New Ramps at Wedgemere Train Station Put on Hold

The MBTA is looking at improving Winchester's train stations. However, in order to use the $2 million of federal money, the projects must be completed by October.

The MBTA has already at the Winchester Center station, and are looking to completely

Over at the Wedgemere Station, the town was looking at adding more ramps to the station, but ran into some problems with the land they had planned on using.

A letter from Town Planner, Betsy Ware, to the Planning Board stated: “It was determined that the MBTA could not install the ramps as originally designed since the proposal location was partially located on Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Land, which is subject to a conservation restriction.”

The area of the land that Ware mentioned is immediately behind the station, across from heading into the small area of swamp land.

Releasing the restriction on the land is required in order to construct ramps on the land. The $2 million in federal stimulus funds requires the project to be completed by October of this year. Unfortunately, the Planning Board estimates it would take over a year and a half to get the proper legislation.

“Given the situation, the MBTA is proposing to relocate the ramps closer to Bacon Street and closer to the proposed location of our mini-high platforms,” stated Ware's letter to the board.

This design will require a Winchester Town Meeting vote in order for the MBTA to move forward with the new design area.

“It will be a challenge to see if the MBTA can redesign, petition Town Meeting to use town land for the ramps and construct the project within the time limits of the stimulus funds,” finished Ware's letter.

The Board responded with unsure thoughts over what to do at this juncture with the project.

“The complications going north [towards Bacon Street] don't make sense to us right now, and a lack of clarity to the exact development benefits building on that spot are unsure,” said board member, Drew Bottaro.

The board agreed with Mr. Bottaro's summary of the confusion over the project and summed up the board's feelings. The discussion was tabled as the board needs more time to discuss the particulars, weighing the positives and negatives of trying to force the project through by next October.