[SBC] UPCOMING EVENTS:
alanjane at highstream.net
alanjane at highstream.net
Wed Oct 11 14:41:13 EDT 2006
UPCOMING EVENTS:
----------------------------------------------------------------
Relocated Lechmere Station Presentation, Wednesday October 11, 2006, 7:00 pm -
9:00 pm
Location: Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston
Street: 40 Edwin Land Boulevard, Cambridge
I think this is mostly informational, not an event to really gather comments
from the public but I may be wrong. I'm hoping to go.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Sat. Oct. 14, 10 am Tour de Somerville followed by lunch meeting at The Burren
in Davis. Sq. I'm assuming the members of the Committee are all attending.
Please come and invite other interested parties.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Public hearing on EENF (environmental notification on the Green Line extension,
the first progress in a year or so)
Monday, October 16th 6 - 8 pm
Somerville High School
MEPA will collect public comments about what issues should be included in
the full and official description of the Green Line project
I'll be there.
This hopefully will be well attended. Lots of comments already out on the STEP
listserve (see some below). If you're not on it and want to learn more, let me
know and I'll forward.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Two Hearings on the StateWide Bicycle Plan (http://www.massbikeplan.org/)
Thursday, October 19, 2006
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Concord Town House (Hearing Room), 22 Monument Square, Concord
Wednesday, November 8 At 6:30 PM
Executive Office of Transportation. Massachusetts Bicycle Plan Update
State Transportation Building
Conference Rooms 2 and 3
10 Park Plaza, Boston
======================================================================
----- Forwarded message from S_T_E_P at yahoogroups.com -----
Date: 11 Oct 2006 12:55:56 -0000
From: S_T_E_P at yahoogroups.com
Reply-To: No Reply <notify-dg-S_T_E_P at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [S_T_E_P] Digest Number 687
To: S_T_E_P at yahoogroups.com
Somerville Transport. Equity Partnership
Messages In This Digest (12
Messages)
1.
Re: link to the pdf of the Expanded Environmental Notification Form
From:
Jim McGinnis
2a.
Re: First reactions to the Green Line extension EENF
From:
Chip Olson
2b.
Re: First reactions to the Green Line extension EENF
From:
Jared Ingersoll
2c.
Re: First reactions to the Green Line extension EENF
From:
kenmedford
2d.
Re: First reactions to the Green Line extension EENF
From:
Steve Mulder
3a.
New MEPA Environmental Monitor with Green Line EENF Notice now
From:
Wig Zamore
3b.
Re: New MEPA Environmental Monitor with Green Line EENF Notice now
From:
K Molloy
3c.
Re: New MEPA Environmental Monitor with Green Line EENF Notice now
From:
Jared Ingersoll
3d.
Re: New MEPA Environmental Monitor with Green Line EENF Notice now
From:
Wig Zamore
3e.
Re: New MEPA Environmental Monitor with Green Line EENF Notice now
From:
David Jordan
4.
Relocated Lechmere Station Presentation, 10/11/2006, 7:00 pm
From:
S_T_E_P at yahoogroups.com
5.
Re: Relocated Lechmere Station Presentation, ...A suggestion
From:
Fred R. Moore
View All Topics | Create New Topic
Messages
1.
Re: link to the pdf of the Expanded Environmental Notification Form
Posted by: "Jim McGinnis"
mcginnis at ieee.org
jimmcginnis_02143
Tue Oct 10, 2006 6:18 am (PST)
Ron,
I had heard about this earlier, and was also mystified. City planners
and nearly everyone I know has assumed that if a Union Square station
was built along the Fitchburg line, it would be just east of Prospect
St on the north side of the tracks, near where Anestis Metals is now.
The EENF at one point refers to the station as being at Webster,
perhaps referring to the historic location just west of the Webster
bridge. This would be a very poor choice today given the limited size
of Webster and a large apartment building where the old station was.
If you don't know or care about the details on the ground in Union
Square, you might pick that location as being closest as the crow
flies to the main Union Square intersection of Somerville Ave/
Washington/Webster.
If you really want to be alarmed, you should look at the "Project
Location" diagram (figure 1) which shows track work extending 800 feet
west of Prospect. Given that the ROW narrows dramatically at Prospect,
going this far west would endanger the new Lincoln Park School that's
still under construction. Of course this is probably reading far too
much into a pretty crude diagram.
