Vote Medford 2005

Q8: Green Line

Do you support extending the Green Line to Medford? Why or why not?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of extending it and not extending it?

Burke: Q8 - Green Line

It has always been my premise to speak and vote on behalf of the citizens of our city once all the facts are known and understood. It is premature to make a decision on the Green Line's extension when neither the state nor the "T" has provided detailed information. We need to know the following: the environmental effects; the social benefit/detriment; the physical logistics and economic impact this project will have on our community. Once these are answered, I will be prepared to make an educated and informed decision! I can assure my neighbors, that I will do what is right for our neighborhoods.

Camuso: Q8 - Green Line

I believe in enhanced transportation for our citizens. But it is important to ensure that the plans proposed do not create more problems than they should. An adequate parking plan must be worked out as well as a traffic study. Where is the funding coming from? I don't want to burden the local taxpayer. I will evaluate the option after I see the results of professional studies. Also, community input will be an essential aspect of my decision making process.

Carr: Q8 - Green Line

The potential Green Line Extension to Medford is currently in the early conceptual phase of study. It will take at least a decade or more to become reality, if the funding ever becomes available. At this time, there is almost no solid information that we as residents can use to evaluate a potential Green Line extension -- how far it goes, where potential stations might be, how it ends -- and these questions must be answered in great detail before I will make a decision on the Green Line. It is important that the surrounding neighborhoods most affected by a Green Line extension not be negatively impacted by such a project. We also have to make sure that we do not make existing traffic and parking problems worse. The Green Line is a complex project and until I have more facts and can understand its impact on the neighborhoods of Medford, I will not take a position for or against the Green Line Extension.

Dello Russo: Q8 - Green Line

I do not support extending the Green Line to Medford at this time. Sufficient information has not been made available to the public to make an informed decision. While some suggestions for the extension have more merit than do others, such as perhaps limiting the extension to the Tufts area, I have listened to the concerns of many residents, especially people from the West Medford neighborhood. West Medford is served by: an existing commuter rail, an express bus route during workdays and existing bus routes every day. People are anxious about the possibility of losing property by eminent domain, additional congestion, non-resident parking, additional burdens on an understaffed police department, and the location of the terminal point and turn-around. I cannot support an un-detailed proposal that has raised such concern in West Medford.

Doherty: Q8 - Green Line

Maybe, no and possibly. Maybe to the Hillside if the community fully supports it. No to West Medford Square, where a true silent majority has come forward to say no. However, if the Green Line were to go through the Hillside, through West Medford and then into Winchester, Woburn and Burlington, to Route 128, we might be having a different conversation altogether.

The advantages of extending the Green Line to the Hillside are many. However the disadvantages for the Line to continue into West Medford Square are substantial. Parking, traffic, congestion, noise, and the taking of private property are only a few of the problems attendant to this proposed extension. The MBTA August 2005 Green Line plan said the trolley cars would be stopping every 10 minutes during non-peak time and every 5 minutes during peak time. Also, it would benefit our Arlington and Winchester neighbors to the detriment of our own residents due to dramatic increases in on street parking surrounding West Medford Square.

Lungo: Q8 - Green Line

I am open to the possibility of extending the Green Line to West Medford because it could bring with it a number of benefits to the community, such as improve the quality of air by getting vehicles off of the roads, it is a convenient way for many people to commute, it will increase property values, and it is good for the economics in Medford; but I do have my concerns. My first concern is parking in West Medford and along the train route. Many questions need to be answered such as how we are going to address non-Medford residents coming in to Medford and congesting the city with additional parking that we do not have right now. Keeping the integrity of the neighborhoods must be of top priority and is another concern of mine.

I feel that we need to receive more community input through open community meetings to make sure all the issues and concerns are put on the table and addressed. Once one of the 4 alternatives is decided on, we need to come together and decide what the best decision is for the community as a whole. Right now, we are in the beginning stages, but in the short term we do need an action plan so that all concerns are looked into and met.

Maher: Q8 - Green Line

No response received.

Maiocco: Q8 - Green Line

No definitive proposal has been presented by the MBTA. If a plan to extend the Green Line to Medford is forthcoming it should require full scrutiny by the city government and an open public hearing. My decision on giving support to any extension would depend on the results of that scrutiny, the facts and figures of the proposal and the peoples' response to them.

Marks: Q8 - Green Line

I support the full exploration of the issue and will make an educated and thoughtful determination when all the facts are presented.