Over 130 people attended the first public meeting regarding a potential Green Line extension to Mystic Valley Parkway. Participants provided feedback in small groups on key concerns, opportunities, and information needs around transportation, land use, environment, station design/construction, costs, and other issues. Top concerns included traffic, parking, and development scale. Top opportunities included improved transit access and potential for growth. Key information requests centered on traffic impacts, station design, land acquisitions, and project costs. Next steps include a second public meeting in March.

1. PUBLIC MEETING # 1 FEBRUARY 16, 2011 - SUMMARY
The Visioning Process
MassDOT has convened a visioning process in order to explore opportunities and challenges
associated with the possible extension of the Green Line to Mystic Valley Parkway. They have
engaged the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to conduct a study and to present the public
with information related to the opportunities and challenges associated with the possible extension.
On February 16, 2011, the first of five public meetings was held at the Brooks Elementary School in
Medford. The Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration (MOPC) facilitated the session.
The Meeting
More than 130 people attended. The goal of the meeting was gather information from participants
to ensure that MassDOT and MAPC are aware of the major community concerns, what information
participants had received and what additional information is needed about the benefits and impacts
of a potential station at Mystic Valley Parkway, what opportunities might exist as a result of a new
station, and who else to involve in the community conversation.
At the outset of the meeting, staff from MAPC and MassDOT provided an overview about the process
and answered frequently asked questions. Participants used electronic keypads to anonymously
provide feedback at the beginning of the meeting about who was attending (age, town where they
live, home ownership, etc.) and at the end of the meeting about how effective the meeting was.
For most of the meeting, the participants met in facilitated small groups of 8–15 people to discuss
key concerns, opportunities and information needs. Participants also offered suggestions about who
else should be involved during the visioning process. During the small group portion note takers
took down key points of the discussion. In addition, all participants were encouraged to fill out
comment cards. The attached document summarizes all of this information gathered. The concerns
and opportunities grouped around a number of themes including: transportation, land use and
development, environment, station design and construction, costs and taxes, and other issues.
Next Steps
MAPC will review all of the feedback from the February 16 meeting. On March 30, the second Mystic
Valley Parkway Green Line Extension Community Visioning Meeting will be held at 51 Winthrop Street
in Medford. At that meeting, MAPC will provide information about a number of issues including:
traffic and parking, anti-displacement, air quality and other concerns and questions raised by
community members. Additional questions from the community will be answered.
In order to keep the public informed, MassDOT has a dedicated website for this process. It is
www.mass.gov/greenlineextension. The public can view meeting agendas, presentations and
summaries as well as public comments and suggestions. You can also get information on MAPC’s
website at www.mapc.org. Comments are welcome via a dedicated email address glx@mapc.org or
Mystic Valley Parkway Community Visioning Process, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, 60 Temple
Place Boston, MA 02111.

2. Summary of Key Issues Mentioned
Issue Mentioned Times Mentioned
Transportation Key Issues
Parking/City needs to develop a parking policy 8
Safety improvements for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers 7
Traffic concerns along Route 16, Boston Avenue, West Medford, cut-through traffic 7
Pedestrian and Bicycle access and connectivity to the station 6
Modification of bus routes (existing and new) to serve station 4
The Green Line needs to be connected to the commuter rail in West Medford 4
Not building the station reduces transportation access and choices 2
Ridership on Green Line will not be strong enough to support the project 2
Concern that Capen Park cannot handle additional pedestrian traffic 1
Concern that this area will be a storage area for Green Line cars 1
Drop-offs to the station could cause traffic congestion and safety issues 1
Install traffic signals that increase pedestrian safety 1
Land Use and Development Key Issues
Development should respect the scale of the neighborhood 11
What will happen to Whole Foods, 198-200 Boston Ave. and U-Haul? 6
No displacement should occur as a result of this project (people or businesses) 4
Concerned about losing the parking lot at Whole Foods 1
Impact on West Medford business district and Medford Square 1
Need blue collar jobs, not just white collar jobs 1
Tufts is expanding into the community 1
Environment Key Issues
Abutter public health concerns (noise, vibration) 5
Negative effect on air quality 4
Protection of open space in general 3
Protection of the Mystic River/Alewife River 3
Protection of green space and trees along the right-of-way 1
Station Design and Construction Key Issues
Concern that the station design will include a parking garage 2
Road closures/bridge closures during construction 1
Station needs to include accessible design elements 1
Costs and Taxes Key Issues
Funding for the project, do we have the money? 3
Loss of tax base if buildings are taken 3
Future tax levy for Medford if station is constructed 2
General Issues Key Issues
Is this process a foregone conclusion? 3
Snow removal at station and on sidewalks 3
A Route 16 terminus is better than College Avenue 2
Concerned about safety at the station 2
Concerned with the upkeep of the station 2
State will take property though eminent domain at a "low-ball" rate 1
There is a need for good dialogue 1