The stations are said to require additional width 200 feet in either
direction to allow trolleys to pass by, so maybe this accounts for 200
of the 800 feet shown, but I'm not sure why any added width is needed
at a branch terminus.
Jim
--- In S_T_E_P at yahoogroups.com, "Ron Newman" <rnewman at ...> wrote:
>
> >The
> >following highway bridges are known to have inadequate horizontal
> >clearance to accommodate four rail
> >tracks and will have to be replaced as part of the project:
> ...
> >- Prospect St. (Somerville)
> >- Webster Ave. (Somerville) (currently under design)
>
> I would not expect the Green Line to pass under the Webster Avenue
bridge, and
> wonder if it has to pass under the Prospect St. bridge either.
>
Back to top
Reply to sender
|
Reply to group
|
Reply via web post
Messages in this topic
(9)
2a.
Re: First reactions to the Green Line extension EENF
Posted by: "Chip Olson"
ceo at thsi.org
ceo1967
Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:26 am (PST)
Jim McGinnis wrote:
> 2. The choice of a Union Square station in the heart of the Square has been
> deleted, even though it was stated in Beyond Lechmere that the option to go
> down Somerville Ave, by either street-running or a shallow cut-and-cover
> tunnel, was still open. The same study notes that Fitchburg line alignment
> requires "extensive reconfiguration of the existing commuter rail and freight
> rail tracks", reconstruction of all three bridges (McGrath Highway, Prospect
> and Webster) along the ROW, and property takings from McGrath to Prospect. In
> addition to avoiding these problems, a central location is a far better match
> between land use and light rail transit.
I can't imagine that moving some tracks and replacing some bridges would be more
expensive than building a subway tunnel to Union Square.
The more I think about street-running up Somerville Ave, the less I like it.
Union Square during rush hour is choked with traffic, and adding Green Line
trains to that mix would be unlikely to improve it, even if it took some of
those cars off the road. And the traffic would make it very hard for the Green
Line to maintain decent headways and running times.
However, I think the Union Square station should be closer to the heart of the
Square than the Prospect Street bridge, especially as there's a bit of a hill
going up Prospect or Webster. It could be as simple as having the tracks turn
down towards Somerville Ave. on the east side of Prospect.
> 3. Since Beyond Lechmere identified West Medford as the terminus of the Lowell
> Line branch, there's been an ongoing public debate. While some have suggested
> stopping just short of the Mystic River near the Wild Oats store, the EENF
> stops much earlier at Medford Hillside, possibly continuing to Winthrop
> Street. The rationale for the truncation of this branch is not given.
That bothers me too. West Medford makes much more sense as a terminus; it brings
service to a struggling commercial district and it enables easy transfers to the
Lowell Line for reverse commuters.
> 4. It's hard to understand just where the storage/maintenance facility would
> be-- no map is presented -- but it seems to be planned for the Inner Belt
> along the east edge of the Lowell Line. Depending on many factors - the types
> of maintenance done, size of staff, number of trains stored - this may not be
> a very beneficial use for a struggling area; the nearby Boston Engine Terminal
> would clearly be preferable. Beyond Lechmere used this location merely "for
> the purpose of conceptual capital cost estimates", and contemplated the
> evaluation of alternative locations.
I don't think the storage/maintenance facility is likely to be all that large,
as the Green Line already has a large maintenance facility at Riverside. I was
envisioning it as two longish storage tracks and a small service garage. I don't
know that using BET makes much sense, as the vehicles are entirely different and
can't legally share tracks.
> 5. The relocation of Lechmere Station away from the East Cambridge
> neighborhoods it now serves seems to primarily benefit the Northpoint
> development, and imposes an inconvenient and possibly unsafe crossing of Route
> 28 on East Cambridge residents as well as the many commuters to offices in the
> area and Cambridgeside Galleria shoppers. An alternative location closer to
> the East Cambridge community needs to be evaluated.
I work on First St, between Lechmere and the Galleria, and I don't see that as
being a big issue. Remember that the Lechmere end of the viaduct will presumably
be dismantled, so that large visual barrier will be gone, and it's really only a
slightly greater distance. I do think it's important that the station be
designed such that it can be accessed directly from East Cambridge without
having to enter the Northpoint development, or at least without feeling like
you're entering Northpoint, and that one can cross 28 at minimal risk to life
and limb.
