Why residents want the Route 16 station

1. Better public transit. The Green Line will be fast, will run frequently, and will connect to the entire T system. The Route 16 station will be in walking distance for approximately 10,000 local residents in Medford Hillside, West Medford, West Somerville, and East Arlington.

2. Less car traffic. The Route 16 station will allow more car trips to be replaced by Green Line trips. Even if you’ll still need to drive somewhere, having other people taking the Green Line means that you’ll have less traffic in front of you.

3. Less air pollution from cars. The Route 16 station will improve our air quality by reducing car trips and reducing traffic congestion.

4. Less noise from the commuter rail. Noise barriers will be put up next to the commuter rail line through Medford Hillside only if the Route 16 station is built. Even though the commuter rail will be shifted a little closer to our homes, we’ll have less noise and less air pollution from the commuter rail because of those noise barriers.

5. Sensible development opportunities. The only building that needs to be taken down for the Route 16 station is the U-Haul building. There’s space around the Route 16 station for small shops and cafes, the sort of development that benefits a neighborhood.

6. Job opportunities. Good public transit connections attract employers all along a transit line, and make it easier for all of us to get to those jobs.

7. Help our local businesses. Stores like Whole Foods will benefit from the Route 16 station. We want our local businesses to survive and thrive.

8. Improvements to our local roads and other infrastructure. If the Route 16 station is built, part of the project will include fixing the traffic flow problems we already have along Route 16, Boston Avenue, Winthrop Street, and other local roads. We need those improvements.