Construction
Details
- Year Started
- 2017
- Year Completed
- In Progress
- Project Elements
-
- Light rail
- Maintenance facility
Overview
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line Extension project is an extension of the existing Green Line – the oldest light rail system in the U.S. Herzog is part of a fully integrated four-way joint venture team to design, build, and commission two new branches of light rail service for the Boston, MA metropolitan area. The Union Square branch will begin at Lechmere Station in Cambridge and extend 0.9 miles west to Union Square Station, adjacent to the MBTA Fitchburg commuter line. The Medford branch will also begin at Lechmere Station and run 3.4 miles northwest adjacent to the MBTA Lowell commuter line through Somerville and into the densely populated area of Medford near Tufts University.
The new alignments will be elevated from Lechmere Station to the north over the MBTA Boston Engine Terminal (BET) lead tracks and the Fitchburg Line main tracks. At the apex of the flyover, the Union Square and Medford branches will split with the Union Square branch dropping down adjacent to the Fitchburg Line and the Medford branch dropping down adjacent to the Lowell Line continuing to their respective destination points.
Work includes 4.5 total miles of new track construction, track relocation, OCS, signals and communications, a new vehicle maintenance facility, six new stations, and the relocation of Lechmere station. Several bridges will be replaced or rehabilitated and the corridor will see needed improvements for roadways, intersections, and access to bicycle/pedestrian facilities.