MassDOT land exchange clears way for MBTA station

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has approved a land exchange agreement to facilitate extending the Green Line north of Lechmere Station to Somerville and Medford, Mass., while also advancing the NorthPoint mixed-use development project. The agreement between the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Pan Am Railways, approved by the MassDOT Board of Directors, allows for construction of a new Lechmere Station on the east side of O'Brien Highway in East Cambridge across from the current station location. The project will lead to new jobs and economic development for the area. "This landmark agreement represents an important next step in the Green Line Extension project that will help create jobs in both the short- and long-term," said MassDOT Secretary Jeffrey Mullan. "At the same time, we have secured the use of important rights-of-way that are critical to our longer-term rail vision and are important for the Commonwealth's transportation and economic future." The MBTA is also obtaining crucial track and property rights necessary for MassDOT and the MBTA to build and operate the Green Line Extension, among other projects. In exchange for granting those rights to the MBTA, Pan Am is acquiring the property on which the existing Lechmere Station is located. "The new Lechmere Station will benefit Cambridge residents by increasing the public transportation options available to them and enable the city of Cambridge to redevelop an important land parcel that will improve the overall vitality of the neighborhood," said Cambridge Mayor David Maher. "We are encouraged by the MBTA's investment in East Cambridge by moving forward with Lechmere Station. This is an important step in completing the NorthPoint area so it can meet its full potential as a place to live and to work." Among the key elements of the newly-approved agreement:
The MBTA and MassDOT will receive: • All of the trackage and property rights necessary to build and operate the Green Line Extension, which have a combined value of $12.5 million. In addition to this real value, these rights provide a $5.5 million savings for MassDOT and the MBTA, which had expected to pay $18 million for these rights. • Trackage rights off the Worcester Main Line to allow potential future passenger service from Worcester to Ayer. This will provide a connection between the Worcester and Fitchburg Commuter Rail Lines, and a potential future connection to North Station. • Trackage rights to provide future passenger service to New Hampshire. This would allow for the extension of MBTA Commuter Rail service from Lowell to Concord, NH through Nashua and Manchester. That project would ultimately be sponsored and funded by the State of New Hampshire, similar to current Commuter Rail service to Rhode Island. • While not part of the Land Exchange Agreement, Pan Am has agreed to assume costs associated with the required street and sidewalk improvements in the Lechmere area. The Green Line Extension project and the Commonwealth were planning to absorb this $9 million expense, which may now be deducted from the project's total cost.