By Brian Denitzio
Reporter Staff

Transit activists and elected officials turned out Tuesday evening to rally for funding for the expansion of the MBTA's Fairmount Line. Bearing signs reading, "Fix it First, Fund It Now!" and "Governor Romney, Release Our Money," concerned commuters and politicians spoke out to encourage Governor Mitt Romney to release funding for the construction of additional stations along the Fairmount corridor.

Marvin Martin, president of the Four Corners Action Coalition, served as emcee for the rally, and told the audience of another Fairmount rally he'd attended, on the same Washington St. location, five years earlier. At that time, Martin said, the priority was garnering attention for the need to refurbish the underused commuter line.

"The problem now is that the governor hasn't released the money," said Martin, referring to the $50.5 million earmarked to fund the renovation and expansion of the Fairmount Line in the transportation bond bill. The release of that money hangs on a decision from Romney.

To date, the MBTA has committed $37 million to fund the renovation of two existing Fairmount Line stations at Uphams Corner and Morton Street, as well as improvements to the line's infrastructure. Workers broke ground at Uphams Corner last month and work on the station is expected to continue for the next year and a half. Commuters got a bit of good news this week when they learned that the station will not close for the duration of construction, as the MBTA had originally planned, but rather remain open throughout.

Work on Morton St. is expected to begin in August according to MBTA spokeswoman Lydia Rivera.

Of the $50.5 million in the transportation bond bill, $7 million is allotted as additional funding for work on the Uphams Corner and Morton Street stations.

The remaining $43.5 million would fund additional stops on the line, stops that residents say are vitally important to the neighborhood.

Vassal Stewartson, who's lived along the Fairmount tracks for eight years, said that he was surprised that a train ran right through his backyard, but didn't stop in his neighborhood. Stewartson stressed that additional stops would have a positive impact on the Fairmount corridor.

"It's about jobs, about quality of life, and it's about economic improvement," said Stewartson.

The Fairmount Line originates in Readville and moves through Mattapan and Dorchester before terminating in South Station. The MBTA estimates that the total travel time along the Fairmount Line is 23 minutes. Residents in Four Corners say that the trip currently takes them up to an hour.

"It takes me an hour to get downtown, and I live 10 minutes away," said Stewartson.

Mayor Thomas Menino attended the rally, but arrived shortly after the event's five o'clock start time.

Upon taking the podium, Menino remarked, "I would've been here 20 minutes earlier if we had the Fairmount Line."

The mayor stressed the effect that additional stops and improvements to the line would have in the neighborhoods it serves, stating that increased service would mean access to employment and spur development along the line.

Pointing to the traffic crawling passed the rally, Menino also noted that an improved Fairmount line "will end the congestion we have every night along Washington St."

Following Menino to the podium was state Senator Jack Hart, who said that residents tolerate the negative aspects of having a train in their neighborhood, while enjoying none of the benefits.

"We are taking the impact of the train, but it does nothing for us," said Hart.

Hart urged activists not to let up in their efforts to win funding for additional stops.

"I think this is going to happen if we keep pushing," said Hart.

Hart was in attendance last month at the groundbreaking for the renovation to the Fairmount line's Uphams Corner station, the unofficial start to work on the Fairmount line. Renovations to the Uphams Corner and Morton Street stations, along with structural repairs along the line are phase one of what activists hope will be a two-phased renovation and expansion of the line.

Phase two could include the construction of up to four additional station stops along the line. The final locations have not been determined, but could potentially bring stops to Newmarket, South Bay, Four Corners, and Talbot Avenue.

According to Rivera, the specific locations of additional stations will be arrived at through a community process. Rivera also said that the MBTA is committed to buiding a stop in the Four Corners area and to having a design in place by Dec. 2007.

Funding for phase two was included in the transportation bond bill and sent to the governor for approval in July of 2004. A decision Romney to release the bond is the final step according to Rep. Marie St. Fleur, who said that the Fairmount project should appeal to the governor's desire to fund "smart growth."

"Smart growth is built around the transportation infrastructure," said St. Fleur, vice-chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.

After his public remarks, Menino urged Romney to use recent tax revenue surpluses to fund services and projects, rather than risk cutting services by favoring tax refunds.

"It's the people's money and they should be able to use it for the purpose they see fit in their neighborhoods," said Menino.

For Martin, the rally was bittersweet. Encouraged by the work already underway and the attention the project is now receiving, Martin expressed surprise that the project had come so far, and now awaited funding from the state.

"I never thought that we would hit this snag," said Martin.