0 Green Line Extension Gets Boost from New Administration

The Green Line extension appears to be moving back to the front page and is part of an infrastructure initiative put forward by the Trump administration.

Map of the MBTA Green line extension

Credit: BBJ

According to a recent BBJ article, “the much-delayed MBTA Green Line extension to link Cambridge’s Alewife to Somerville and Medford is one of 50 infrastructure projects that President Trump’s transition team has identified as a priority, according to a document obtained by the Kansas City Star…The total cost of the MBTA’s 4.3-mile Green Line extension could be as much as $3 billion and result in 3,000 jobs, according to the document.”

From Wikipedia:
The Green Line Extension (sometimes abbreviated as GLX) is an initiative to expand transit services in Greater Boston by extending the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Linelight rail beyond its current northern terminus at Lechmere Station in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The 4.3-mile (6.9 km) extension is intended in order to improve mobility and regional access for residents in the densely populated municipalities of Somerville and Medford, two cities currently underserved by the MBTA relative to their population densities, commercial importance, and proximity to Boston.

0 Shared Office Space in Somerville at Workbar Union Sq.

Cambridge co-working space at WorkBar

Workbar Cambridge

Union Square is now host to a shared workspace: Workbar will open its newest location in Somerville at 31 Union Square.

According to Banker&Tradesman, “The 2,500-square-foot shared workspace will be located in the former Elegant Furniture location. The facility will include coworking space, conference and meeting rooms, event space, secure wifi and social and educational programming. Construction will begin following final design and permitting, said Greg Karczewski, president of Union Square master developer US2. US2 leased the 31 Union Square storefront last fall and plans to open its local headquarters in the space, as well. Construction will begin following final design and permitting, with an August opening anticipated…Workbar has locations in Boston and Cambridge and a network of partner spaces throughout eastern Massachusetts, serving more than 800 members from over 400 businesses.”

You can read the full article on B&T’s website.

0 TechHub Poised to Open Davis Square Location

logo for TechHubFrom Bangalore to Davis Square – TechHub is the latest shared workspace host to enter the Boston Market.  Vying to be different they are putting their stakes in the ground in 7,500 square feet in Davis Square, Somerville.

From BetaBoston:

TechHub, which operates a network of co-working spaces in India, Romania, Latvia, and the United Kingdom, plans to open in Somerville this month. And much like a card that will give you access to frequent flier lounges, a TechHub membership will let you work in any of the locations as you jet around the globe.

“We hope we can be a catalyst for even more activity in the Boston area.” [TechHub co-founder and CEO Elizabeth] Varley says that “we really focus on the community side of things,” putting on events that introduce investors and established companies to entrepreneurs, for instance. Locally, the group has put on five demo nights, most recently last week, to promote TechHub to Bostonians.

0 Green Line Extension Project Gets Boost

Boston Green-line extension project

Credit: GreenlineExtension.eot.state.ma

Boston is home to the old subway in the county, the Green Line, which will be extended by 4.7 miles from Lechmere Station to Somerville and Medford.  This opened at the end of the 19th century and was built to allow ordinary street cars to operate below ground which is dramatically different than subways of today.

The busiest Green Line stop is Park Street station, which is the intersection of the Green, Orange and Red Lines in the heart of Downtown Crossing.

Banker & Tradesman recently reported that the “U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx yesterday joined Gov. Deval Patrick and other Bay State officials to formally announce a $996 million federal grant to extend Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line light rail service from East Cambridge to Somerville and Medford…The Federal Transit Authority announced its intention to provide nearly $1 billion for the $2.3 billion project in December. State funds will cover the remaining cost.”

You can read the full article on B&T.

0 Somerville Efforts to Become Carbon Neutral by 2050

Somerville green building

Credit: Boston Business Journal

The City of Somerville might be onto something here; it is efforting to become carbon neutral by 2050.  If all things are equal or at least close to equal, I believe local small-to-mid-sized companies would embrace the green initiative.  The challenge only really exists when being green adds measurable cost to the companies monthly overhead.

From the BBJ:

“‘Sustainability and taking care of the environment is a deeply held conviction of the community,’ said Daniel DeMaina, media manager for the city of Somerville, in an interview…The city will release a form called a Request for Information, for companies to propose their green-tech ideas at an event on Oct. 21. Companies have until Dec. 1 to submit their plans.”