The MBTA will hold a public hearing to review an Equivalent Facilitation Request by the Green Line Extension (GLX) on Thursday, July 10, 2014. The hearing will be held at the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park, 290 Washington Street, Somerville, MA from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm in the cafeteria.

The Equivalent Facilitation Request is required as part of the project’s application for a Full Funding Grant Agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

“Equivalent facilitation” permits the FTA and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations to accommodate innovation in accessible design. It allows the development of improvements in vehicle, facility, or equipment design that provides for equal or greater accessibility, but would not strictly meet the required design standards. Equivalent facilitation is covered under federal law by 49 CFR Part 37.

Increasing accessibility is a key goal of the GLX project, but due to sloping roadway conditions near several of the stations, there are a few isolated instances where station designs currently do not comply with design standards created by the ADA. In order to deviate from these standards, the MBTA must do so in a way that provides equivalent or greater access, and receive a “determination of equivalent facilitation” from the FTA administrator.

This hearing is an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the MBTA’s application for a determination of equivalent facilitation before the MBTA formally submits it to the FTA. A draft of the application is available for review on this link.

For more information about the GLX project, please visit this link or email: info@glxinfo.com.

When: Thursday July 10, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Where: Cafeteria at Argenziano School at Lincoln Park, 290 Washington Street, Somerville, MA