###### tags: `Train` `Green Line` `Video` `2022`
# GLX Video

## Sections

1. Intro
2. History
3. Ride

## Script

### Intro

On Monday, March 21st at 4:50 AM, the first train ran from Union Sqaure station to Heath Street on the brand new extended Green Line E branch. This moment will go down in history

### History

The project was first proposed in 1991, when a "Green Line Extension To Ball Square/Tufts University" was supposed to be completed by 2011. As you may know however, the project has only been completed in 2022, with a cost of 2.28 billion dollars. This was coming in just under budget, with a cost of 2.3 billion initially put towards the project. Eventually the D line will terminate at Union Square station and the E line will have a new terminus in Medford.

### Ride

I woke up at 3:30 AM to ride the first train out of Union Square. I biked there and at this point I was overcome with excitement. I saw many other transit enthusiasts and locals alike making there way to the historic first train out of Union. At the Station they opened up the path down to the tracks. The station was beautiful. However it was very clear there was still some work to be made on it. Firsty let me talk about this fare validation. While inheritnly not a bad idea, the amount of time it takes is way to long. I think once they have fare gates much will be improved. Nextly I love the station. The station gives new station vibes and is really nice. The layout of it is bit wonky but it is still very cool. Now lets ride. Cue B Roll. As we left Union the entire car erupted into cheers. This was the first rapid transit extension in over 30 years! We arrived at lechemere and saw the beautiful new station.

But I Was going to stay on 2 more stops until North station. (Unrecorded I got off at science park to science park because right behind our train was a unique early morning train to riverside. Normally only the E goes to Unions quare on this section of track but in the early morning a D train goes to riverside.) However today that trip was shorturned to govt center! I got off at North Station and started to walk back towards Lechmere. At this hour you can only ride trains in one direction. With the next inbound train not being for over an hour. As we walked I saw many trains pass by overhead and I even saw some academy shuttles which were the former Green line extension shuttles. I eventually made it back to Lechmere and explored the new station. It was gorgeous and was a huge improvement from the old station. I made my way up through the station and down to the busway. The drivers are still geting used to the new route design and almost left us! However I am happy to say I was the first passenger to board a bus out of the new Lechmere Busway! There is no signage but it is a huge space that has a lot of potential. On my 87 Back to Union square I reflected on this morning. It was amazing.

## Animations

- animation of timeline/route construction

## Sources

### Images

Union Sq. Station: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Train_arriving_at_Union_Square_station,_March_2022.JPG

Heath St. Station:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heath_Street_station_and_Mission_Hill,_September_2012.JPG

Lechmere Station:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northbound_train_at_Lechmere_station,_March_2022.

Science Park Station:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Science_Park_station_from_below,_June_2017.JPG

## To-Do

- [x] Conrad: At 2:15 fix voice buffer
- [x] Reuben: Record footage