$393 Million Approved to Bring Green Line to Union Square, Washington Street

It's official: The MassDOT Board of Directors Wednesday approved a $393 million contract that will bring the Green Line Extension to Union Square and Washington Street in Somerville, according to Hayes Morrison, director of transportation and infrastructure for the city of Somerville.

"It's not 'kind' of a big deal, it is a big deal," said Morrison when asked about the contract.

She described the funding as money that will bring actual tracks, stations, "choo-choos" and T riders to Union Square and Washington Street.

In a unanimous vote, the MassDOT board approved an intergovernmental service agreement with White Skanska Kiewit, a firm that will conduct the construction, Morrison said.

"The expectation is this amount of money will get phase 2 and 2A of the Green Line in place," she said, referring to the phases that will bring Green Line service to Union Square and Washington Street. It will also pay to move Lechmere Station to the other side of the O'Brien Highway in Cambridge—a necessary step in order to send trains into Somerville.

Phase 3 of the Green Line project consists of building a new maintenance facility, and Phase 4 would bring Green Line service through Somerville to College Avenue in Medford.

The MBTA is seeking about $557 million in federal New Starts funding to complete phases 3 and 4 of the project. Morrison said the $393 million allocated Wednesday would send a "significant" signal to the New Starts program that the Green Line Extension is a strong project.

Before construction can begin, the MassDOT Board of Directors needs to approve a "notice to proceed," Morrison said. A notice to proceed is somewhat of a formality, and it's expected to be approved in early 2014.

By approving the $393 in funding this month, the project has remained on schedule, Morrison said. Service should come to Union Square by early 2017.

Morrison credited the "amazing relationship" among Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Gov. Deval Patrick and Richard Davey, secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, for bringing the Green Line Extension to this milestone.