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davis_squareI got an email yesterday from the Somerville Community Alert System:
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2018 22:00:28 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: GLX Construction: Community Update
This is a message from the Somerville, MA Community Alert System.
Dear Somerville Community Member,
You are receiving this email to provide you with important information
as construction for the Green Line Extension project (GLX) gets
underway this spring at each of the six station areas. While we will
continue to automatically update you on any direct construction impacts
to your neighborhood such as detours, we encourage you to take
advantage of additional ways to stay informed throughout the project,
including via City updates, MBTA updates, and through your station area
community representative listed below.
START OF WORK: APRIL 2018
General Information
After years of community advocacy and planning, the GLX was given an
official “Notice to Proceed” in December 2017, and work is already
underway with completion expected by late 2021, which is a contractual
obligation by the GLX contractors. The GLX contract team is currently
mobilizing at each of the six station areas, and you will begin to see
work happening in April around each of these station areas (Union
Square, Washington Street, Gilman Square, Lowell Street, Ball Square,
and College Ave. in Medford). Preliminary work throughout the month of
April will include tree removal, digging test pits, and pest control.
More significant construction is expected to begin in summer 2018.
Note: you may start to see some larger equipment along the rail
corridor beginning in the spring; however, this does not mean that
excavation or major construction is beginning at that time. Arrival of
equipment is part of the pre-construction preparation.
During the heavier construction, there may also be some night and
weekend work. If you are signed up for updates (see the end of this
email), you will receive schedules and information as they become
available to us. Whether or not you are signed up for the email
updates, the City will notify you with 48 hours advance notice (when
possible) of any planned work that will impact you outside of normal
activities (such as excessive noise or night work).
Pre-Construction Surveys
Over the next six months, GLX contractors will also be contacting
property owners in specific areas to conduct pre-construction property
surveys. The purpose of pre-construction surveys is to document
existing property conditions prior to construction. While not required,
the surveys provide important documentation should property owners
notice damage to their property during or after construction. Without
proper documentation of conditions before construction, it may be
difficult to demonstrate how or if damage may have been done to a
particular property as a result of the project. Impacted properties
will be notified directly by the GLX team.
Test Pits
Test pits are a common construction practice. Prior to the start of any
excavation, construction crews dig small “test pits” to be sure that
the underground infrastructure and utilities are in proper order and
that the construction plan can proceed accordingly. Typically, test
pits are only several feet wide and do not involve significant work or
impacts to abutters. Test pits for the GLX will be dug intermittently
along the length of the rail line prior to the start of regular
construction activity that will begin later in the spring.
Tree Removal
Tree and vegetation removal work will begin this month. Trees will only
be removed from the MBTA Commuter Rail Right of Way and from temporary
easement areas where land owners have been previously notified. In
advance of any tree removal, pest control measures will begin in
surrounding areas. The GLX team has and will continue to leave door
hangers (paper notices) on properties directly abutting this work in
advance of the start of tree removal. This work will incremental,
beginning at the College Ave. end of the project, continuing eastward
in the coming months. Tree removal work in 2018 will only occur on the
east side of the rail right of way. In 2019, additional tree removal
work is planned on the western side of the right of way.
Rodent Abatement & Pest Control
Rodent abatement and pest control will occur both before and during
construction activities. In the Gilman Square area, the GLX team is
working closely with the City and project contractors for the
Somerville High School project, particularly around rodent control, as
both projects will be under construction during the same period of
time. The GLX team will carry out rodent control measures using leading
best practices, within the MBTA Commuter Rail Right of Way, as well as
on temporary easement properties, with the aim of minimizing impacts to
surrounding areas. But as some rodents from disrupted rail areas may
travel into abutting neighborhoods to seek food and new shelter despite
these aggressive efforts, it is imperative that the City and residents
take necessary steps to reduce rodent activity. With the guidance of a
national rodent control expert, the City will be conducting intensified
integrated pest management throughout the project to reduce potential
impacts. Residents will receive further information on actions they too
can take and on services available including our Residential Rodent
Abatement Program. For now, if you see rodent activity anywhere in the
city, please report it to 311 (617-666-3311) to help inform both City
and GLX team efforts.
Utility Work
It is common during larger construction projects to need to coordinate
with utility companies (like Eversource or National Grid) to conduct
repairs and replacements to underground utilities. Therefore, you may
also see utility companies on site at various times throughout the
project. If there are impacts to your gas service, water service, or
electricity you will be notified by the utility company and, in certain
situations, by the City.
HOW TO STAY INFORMED
There are a number of ways in which MassDOT, the MBTA/GLX team, and the
City of Somerville will keep the community updated throughout the
project. We encourage you to sign up for at least one of these methods
of communication to stay as informed as possible.
