Purpose
The MBTA states that this project will provide many benefits. These are, from the Green Line Extension project web site:
- New and better opportunities for residents and visitors to travel within their communities and within the region
- Addressing long-standing transportation inequities
- Provide residents of environmental justice communities with faster rides to work and other destinations.
- Fewer automobiles on local roads
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions and other components of air pollution
- Support municipal plans for sustainable growth and development
See the Green Line Extension web page for further details
Outcomes
New rapid transit lines from Cambridge to Medford and Somerville
In Cambridge, this project required moving Lechmere Station to a new location. This new location is on O'Brien Highway at North First Street. The MBTA and Divco West coordinated this construction. Divco West is the developer of Cambridge Crossing in North Point.
Divco West are also responsible to rebuild O'Brien Highway and build a new connector road between First Street and North First Street. The City and Divco West coordinated to make a new street design for O'Brien Highway. This design has improved crossings for people walking across O'Brien Highway to the new station.
New off-street multi-use path to Somerville
In Somerville and Cambridge, this project built a multi-use path next to the Green Line extension between Lechmere station in Cambridge and Magoun Square station in Somerville. In Cambridge, this connects to off-street paths in North Point. The off-street paths in North Point connect to Charlestown via the North Bank bridge and to on-street bike lanes.
Future extension to Mystic Valley Parkway / Route 16
On October 17, 2017, the MBTA filed a Notice of Project Change (NPC) for the Green Line Extension Project with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). The NPC presents a preliminary proposal for a one-mile extension of the Green Line along the MBTA Lowell Line commuter rail right-of-way from the currently planned terminus at College Avenue in Medford to Mystic Valley Parkway (Route 16) in Medford and Somerville. The NPC was noticed in the November 8, 2017 edition of the Environmental Monitor and a public meeting was scheduled for November 20, 2017. No funding source or timeline for project construction has been established yet.
2023
September 18-October 11 MBTA closed the Union Branch in order to allow work on a MassDOT bridge rehabilitation project.
September 1 Divco West opened parts of the intersection of East Street/Cambridge Street and O'Brien Highway.
June 12 Divco West opened parts of the intersection of North First Street and O'Brien Highway.
June 10 The MBTA opened the Community Path extension from Lowell Street in Somerville to Morgan Avenue in North Point.
2022
December 12 The MBTA opened the Green Line Medford branch. This opened Medford-Tufts, Ball Square, Magoun Square, Gilman Square, and East Somerville stations. The Community Path extension remained closed.
August to September 2022 The MBTA temporarily closed the Green Line Extension to install necessary equipment for the opening of the Green Line Medford branch. The MBTA reopened the Green Line between Union Square, Lechmere, and Government Center on September 19.
June 2022 The MBTA transferred the old Lechmere station to DivcoWest. DivcoWest demolished the old station, bus shed, and rail infrastructure. After demolition, they are constructing a new street connecting First Street and North First Street between Cambridge Street and O’Brien Highway. Click here to see the designs for this new street.
March 21 The MBTA opened the Green Line Extension Union Square branch. The MBTA opened the new Lechmere and Union Square stations and reopened Science Park/West End station.
January The MBTA began running out-of-service test trains from North Station to Union Square station.
2021
December The MBTA began running test trains on the new GLX rail line.
October 24 The MBTA adjusted the downtown terminals for Green Line trains. The new terminals in Downtown Boston are:
- B/Boston College - Government Center
- C/Cleveland Circle - Government Center
- D/Riverside - North Station
- E/Heath Street - North Station
October 21 The MBTA announced that the Green Line Extension (GLX) to Union and Lechmere stations will open in March 2022.
2020
December 9 MBTA's GLX Community Working Group met with MBTA and Green Line Extension staff.
December 1 MBTA's GLX Community Working Group met with MBTA and Green Line Extension staff.
November 3 MBTA's GLX Community Working Group met with MBTA and Green Line Extension staff.
October 6 MBTA's GLX Community Working Group met with MBTA and Green Line Extension staff.
September 1 MBTA's GLX Community Working Group met with MBTA and Green Line Extension staff.
August 28 Weekend closure of Monseignor O'Brien Highway
August 7 Weekend closure of Monseignor O'Brien Highway
August 4MBTA's GLX Community Working Group met with MBTA and Green Line Extension staff.
July 27 Green Line Transformation began a series of weekday closures of Museum Way between 7AM and 5PM.