3. Summary of Key Opportunities Mentioned
Opportunities Mentioned Times Mentioned
Transportation Key Opportunities
Improved pedestrian and bicycle access in the area 9
Green Line could help mitigate traffic 7
Access to Boston, better frequency 6
Access to the area without relying on a car 5
Access to West Medford businesses 5
Adds transportation choices 4
Access to Whole Foods in Medford from other Green Line stations 3
Light rail is better/more reliable than buses in bad weather 2
Pedestrian connections to West Medford Center 2
Provides a one-seat ride to work 2
More independence for seniors who do not drive 1
Opportunity for secure bike parking (cages, shelters) 1
Land Use and Development Key Opportunities
Potential for increase in tax base and job growth 11
Could increase diversity in housing choices; elderly/lower-income housing as well 4
More foot traffic could increase retail potential 3
Opportunity for new shops along Boston Avenue 3
Station could have positive impact on property values 3
Creates a synergy - open space, housing, business, transportation 2
Environment Key Opportunities
Better air quality and water quality as a result of less traffic 4
Additional open space 1
Station Design and Construction Key Opportunities
Cap the right-of-way and tunnel the tracks to provide buildable space above 2
General Opportunities Key Opportunities
Resource for the entire area - not just Medford 1
Better access to Tufts campus 1

4. Summary of Information Requests
Information Requested Times Mentioned
Transportation Information Requested
Will there be a change in bus routes to the station (new or existing)? 4
How will parking be addressed? 3
How do you get people to use other modes of transportation besides automobiles? 2
How much faster would the Green Line be than the bus to Boston? 1
Information on transit use in dense areas without parking 1
Traffic impacts - travel patterns and increase in traffic 1
What are the anticipated additional vehicle trips to the station? 1
Which Green Line(s) would come to Route 16? (A-E Lines?) 1
Will this station include a parking garage and will it be a transportation center? 1
Would there be lighting improvements planned around the station? 1
Land Use and Development Information Requested
Would like renderings of the area and what it might look like in the future 3
How many people will this project help? 1
What is the projected population growth for the area? 1
Will businesses be displaced as a result of the station location? 1
Costs and Taxes Information Requested
What is the cost of the project from College Ave to Route 16? 4
What is the direct effect on municipal budgets? 2
Why is the extension so expensive? 1
Station Design and Construction Information Requested
How big is the station/what would it look like? 5
What is the process for land acquisitions/what buildings are going to be taken? 5
How will abutter impacts be mitigated? 4
How will you mitigate construction impacts? 3
When would this project be constructed if it were to happen? 2
Overview of the current project plans, what is and is not included? 1
Update on track alignment 1
General Inquiries Information Requested
Need to develop a "newcomer" sheet with basic information 3
Data on crime statistics around transit stations 2
What are the benefits to all of Medford and Somerville? 2
What is the City of Medford's position on the project? 2
Why was this part of the project removed from Phase 1? 2
Will the Green Line cars be quiet cars? 2
Business owners need more information 1

5. Summary of Outreach Opportunities Mentioned
Outreach Populations/Methods Times Mentioned
Tufts University 10
Business Owners 8
Increase Racial/Ethnic Diversity at future meetings 8
High School Students 7
Seniors 6
Church Groups 5
Abutters 4
Non-native English speakers 4
Schools 4
Smaller, localized meetings for some groups 3
Arlington Residents 2
City of Medford Staff/City Councilors 2
Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) 2
Disabled Population 2
Low-Income Population 2
Webinars 2
Community Development Corporations 1
Flyers on the T (buses and rail) 1
Labor Unions 1
Libraries 1
Medford/Somerville Chambers of Commerce 1
Public Access Television 1
Tri Cap 1
West Medford Community Center 1

6. Comment Card Summary
Comment Card Suggestions Times Mentioned
Use reverse 911 calls and newspaper ads to announce the meetings 3
Need a more diverse group of people, including youth 2
The 6:00pm start time is too early for people who come after work 2
Try to enhance the existing "mixed-use" character of the area 2
Break up groups better to diversify the "pro and con" opinions 1
Develop an online comment forum to capture comments and a place for running dialogue 1
Hold a meeting in Somerville 1
Include Planning Boards from Medford and Somerville 1
Outreach to low-income and non-English speaking populations 1
Vary the start times for meetings to more people can attend 1
Comment Card Comments Times Mentioned
Be realistic, where is the money going to come from for this project? 2
Did not receive notification of the meeting 2
Discussion was well facilitated 2
Extending the Green Line is extremely important to connect people to transit 2
Fear that the project will not be constructed due to lack of funding 2
Make sure there is good connectivity between sidewalks, buses, bike paths, etc. 2
Assisted listening devices caused feedback in the audio system 1
Don't want an auto-dominated station like Alewife or Wellington 1
Green Line should extend to commuter rail stop in West Medford 1
More information should be presented about abutter impacts 1
The Route 16 station should be part of a single-phase Green Line project 1
There is too much traffic in the area already, it will get worse with the Green Line extension 1
Use layman's terms for technical information, simplify information 1
Whole Foods should remain, at the very least a grocery store is needed 1
Comment Card Information Request Times Mentioned
Air, noise and vibration impacts 2
Land takings 2
Explain relationship between this process and the existing Route 16 DEIR study 1
Is the station location at Route 16 set or is it flexible? 1
Loss in tax base if buildings are taken to construct the extension and station 1
Medford's anticipated annual tax levy if the new station is constructued 1
What will happen to Whole Foods, 198-200 Boston Ave. and U-Haul? 1
When will Phase I of Green Line construction begin? 1
Comment Card Special Needs Request Times Mentioned
Multi-lingual materials (Brazilian, Portuguese and Haitian) 6
Child care 3