1. MassDOT / GLX Update Emails
MassDOT and the GLX team maintain an email list, available to anyone
wishing to opt in. Emails include upcoming schedules and work
information. To sign up for these email updates, visit
www.greenlineextension.org.
2. City of Somerville Email Updates
The City of Somerville will maintain an email update list for
interested constituents to notify you of important upcoming schedules
and construction impacts on a regular basis. You can opt-out at any
time. To sign up for City updates: Email construction at somervillema . gov
and note that you are opting into GLX updates.
3. Station-Area Representatives
The GLX Project team developed a Community Working Group to provide
information sharing between the project team the public. The Working
Group consists of representatives from each of the station areas in
Medford, Somerville, and Cambridge. Working Group members provide
assistance to the MBTA and to the community in identifying local issues
of concern, facilitating dialogue, and planning agendas and topics for
discussion at neighborhood and community meetings. We strongly
encourage you to reach out the Working Group representative closest to
your area of interest and sign up for their alerts and updates. These
representatives work very closely with the project team and the City of
Somerville and can provide you with valuable information for your
specific neighborhood. The representatives for each area are listed
below along with their contact information.
[NOTE: I'm redacting all these personal emails so they don't get harvested and spammed. Happy to share in private messages.]
* Jennifer Dorsen, Ball Square:
* Justin Moeling, Gilman Square:
* Ryan Dunn, Magoun Square:
* Michaela Bogosh, Magoun Square:
* Jim McGinnis, Union Square:
* Elliott Bradshaw, Brickbottom:
* Dylan Manley, East Somerville:
4. GLX Project Website
If you would like updated information but do not wish to receive active
alerts and updates, you can always visit [2]www.greenlineextension.org,
where full project background materials are also linked.
5. Questions?
* GLX 24/7 Hotline: The GLX team is happy to assist you, and this is
the best first stop for any questions or concerns. Email them at
Email info at glxinfo. com, or call the project hotline, which is
monitored 24/7: 1-855-GLX-INFO.
* 311 Constituent Services: For basic city specific issues related to
the GLX, contact our 24/7 Constituent Services Office at 3-1-1 (or
617-666-3311).
* City of Somerville GLX Liaison: The City is in the process of
hiring a project liaison to coordinate technical and logistical
issues related to construction. For now, additional city staff
assigned to the project are available to assist you via
construction at somervillema. gov or 617-666-3311.
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2018 22:00:28 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: GLX Construction: Community Update
This is a message from the Somerville, MA Community Alert System.
Dear Somerville Community Member,
You are receiving this email to provide you with important information
as construction for the Green Line Extension project (GLX) gets
underway this spring at each of the six station areas. While we will
continue to automatically update you on any direct construction impacts
to your neighborhood such as detours, we encourage you to take
advantage of additional ways to stay informed throughout the project,
including via City updates, MBTA updates, and through your station area
community representative listed below.
START OF WORK: APRIL 2018
General Information
After years of community advocacy and planning, the GLX was given an
official “Notice to Proceed” in December 2017, and work is already
underway with completion expected by late 2021, which is a contractual
obligation by the GLX contractors. The GLX contract team is currently
mobilizing at each of the six station areas, and you will begin to see
work happening in April around each of these station areas (Union
Square, Washington Street, Gilman Square, Lowell Street, Ball Square,
and College Ave. in Medford). Preliminary work throughout the month of
April will include tree removal, digging test pits, and pest control.
More significant construction is expected to begin in summer 2018.
Note: you may start to see some larger equipment along the rail
corridor beginning in the spring; however, this does not mean that
excavation or major construction is beginning at that time. Arrival of
equipment is part of the pre-construction preparation.
During the heavier construction, there may also be some night and
weekend work. If you are signed up for updates (see the end of this
email), you will receive schedules and information as they become
available to us. Whether or not you are signed up for the email
updates, the City will notify you with 48 hours advance notice (when
possible) of any planned work that will impact you outside of normal
activities (such as excessive noise or night work).
Pre-Construction Surveys
Over the next six months, GLX contractors will also be contacting
property owners in specific areas to conduct pre-construction property
surveys. The purpose of pre-construction surveys is to document
existing property conditions prior to construction. While not required,
the surveys provide important documentation should property owners
notice damage to their property during or after construction. Without
proper documentation of conditions before construction, it may be
difficult to demonstrate how or if damage may have been done to a
particular property as a result of the project. Impacted properties
will be notified directly by the GLX team.
Test Pits
Test pits are a common construction practice. Prior to the start of any
excavation, construction crews dig small “test pits” to be sure that
the underground infrastructure and utilities are in proper order and
that the construction plan can proceed accordingly. Typically, test
pits are only several feet wide and do not involve significant work or
impacts to abutters. Test pits for the GLX will be dug intermittently
along the length of the rail line prior to the start of regular
construction activity that will begin later in the spring.
