State agrees to extend Green Line to Somerville and Medford

On the way to work this morning, I stopped in Somerville's Union Square where an outdoor press conference was going on. The press conference featured Mayor Curtatone of Somerville, Mayor McGlynn of Medford, Lt. Gov. Healey, Doug Foy, John Cogliano and various other officials.

At this press conference, the state pledged to build the Green Line extension, not just to Medford Hillside as originally committed for Big Dig mitigation, but all the way to West Medford. They will also build a second branch to Union Square.

The state will also add four new commuter rail stations on the Fairmount Line, at Newmarket, Mt. Bowdoin, Talbot Ave, and Blue Hill Avenue.

These projects will substitute for the Arborway restoration and Red/Blue connector, which now appear to be dead.