A group of frustrated community members are digging their heels — and shovels — into the dirt in Somerville today during a mock groundbreaking to support expedited Green Line Extension plans.
“We are frustrated that the project is taking so long,” said Ellin Reisner, president of the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership. “We want to send a message to MassDOT and the Federal Government. We are not backing down.”
Reisner’s group will be flanked by supporters from Arlington, Medford and Cambridge to voice their frustration over Green Line project delays prior to a MassDOT meeting at Somerville High School tonight.
Even Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone will be lining up for the mock ceremony.
“We prefer it to be an actual groundbreaking, but the people who are holding it have been working with the city to make the project a reality,” said Michael Meehan, the mayor’s director of communications.
Meehan said it doesn’t hurt to continue to remind people that “people are very serious about [the extension], and the city expects it to happen.”
The Green Line extension was delayed again earlier this summer, pushing the project to 2018 or later.
The ceremony, scheduled for 6 p.m., is co-sponsored by 11 other groups and will be followed by a MassDOT public hearing on an environmental assessment report.
Follow Steve Annear on Twitter @steveannear.
