOT and the MBTA plan to control trains traveling in opposite directions
and the increased vibration from a two to four train passbys? Thresholds of vibration
must be studied.
ü Rail Straightness – In its studies EOT/MBTA must determine design of vertical undulation and
vibration and identify and determine the effectiveness of this level.
We suggest the City of Medford require that the EOT/MBTA develop
a vibration monitoring system with agreed upon thresholds of vibration based upon residential neighborhoods. The city should
require that EOT perform these analyses on a regular basis if the proposed Green Line extension is implemented. Failure to do so would subject EOT to monetary penalties that would go to the city of Medford to institute recourse for residents
and local businesses.
Ecosytems (Wetland Impact):
It needs to be determined if there is any wetland
area and wetland buffers within the areas proposed for the Green Line Extension. We
recommend that EOT work with the city of Medford and its Conservation Commission who has been identifying and protecting wetlands with the city of
Medford.
Water Resource Impact at the Mystic River:
Best management practices around water quality
resources should be incorporated as required to meet applicable city, state and federal standards and requirements. A study must be done to determined impact from a proposed Route 16, Somerville station. The city of Medford will want to be assured that the Mystic River, which runs through Medford is not harmed from this proposed project and by possible ground water contamination from light rail
trains and additional vehicle traffic.
Geology and Soils as pertains to Medford:
Drainage and Stormwater Runoff: Through residents comments it has been identified that there are drainage and storm water runoff problems
with the Hillside and in
South Medford near the Harvard Street bridge. How does EOT
plan to address and correct this issue with the proposed Green Line extension and at whose cost? This problem needs to be addressed in studies and cost analysis.
Soil testing: We also believe that there should be ground-testing studies performed of soil along the proposed corridor. For example, creosote, a brownish oily liquid consisting chiefly of aromatic hydrocarbons obtained by distillation
of coal tar, is usually used in the preservation of wood such as used for train tracks.
One would assume that this creosote has leaked into the soil over the years of maintenance of the commuter rail. The city of Medford should have EOT identify through ground testing studies what soil contamination is present, at what
levels and its impact in the air due to proposed construction to surrounding neighborhoods and residual long-term impact. Other contaminates that should be identified is silica dust and pcbs.
Hazardous Material Sites in Medford and at Route 16,
Somerville
Although one would hope that EOT would try
to avoid contaminated sites or portions of sites in identifying proposed routes to minimize encounters with hazardous materials,
the city of Medford should require immediate identification of such sites within EOT’s plans in the city of Medford and at Route 16, Somerville. Encountering hazardous material sites in constructing this proposed route could put
neighborhood areas at risk of exposure, as well as, cause potential increase in cost to this project. The city would want clean up efforts identified prior through studies to avoid potential long-term impacts.
The city of Medford should be alert and protect any
properties that may be left with residual contamination in excess of standard levels.
The project cost analysis should include dollars for residual contamination clean up of abutters properties.
Electromagnetic Fields due to light rail
consumption:
Light rail, when electricity generated, uses
electromagnetic fields. The city of Medford should require that the EOT’s study identify
if there will be any adverse impacts to human health due to electromagnetic fields.
Public Service Safety and Security Plan:
The city of Medford should require that EOT in its
studies determine a safety and security maintenance plan for policing of stations and neighborhoods. This plan would include developing procedures throughout proposed project design, construction and operation. Who will be responsible for emergencies and security issues? Is the city expected to be the first responders? Who will
pick up this cost? This is a cost issues that needs to be identified within a cost analysis.
Utilities:
The city of Medford should require that EOT identify
in its study the impact to current utility support and consumption not only along the corridor, but impacts to other parts
of the city. As we have experienced in areas such as Medford Square with black outs, there
is a frail infrastructure concerning utilities in the city. Therefore, the city
of Medford needs to know who will be ultimately responsible for potential utility problems if this proposed project moves forward
and the level of consumption demanded by light rail.
EOT in its proposed design studies should coordinate
with utility service providers in identifying impact to utilities during light rail operation throughout the city. Potential service disruptions should be identified as well as the use of electrical resources that have
the potential to impact the whole city.
The report should describe how:
Ø EOT will coordinate the proposed light rail design with local utility providers including relocation
of manholes and other access points for ongoing utility maintenance once light rail is in operation.
Ø EOT will design the system to control stray current to levels where significant damage to metallic
utility infrastructure does not occur. How will EOT replace particularly susceptible
metallic utility infrastructure with nonmetallic materials?
Ø EOT will design the proposed system to reduce the impacts of soil settlement on underground utilities
and special infrastructure concerns such as lead joint pipes. The City of Medford also needs to know who will be
responsible for appropriate measures to protect the existing utilities from damage due to settlement or other light rail related
construction impacts.
Ø EOT needs to identify all substations required and their locations.
Our understanding is that these substations may be located further into neighborhood areas.