--
-Chip Olson. | ceo at thsi.org | "Just take a point called Z in the complex plane
Let Z1 be Z^2 + C / And Z2 is Z1^2 + C / And Z3 is Z2^2 + C / And so on
If the series of Zs will always stay / Close to Z and never trend away
That point is in the Mandelbrot Set" -Jonathan Coulton, "Mandelbrot Set"
Back to top
Reply to sender
|
Reply to group
|
Reply via web post
Messages in this topic
(5)
2b.
Re: First reactions to the Green Line extension EENF
Posted by: "Jared Ingersoll"
medfordjared at yahoo.com
medfordjared
Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:47 am (PST)
Dissatisfaction aside as a Medford advocate, it seemed
to me that the document had many inconsistencies. I'm
not sure if this was because things were changed or
rearranged at the last minute, but the document seems
cobbled together in parts.
Jared
>
> In reading the EENF over, however, I've found some
> surprises. It's hard to
> know if these are simple errors or oversights, or
> actually represent decisions
> that will have been made without any public process.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
Back to top
Reply to sender
|
Reply to group
|
Reply via web post
Messages in this topic
(5)
2c.
Re: First reactions to the Green Line extension EENF
Posted by: "kenmedford"
kenmedford at yahoo.com
kenmedford
Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:27 pm (PST)
I'd day we're similarly perplexed in Medford. The project described
in the EENF is not the one currently (still!) under review at DEP.
Is this design a harbinger of what we should expect DEP to submit to
the EPA? It seems the cart has gotten ahead of the horse.
Also curious to me was that while the report states EOT will only
examine the possibility of a station as far as Winthrop Street in
Medford, it lists two hazardous sites at North Street (which is
beyond Winthrop) and also states that the Lowell line tracks will
need to be relocated to make room for two Green Line tracks between
Walnut Street and Mystic Valley Parkway (Route 16) -- again, well
beyond Winthrop Street.
Lastly, while the report states that one of the purposes of the
project is to support opportunities for smart growth initiatives and
sustainable development, it ignores the location with the best
potential for just that -- the Wild Oats/U-Haul area near Boston
Avenue and Route 16.
- Ken Krause
--- "Jim McGinnis" wrote:
>
> In reading the EENF over, however, I've found some surprises. It's
hard to know if these are simple errors or oversights, or actually
represent decisions that will have been made without any public
process.
Back to top
Reply to sender
|
Reply to group
|
Reply via web post
Messages in this topic
(5)
2d.
Re: First reactions to the Green Line extension EENF
Posted by: "Steve Mulder"
smulder at rcn.com
gryfflet
Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:01 pm (PST)
As an aside, I've posted the map from the EENF to the STEP web site
for easy reference:
http://www.somervillestep.org/2006/10/green_line_envi_1.html
Steve Mulder
On Oct 10, 2006, at 4:25 PM, kenmedford wrote:
> I'd day we're similarly perplexed in Medford. The project described
> in the EENF is not the one currently (still!) under review at DEP.
> Is this design a harbinger of what we should expect DEP to submit to
> the EPA? It seems the cart has gotten ahead of the horse.
>
> Also curious to me was that while the report states EOT will only
> examine the possibility of a station as far as Winthrop Street in
> Medford, it lists two hazardous sites at North Street (which is
> beyond Winthrop) and also states that the Lowell line tracks will
> need to be relocated to make room for two Green Line tracks between
> Walnut Street and Mystic Valley Parkway (Route 16) -- again, well
> beyond Winthrop Street.
>
> Lastly, while the report states that one of the purposes of the
> project is to support opportunities for smart growth initiatives and
> sustainable development, it ignores the location with the best
> potential for just that -- the Wild Oats/U-Haul area near Boston
> Avenue and Route 16.
>
> - Ken Krause
>
> --- "Jim McGinnis" wrote:
> >
> > In reading the EENF over, however, I've found some surprises. It's
> hard to know if these are simple errors or oversights, or actually
> represent decisions that will have been made without any public
> process.
