The original design of the multi-billion dollar “Big Dig” project focused exclusively on expanding a highway and was projected to generate a substantial increase in air pollution in the Boston area—pollution well known to cause and contribute to a variety of illnesses, including cardiac and respiratory disease. CLF fought to require the Commonwealth, through what is now federally enforceable law, to invest in transit improvements to mitigate air pollution and reduce traffic impacts. The Commonwealth has completed work on some of these transit commitments which, include a number of new commuter rail lines, but fell behind on several of the urban transit commitments. CLF pursued successful litigation to force the Commonwealth to satisfy its obligations.

As a result of our work, Blue Line stations have been upgraded to have longer platforms, so that six-car trains can run to serve more riders and most have been modernized.  CLF is now working to ensure that all remaining projects are funded and built with community input. The outstanding commitments include:

• The Red-Blue Connector Project – The design of an extension of the Blue Line to Charles/MGH Station, which would provide a direct connection between the MBTA Red Line and Blue Line.
• The Green Line Extension to Medford Hillside and Union Square - Light rail service to Somerville and Medford.
• The Fairmount Line Project - Transformation of the only commuter rail line located entirely within the City of Boston into a rapid transit quality line that will provide clean, convenient and affordable service to the communities through which it passes..
• Park and Ride – One thousand new park and ride spaces serving commuter rail trains.

CLF is working with a broad group of stakeholders to hold the Commonwealth to these commitments and to make sure that they are delivered on time.

Contacts:

Rafael Mares 
Staff Attorney, Massachusetts

Featured Advocacy Documents:

• 7/23/10 - CLF Comment Letter on Green Line Extension Project Final Environmental Impact Report
• 7/23/10 - Attachments to CLF Comment Letter on Green Line Extension Final Environmental Impact Report
• 5/21/2010 CLF Comment Letter on the DEIR for the Blue-Red Connector
• 5/21/2010 CLF Comment Letter on the DEIR for the Blue-Red Connector Appendices 1 -3
• 1/8/2010 - CLF Comment Letter on the Green Line Extension DEIR EA
• 1/8/2010 - Appendix 1: EOT SIP Air Quality Analysis (2025) for Eastern Massachusetts by Package and by Project
• 1/8/2010 - Appendix 2:  “In Search of Medford Hillside 1891-2008” By John Roland Elliot
• 09/22/09 - CLF Comments MPO’s 8/20/09 Draft Amendment to 2010-13 Regional Transit Plan and Transportation Improvement Plan
• 09/15/09 - CLF Comments on 2009 State Implementation Plan Transit Commitments Status Report
• 10/3/07 - Final Regulation
• 10/3/07 - Transit settlement
• 9/6/07 - Transit Commitments Status Report
• 11/28/06 - Final Signed Transit Settlement Agreement (PDF)
• 11/21/06 - CLF Comments on Green Line Extension ENF (PDF)
• 10/30/06 - CLF Comments on Silverline Phase III Notice of Project Change (PDF)
• 9/20/06 - CLF request for release of data and public hearings on proposed SIP revisions (PDF)
• 8/15/06 - CLF Comments on MPO's Draft 2007-2010 Transportation Improvement Plan (PDF)
• 8/8/06 - CLF Comments on EOT's ACO Public Transit Commitments Annual Report (PDF)
• 6/16/06 - CLF Comments on Storrow Drive Tunnel Reconstruction Environmental Notification Form (PDF)
• 10/24/05 - CLF Comments on 20-Year Transportation Plan (PDF)
• 8/5/05 - MA Smart Growth Alliance Comments on 20-Year Transportation Plan (PDF)
• 6/29/05 - CLF's Comments on Proposed Changes to the SIP (PDF)
• 3/14/05 - CLF's Complaint Against Commonwealth Officials (PDF)
• 2/3/05 - CLF Letter Expresses Disappointment Over Faulty Transit Agreement (PDF)
• 1/26/05 - Second Amended Administrative Consent Order (PDF)
• 1/12/05 - CLF's Notice of Intent to Sue the Commonwealth over the Transit Commitments (PDF)
• 11/01/04 - CLF Comments on Boston's Public Transit Commitments (PDF)
• 9/24/03 - CLF Comments on Boston's Public Transit Commitments (PDF)
• 5/23/02 - Amended Administrative Consent Order (PDF)
• 9/1/00 - Administrative Consent Order and Amended Conditional Acceptance of Preconstruction Certification of Central Artery Tunnel Project with DEP Decision Letters (PDF)
• 7/8/91 - Conditional Acceptance of Preconstruction Certification of Central Artery Tunnel Project (PDF)
• 12/19/90 - Memorandum of Understanding between CLF and the Commonwealth of MA (PDF) 
  Air Pollution Regulations - 310 CMR 7.36 (PDF); 310 CMR 7.38 (PDF)

More on the Public Transit Commitments:

• History of the Transit Commitments
• Transit Commitments Timeline
• 310 CMR 7.36 Final Regulation (PDF)

Press Releases:

• 2/3/09 - State Agrees to Extend Green Line to Route 16 and Boston Ave. in Medford