Historic and Archaeological Resources:
Our understanding from those who have been
involved in historical meetings within the city, the proposed stations EOT has proposed north of College Avenue may be in conflict
with a recent historical designation of the Middlesex Canal landmark. This point should be investigated because
there may be some adverse impacts to this historical designation.
Walking Court Housing:
There is concern within the community that
EOT has proposed a station at Route 16, Somerville that may have adverse impacts on the Medford public housing known as Walking Court. This housing contains frail elders and people with disabilities.
The city of Medford should request a study that includes identifying potential impact to this environmental justice population.
Impact issues that GLAM can easily identify
from proposed architectural drawings presented at station workshop meetings:
¨ Noise and vibration impacts both in operation and construction of this potential project
¨ The potential of increased hide and ride parking in this area
¨ Disturbances by Pedestrians using the Walking Court site to cut through to station locations
Terminus:
EOT at its station workshops failed to identify
terminus impacts on the community at the end of the proposed Green Line Extension although they have stated they are thinking
of cross track potential. As we have researched, a cross over track uses a “frog”
(a rail crossing structure) to allow the train to either crossover to another track or continue moving on the same track. A gap is provided on top of the frog so that vehicle wheels can pass regardless of
which track is in use. Our understanding is that with typical frogs, impact vibration
is generated when the wheels pass over the gap. In a moveable frog, the gap is
eliminated and one end of the frog moves in the direction of the train travel, thereby, reducing the vibration associated
with the wheel impact. The city of Medford needs to be sure these types of designs are included
in any design study plans by EOT to minimize potential impacts.
If EOT/MBTA chooses instead to plan for a traditional
terminus, the city of Medford certainly needs to understand the full impact of this design in any study as it has the potential
for more land taking, noise and vibration impacts in the community.
Bridge Replacement:
The city of Medford should require that in studies
EOT early on identify proposed bridge replacements and bridge construction requirements.
Bridge replacements have enormous impact on the city and immediate impacts on abutters and small businesses in the
area. Traffic congestion during bridge replacement can impact areas far outside
of the immediate construction area, especially if there is construction on several bridges at one time in the area.
Bus Routes in Medford:
The city of Medford should require that studies identify
any disruption in bus service and planned changes in bus service routes based on alternative analysis.
Although advocates often use poor bus service
as their reason for supporting the proposed Green Line Extension, we actually have had abutters/riders approach GLAM that
they prefer their efficient bus service along this route to the Green Line. Some
abutter/riders have commented that the Green Line would actually increase their commuter time due to its well-known poor service
and that it provides a less direct route to their destinations.
We believe that study should be done on destination
points of bus ridership to ensure that we are not actually impacting on the use of public transportation and forcing current
bus riders to be forced to use their vehicles.
Disability Access:
Disability Access to public transportation
is an important issue for GLAM as an organization since we have many of the Medford disability community in our membership. Currently there are still Green Line stops that are not disability accessible such as Symphony Hall and
Boylston Station. Although there is a MBTA lawsuit settlement with the
disability community to make stations accessible, we have found that the MBTA may have a choice of which old stations they
will reconstruct for disability access.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must
be adhered to in all phases of this proposed Green Line project and the MBTA must adhere in providing equal access to people
with disabilities. That EOT plans to spend billions of dollars on this proposed
project while people with disabilities still cannot access all stations on the Green Line is a tragic human rights violation.
The city of Medford under its Human Rights Commission
should require that all stations on the Green Line should be accessible before any ground breaking on a proposed Green Line
extension project. Are citizens expected to board a Green Line train in Medford only to find themselves in Boston with no accessibility? This is a civil rights violation of enormous consequences.
The city of Medford should require that EOT and the MBTA demonstrate in their cost
analysis how and when they will accomplish the accessibility of all stations on the Green Line. If the MBTA has decided to only remodel certain old stations for accessibility purposes, then the city
of Medford should demand to know what dedicated accessibility services they will provide for people of disabilities at inaccessible
sites.
Needless to say, any potential new stations
must be accessible. To not do so opens the MBTA and EOT up to potential legal
lawsuits.
GLAM has researched transit facility design
ADA checklists that are too
numerous to mention in this report. But we will be watching closely the design
of any potential new stations to ensure that ADA accessibility is incorporated to its fullest magnitude to accommodate the disability community of Medford. We
anticipate that the city of Medford will do so as well.
Tunneling and Other Alternative Provisos:
Requiring EOT to study other alternatives such
as tunneling may eliminate some mitigation issues, such as land taking, noise and air pollution. Tunneling has occurred in other transit projects in the Commonwealth to avoid lengthy mitigation remedies. We suggest that the city of Medford ask for such an Alternative Study since tunneling seems to have support within the community. Since the proposed Green Line extension project is about mitigating air quality
from impacts of the Big Dig, residents need to be assured that the best environmental alternatives are being studied.
GLAM also has put forth an alternative study
to EOT to ensure that the best environmental benefits are being realized.