>
>
>
Back to top
Reply to sender
|
Reply to group
|
Reply via web post
Messages in this topic
(5)
3a.
New MEPA Environmental Monitor with Green Line EENF Notice now
Posted by: "Wig Zamore"
wigzamore at rcn.com
wigzamore
Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:05 pm (PST)
Dear STEP Participants,
The new MEPA Environmental Monitor with official notice of the Green Line
Extension EENF has just been posted at:
http://www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/secondlevelpages/currentissue.htm
Regards, Wig
Back to top
Reply to sender
|
Reply to group
|
Reply via web post
Messages in this topic
(5)
3b.
Re: New MEPA Environmental Monitor with Green Line EENF Notice now
Posted by: "K Molloy"
kmolloy at gmail.com
kmcyan
Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:34 pm (PST)
If you cannot attend the public hearing next Monday next Monday, you
can
submit written comments until November 9th.
Send written comments via snail mail to: Secretary Robert W. Golledge, Jr.,
EOEA, Attn: MEPA Analyst Deidre Buckley, Regarding: EOEA Project No. 13886, 100
Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston MA 02114. Ms. Buckley may be reached at
(617) 626-1044.
You can also email comments to: deirdre.buckley at state.ma.us
Karen Molloy
--------------------------------------------------------
On 10/10/06, Wig Zamore <wigzamore at rcn.com> wrote:
>
> Dear STEP Participants,
>
> The new MEPA Environmental Monitor with official notice of the Green Line
> Extension EENF has just been posted at:
>
> http://www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/secondlevelpages/currentissue.htm
>
> Regards, Wig
>
>
> Visit our website at http://www.SomervilleSTEP.org/
>
>
Back to top
Reply to sender
|
Reply to group
|
Reply via web post
Messages in this topic
(5)
3c.
Re: New MEPA Environmental Monitor with Green Line EENF Notice now
Posted by: "Jared Ingersoll"
medfordjared at yahoo.com
medfordjared
Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:02 am (PST)
Karen and STEP,
I recommend that you confirm this rumor, but I've
heard that the Monday event is not an official
hearing, but some sort of presentation. I am sure
there will be an opportunity to get up and speak, but
the only comments that will be taken under advisement
are written comments.
Thanks,
jared
--- K Molloy <kmolloy at gmail.com> wrote:
> If you cannot attend the public hearing next Monday
> next Monday, you can
> submit written comments until November 9th.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
Back to top
Reply to sender
|
Reply to group
|
Reply via web post
Messages in this topic
(5)
3d.
Re: New MEPA Environmental Monitor with Green Line EENF Notice now
Posted by: "Wig Zamore"
wigzamore at rcn.com
wigzamore
Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:46 am (PST)
Hi Jared,
I have attended many MEPA scoping sessions but never one which did NOT take
public input.
Regards, Wig
----- Original Message -----
From: Jared Ingersoll
To: S_T_E_P at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 4:56 AM
Subject: Re: [S_T_E_P] New MEPA Environmental Monitor with Green Line EENF
Notice now Available
Karen and STEP,
I recommend that you confirm this rumor, but I've
heard that the Monday event is not an official
hearing, but some sort of presentation. I am sure
there will be an opportunity to get up and speak, but
the only comments that will be taken under advisement
are written comments.
Thanks,
jared
--- K Molloy <kmolloy at gmail.com> wrote:
> If you cannot attend the public hearing next Monday
> next Monday, you can
> submit written comments until November 9th.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
Back to top
Reply to sender
|
Reply to group
|
Reply via web post
Messages in this topic
(5)
3e.
Re: New MEPA Environmental Monitor with Green Line EENF Notice now
Posted by: "David Jordan"
davidjordan429 at yahoo.com
davidjordan429
Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:52 am (PST)
Just a quick clarification on what Jared is referencing. Deidre
Buckley from MEPA informed me that MEPA will be allowing people to testify
relative to the EENF. However, she cautioned me to remind everyone that if
people wish to be recorded they have to submit written comments. MEPA will
be taking public input at the official site visit (Monday's public hearing).
However, in order to have your testimony recorded as part of the official
recorded you must submit written comment to MEPA.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
David
Wig Zamore <wigzamore at rcn.com> wrote:
Hi Jared,
I have attended many MEPA scoping sessions but never one which did NOT
take public input.
