Complete Green Line by 2016, say Somerville Legislators

In two letters to state and regional transportation authorities, Somerville's legislators on Beacon Hill denounce extension and say that altering the design and construction schedule could get the project operational by 2015 and complete by 2016.

The letters, one sent to the Massachusetts Department of Enviromental Protection, the other sent to the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, are signed by state Sen. Pat Jehlen, state Sen. Sal DiDomenico, state Rep. Denise Provost, state Rep. Carl Sciortino and state Rep. Timothy Toomey, who all represent Somerville. State Rep. Sean Garballey (D-Arlington) also signed the letters.

"DOT should revisit this schedule ... to offer solutions that will speed up completion including beginning construction before land acquisitions are complete and by offering new phased construction schedules that will allow portions of the line to be opened prior to the completion of the entire line," reads the letter sent to the Metropolitan Planning Organization.

"It would not be unreasonable to expect that the DOT could complete preliminary design ... by the end of 2012, advertise Design-Build contract in the first quarter of 2013 and have Green Line service operational from the new Lechemere station to Washington Street by the end of 2015 with full service operational to Medford by 2016," the letter says.

Click on the accompanying images to read the complete letters.