MBTA Assessment fees and other costs:
We recommend that any cost analysis of this
project must identify potential increased MBTA assessment fees to the city of Medford, identify any electrical cost increases to its citizens and any additional public service fees upon
the city of Medford.
Smart Growth versus Fair and Sustainable
Growth:
As GLAM has stated in prior public comments,
we support community development projects only when they instill the stability, affordability and quality of life of the neighborhoods
so that deep bonds of commitment to the community can be developed through family and social organizational ties. We believe the city should be cautious concerning the proposed Green Line Extension project and Smart Growth.
Many advocates and new residents have spoken
of their desire for Medford
to have destination points like Davis Square, Somerville. Others have publicly spoken of the economic boom they saw in Davis Square and Porter Square while living in those areas. It makes one wonder why these
folks are not still living in those areas.
The answer may lie in a recent University of New Hampshire study concerning income inequality in the New England area.
The Cities of Somerville and Boston are prominent in this study as two top cities of income inequality, essentially pushing out their middle class due
to the lack of affordable housing and high cost of living.
So the question becomes, who benefited from
the economic development in the surrounding areas, development as supported by Green Line advocates? While universities like Harvard University dominate cities like Cambridge and take over cities like Allston/Brighton and Tufts University dominates the Somerville
landscape, cities in the Boston
area have become an area of “boutique” cities with “boutique” economic sectors that offers economic
opportunities for far too little of the general working population.
As part of GLAM’s principles and objectives,
we believe the city of Medford
should challenge conventional wisdom around the economic theory called university expansionism. As we have stated before in this report, many abutters to this project are moderate income
residents who fear of being displaced or priced out of their neighborhood as advocates push the concept of higher property
values with the proposed Green Line. As witnessed at a station workshop on the
proposed Lowell Street and
Harvard Street stations, one
Somerville resident spoke of
his knowledge that his neighbors, abutters to this project, were selling their homes for fear of the impact of the proposed
Green Line extension project. There have been news articles on real estate
speculation in Somerville particularly
around the Max Pax site as developers push a high-density project on residential neighborhoods of long time moderate-income
residents.
Historical Sociological Study on Demographic
Changes: To understand the true socioeconomic impact of projects such as the Green
Line extension, we believe that you must go back and study history to understand how we have come to this place of economic
inequality in Massachusetts. Therefore, we believe that there should be a sociological study based in historical
demographics on areas such as Davis Square and Porter Square, Somerville
to determine and document the impact on the Somerville community of the Red Line. This study would analyze
the socioeconomic impact on populations that were present before development of the Red Line and then the socioeconomic populations
that developed after the Red Line based on the social policies implemented in economic development that were tied to that
public transit project. And is it really as good a benefit or is the New Hampshire study more accurate in its assessment? We believe that such a study would benefit the city of Medford in determining whether its wants such a proposed transit project
in our city as we learn from the mistakes of Somerville.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, we believe that it is the best
interest of the city of Medford
to now take a prominent role in pushing for studies on the Green Line Extension extension before a decision is made about
this proposed transit oriented project without Medford input. To do otherwise, we believe will allow EOT to permit Somerville and Arlington to dominate the destiny of our city without benefit of public choice.
Some people feel this proposed project is a
done deal. This project is only in the study stages. The economy of the Commonwealth does not merit a proposed Green Line Extension project that will only benefit
the University of
New Hampshire study
conclusions. There must be more merit to this project that benefits all peoples
than a certain group of people in Somerville.
That is why GLAM is requesting scientific studies
that take into account all socioeconomic implications of the cities. We believe
if cities like Waltham, Stoneham and Woburn recognize the financial burden we are putting on them regarding
this proposed project, either by bonding or assessment fees, this project will be easily nullified by those more interested
in the tax rate issue.
As we stated earlier in this report, Medford citizens expect their city officials to represent
their best interest. Best interest can only be determined by scientific studies
that are performed with accurate modeling using current data. Best interest is
requiring that EOT study all alternatives to determine that the eventual proposed routes provide the most environment benefit
to our area. That is why GLAM has proposed an alternative study to EOT as well
to ensure that Medford is not
being asked to take on other cities environmental burden without opportunity of equal environmental benefit.
In many comments we have received from the
public and GLAM has discussed at its organizational meetings, one question arises. With
the multi million-dollar deficit of the MBTA and the billion-dollar deficit of the Commonwealth, is it financially viable
to do this project? Floating bonds to finance this project only causes more debt
service and corresponding interest payments for the Commonwealth? What impact
would this project have on local aid if tax revenues have to be diverted to cover debt service? What of other priorities such as infrastructure issues such as roads, highways and bridges?
GLAM and many Medford residents have found that by asking critical questions like
these about this project, you expose yourself to personal attacks and character assassination by the transit advocacy community
who would move this project forward without benefit of mitigation and studies.
We hope that like GLAM, the city of Medford will stand tall to ensure true independent, scientific studies are performed so that informed decisions can be made
and consensus eventually reached within the community.