Regards, Wig
----- Original Message -----
From: Jared Ingersoll
To: S_T_E_P at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 4:56 AM
Subject: Re: [S_T_E_P] New MEPA Environmental Monitor with Green Line
EENF Notice now Available
Karen and STEP,
I recommend that you confirm this rumor, but I've
heard that the Monday event is not an official
hearing, but some sort of presentation. I am sure
there will be an opportunity to get up and speak, but
the only comments that will be taken under advisement
are written comments.
Thanks,
jared
--- K Molloy <kmolloy at gmail.com> wrote:
> If you cannot attend the public hearing next Monday
> next Monday, you can
> submit written comments until November 9th.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
---------------------------------
All-new Yahoo! Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.
Back to top
Reply to sender
|
Reply to group
|
Reply via web post
Messages in this topic
(5)
4.
Relocated Lechmere Station Presentation, 10/11/2006, 7:00 pm
Posted by: "S_T_E_P at yahoogroups.com"
S_T_E_P at yahoogroups.com
Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:01 pm (PST)
Reminder from the Calendar of S_T_E_P
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S_T_E_P/cal
Relocated Lechmere Station Presentation
Wednesday October 11, 2006
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(This event does not repeat.)
Location: Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston
Street: 40 Edwin Land Boulevard
City State Zip: Cambridge
Notes:
Learn about the proposed relocated Lechmere Station, a replacement for the
"temporary" facility that dates back to 1922. There are questions about how
well, or even if, the design has been coordinated with the coming Green Line
extension.
Set up birthday reminders
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/cal_us/rem/?http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S_T_E_P/cal?v=9&evt_type=13
Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved
www.yahoo.com
Privacy Policy:
http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us
Terms of Service:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Back to top
Reply to sender
|
Reply to group
|
Reply via web post
Messages in this topic
(2)
5.
Re: Relocated Lechmere Station Presentation, ...A suggestion
Posted by: "Fred R. Moore"
interstellartech at comcast.net
Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:43 am (PST)
Cannot make these because the Mass transit from the north is
abysmally bad
but a suggestion to Wig and all who attend that was discussed at the APT
meetings
If the Green line is to develop into a multi branch operation in balance with
the South end
it would make sense to give Lechmere a third reversible track on a double island
platform much like Sullivan Sq. on the orange line
to increase capacity and allow cross platform transfers to different
destinations
since it would be upstream of any junction
if only to hear the mealy mouth rationalizations and lame excuses to not do it
from the transit bureaucrats who want to design it to fail in order to make the
inner belt ring bus look better
good luck to you all
FRM
----- Original Message -----
From: S_T_E_P at yahoogroups.com
To: S_T_E_P at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 7:01 PM
Subject: [S_T_E_P] Relocated Lechmere Station Presentation, 10/11/2006, 7:00
pm
Reminder from: S_T_E_P's Calendar
Title: Relocated Lechmere Station Presentation
Date: Wednesday October 11, 2006
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Repeats: This event does not repeat.
Location: Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston
Street: 40 Edwin Land Boulevard
City State Zip: Cambridge
Description: Learn about the proposed relocated Lechmere Station, a
replacement for the "temporary" facility that dates back to 1922. There are
questions about how well, or even if, the design has been coordinated with the
coming Green Line extension.
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy
Policy
Back to top
Reply to sender
|
Reply to group
|
Reply via web post
Messages in this topic
(1)
Recent Activity
3
New Members
Visit Your Group
SPONSORED LINKS
University of massachusetts at boston
University of massachusetts boston
Metro
Boston
Geo metro
Take a Trip
Find Great Deals
Yahoo! Travel
makes it easy
Yahoo! TV
Staying in tonight?
Check listings to
see what is on.
Career Change
Yahoo! HotJobs
Search Jobs
Find the right one
Need to Reply?
Click one of the "Reply" links to respond to a specific message in
the Daily Digest.
Create New Topic |
Visit Your Group on the Web
Messages
| Links
| Calendar
Visit our website at http://www.SomervilleSTEP.org/
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Individual | Switch format to
Traditional
Visit Your Group |
Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use |
Unsubscribe
----- End forwarded message -----
More information about the Sbc
mailing list