Lechmere Station will be receiving several upgrades as part of the Green Line Extension plan. Overall, this billion dollar project will involve having the current Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) building located at 21 Water Street to be torn down, the new Lechmere Station to be relocated across Monsignor OBrien Highway, and the construction of a new viaduct to allow access that will connect with Union Square in Somerville.
This development is due to get underway in the new year around the summer and fall months and should be completed by 2017. Moreover, the expansion to allow additional routes to Somerville that will open up to College Avenue is estimated to only be completed by 2019. Taking a step back and understanding the reasoning behind this massive investment shows how dedicated the MBTA and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) really are to the community and improving the lives of many by making transport far more efficient. Moreover, another way in which this project is benefiting the people of The Greater Boston Area is that there will be a renaming of the Monsignor OBrien Highway to become the Monsignor OBrien Boulevard. The hope is that this will create a far better pedestrian feel.
Tom OBrien, representing the HYM Investment Group, is a man heavily involved in the project and will be in partnership with others on the North Point development for residential and commercial space that will neighboring the new Lechmere Station. This idea will first move North First Street south which will allow a more fluent pass for individuals crossing the Monsignor OBrien Boulevard. In addition, an MBTA plaza will be built that will feature lovely retail opportunities, a public market, outdoor cafes and other restaurants and attractions.
So far a meeting has taken place last week at the Kennedy-Longfellow School located in East Cambridge on the 14th of December. About 50 residents of Cambridgeand Somerville were present at the event and found out a great deal about the updated plans and visual proposals for what the completed developments will look like. It is all very exciting for the area and most of the residents are really taking to the idea, including the changing of the name of Monsignor OBrien Highway. There is going to be another meeting following up on the progression the developers are making on topics such as the Washington and Union Stations and the beginning phases of bridgework. This will be held sometime in the middle to later part of January, 2012, a location however, has yet to be released.
More Information: Wicked Local