Tree Removal
Tree and vegetation removal work will begin this month. Trees will only
be removed from the MBTA Commuter Rail Right of Way and from temporary
easement areas where land owners have been previously notified. In
advance of any tree removal, pest control measures will begin in
surrounding areas. The GLX team has and will continue to leave door
hangers (paper notices) on properties directly abutting this work in
advance of the start of tree removal. This work will incremental,
beginning at the College Ave. end of the project, continuing eastward
in the coming months. Tree removal work in 2018 will only occur on the
east side of the rail right of way. In 2019, additional tree removal
work is planned on the western side of the right of way.
Rodent Abatement & Pest Control
Rodent abatement and pest control will occur both before and during
construction activities. In the Gilman Square area, the GLX team is
working closely with the City and project contractors for the
Somerville High School project, particularly around rodent control, as
both projects will be under construction during the same period of
time. The GLX team will carry out rodent control measures using leading
best practices, within the MBTA Commuter Rail Right of Way, as well as
on temporary easement properties, with the aim of minimizing impacts to
surrounding areas. But as some rodents from disrupted rail areas may
travel into abutting neighborhoods to seek food and new shelter despite
these aggressive efforts, it is imperative that the City and residents
take necessary steps to reduce rodent activity. With the guidance of a
national rodent control expert, the City will be conducting intensified
integrated pest management throughout the project to reduce potential
impacts. Residents will receive further information on actions they too
can take and on services available including our Residential Rodent
Abatement Program. For now, if you see rodent activity anywhere in the
city, please report it to 311 (617-666-3311) to help inform both City
and GLX team efforts.
Utility Work
It is common during larger construction projects to need to coordinate
with utility companies (like Eversource or National Grid) to conduct
repairs and replacements to underground utilities. Therefore, you may
also see utility companies on site at various times throughout the
project. If there are impacts to your gas service, water service, or
electricity you will be notified by the utility company and, in certain
situations, by the City.
HOW TO STAY INFORMED
There are a number of ways in which MassDOT, the MBTA/GLX team, and the
City of Somerville will keep the community updated throughout the
project. We encourage you to sign up for at least one of these methods
of communication to stay as informed as possible.
1. MassDOT / GLX Update Emails
MassDOT and the GLX team maintain an email list, available to anyone
wishing to opt in. Emails include upcoming schedules and work
information. To sign up for these email updates, visit
www.greenlineextension.org.
2. City of Somerville Email Updates
The City of Somerville will maintain an email update list for
interested constituents to notify you of important upcoming schedules
and construction impacts on a regular basis. You can opt-out at any
time. To sign up for City updates: Email construction at somervillema . gov
and note that you are opting into GLX updates.
3. Station-Area Representatives
The GLX Project team developed a Community Working Group to provide
information sharing between the project team the public. The Working
Group consists of representatives from each of the station areas in
Medford, Somerville, and Cambridge. Working Group members provide
assistance to the MBTA and to the community in identifying local issues
of concern, facilitating dialogue, and planning agendas and topics for
discussion at neighborhood and community meetings. We strongly
encourage you to reach out the Working Group representative closest to
your area of interest and sign up for their alerts and updates. These
representatives work very closely with the project team and the City of
Somerville and can provide you with valuable information for your
specific neighborhood. The representatives for each area are listed
below along with their contact information.
[NOTE: I'm redacting all these personal emails so they don't get harvested and spammed. Happy to share in private messages.]
* Jennifer Dorsen, Ball Square:
* Justin Moeling, Gilman Square:
* Ryan Dunn, Magoun Square:
* Michaela Bogosh, Magoun Square:
* Jim McGinnis, Union Square:
* Elliott Bradshaw, Brickbottom:
* Dylan Manley, East Somerville:
4. GLX Project Website
If you would like updated information but do not wish to receive active
alerts and updates, you can always visit [2]www.greenlineextension.org,
where full project background materials are also linked.
5. Questions?
* GLX 24/7 Hotline: The GLX team is happy to assist you, and this is
the best first stop for any questions or concerns. Email them at
Email info at glxinfo. com, or call the project hotline, which is
monitored 24/7: 1-855-GLX-INFO.
* 311 Constituent Services: For basic city specific issues related to
the GLX, contact our 24/7 Constituent Services Office at 3-1-1 (or
617-666-3311).
* City of Somerville GLX Liaison: The City is in the process of
hiring a project liaison to coordinate technical and logistical
issues related to construction. For now, additional city staff
assigned to the project are available to assist you via
construction at somervillema. gov or 617-666-3311.