July 24 Weekend closure of Monseignor O'Brien Highway
July 17 Weekend closure of Monseignor O'Brien Highway
July 10 Weekend closure of Monseignor O'Brien Highway
July 10 Weekend closure of Monseignor O'Brien Highway
July 7 MBTA's GLX Community Working Group met with MBTA and Green Line Extension staff. Click here to see the presentation and meeting minutes.
June 24 MBTA GLX team hosted a public meeting to update the public on the progress of the project and expected future construction locations. Click here to see presentation.
June 2 MBTA's GLX Community Working Group met with MBTA and Green Line Extension staff. Click here to see the presentation and meeting minutes.
Early June MBTA GLX team reopened Washington Street and Broadway in Somerville
May 24 MBTA began running a Green Line-replacement bus shuttle between Lechmere and North Station, using temporary exclusive bus lanes on Route 28.
May 23 MBTA closed the Green Line between Lechmere and North Station
Spring MBTA announced that the project schedule was under pressure, but, remained confident in opening the entire GLX by December 2021. GLX project team also confirmed that Green Line service would return to Lechmere and new service to Union Square would begin as early as May 2021.
2019
Early April The Green Line Extension project has closed two streets in Somerville that affect driving and bus routes to/from Cambridge.
2018
After some re-design and cost cutting measures to bring the project in line with the budget, and a successful re-bidding of the project, Green Line Extension began construction in phases. MBTA announced that service on the entire GLX was expected in late 2021.
2017
November 17, MBTA opened price proposals for the bidders, and recommended GLX Constructors for constructing the project. The winning bid was less than $1.1 billion and included all additive options: station canopies, art, additional elevators, full multi-use path connections, and an enhanced maintenance facility.
October 17, the MBTA filed a Notice of Project Change (NPC) for the one-mile extension of the Green Line along the MBTA Lowell Line commuter rail right-of-way from the currently planned terminus at College Avenue in Medford to Mystic Valley Parkway (Route 16) in Medford and Somerville. The NPC was noticed in the November 8, 2017 edition of the Environmental Monitor and a public meeting was scheduled for November 20, 2017. No funding source or timeline for project construction has been established yet.
2015
The MBTA put the Green Line Extension project on hold due to cost overruns
On Saturday, June 10, 2023, the MBTA opened the extension of the Somerville Community Path to North Point/Cambridge Crossing.
Access points
The access points to the Community Path are from Morgan Avenue. As of July 5, 2023, you can enter the community path at the intersections of Morgan Avenue at North First Street and at Water Street using the directions below.
On Morgan Ave at North First Street, you will find a bicycle-pedestrian shared use path on the north side of Morgan Avenue. Going west, you will have to use the crosswalks at Water Street to cross from the north to south side of Morgan Avenue.
On Morgan Ave at Water Street, you will find separate bicycle and pedestrian paths on the south side of Morgan Avenue. The north side of Morgan Avenue is for construction, utility, and MBTA workers only. Please use only the separate bicycle and pedestrian paths on the south side.
As of September 22, 2023, people going to Lechmere station can cross O'Brien Highway at three locations.
Entrance locations
The MBTA has three entrances for Lechmere Station. They are found at the following street addresses:
- On Water Street at approximately 19 Water Street, Cambridge, MA
- On North First Street at 1 North First Street, Cambridge, MA
- On East Street at approximately 1 East Street, Cambridge, MA
Access routes from East Cambridge
On O'Brien Highway at Water Street, there is a new pedestrian crossing with audible signals and median refuge. After crossing O’Brien Highway, people walking have two choices. Pedestrians can enter the new Lechmere Station by walking on Water Street to the bus loop. Pedestrians can also walk along O'Brien Highway toward North First Street. The Green Line entrance is on North First Street.
On O'Brien Highway at North First Street, a new street connects O'Brien Highway to Cambridge Street. This street opened on June 12, 2023. This new street has pedestrian crossings with audible signals. At O'Brien Highway, the pedestrian crossing also has a median refuge. From First Street, people walking cross Cambridge Street on the western crosswalk. Then, people use the sidewalk to approach O'Brien Highway. At O'Brien Highway, people cross on the western crosswalk to North First Street. The Green Line entrance is on the west side of North First Street.
On O'Brien Highway at East Street, there is a pedestrian crossing with audible signals and pedestrian refuges. From Cambridge Street at First Street, people walking continue toward O'Brien Highway. Then, people cross Cambridge Street to a pedestrian refuge. Then, people walking cross O'Brien Highway along the eastern crosswalk. There is a pedestrian refuge in the middle of O'Brien Highway. After crossing, the Green Line entrance is on the east side of East Street.