Greenbush Ombudsman

Landscape architect Kristina Patterson is the new Cohasset Greenbush Ombudsman. Her role is to investigate and address impacts that the Greenbush Commuter Rail Project may have upon the citizens, residents and businesses of the town of Cohasset.
Photo courtesy of Kristina Patterson

Cohasset, MA - With the Greenbush line coming down the tracks, the town has hired Kristina Patterson to serve as the ombudsman between the town and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority throughout the project.

As a neutral third party, she will help keep the lines of communication open, and solve any potential adverse affects the train might have on the community.

In addition to her new role in Cohasset, Patterson works as a landscape architect for the Waterfield Design Group, a company that has been involved with many Cohasset projects, including the revitalization of the downtown area.

?EUR??,,????'??I applied for the position through my company and they?EUR??,,????'???ve given me a lot of support,?EUR??,,????'?? said Patterson. ?EUR??,,????'??Being a landscape architect has helped with my expertise on the plans.?EUR??,,????'?? Patterson has worked as a landscape architect the past nine years and in the Boston area the past four years. She started doing visual landscape inventory, urban design and resort design. With a background in design and programming, she became a liaison and project manager.

Because of her position at the Waterfield Design Group, Patterson said she is lucky to have access to many resources. Not only can she rely on her own expertise to be able to take an objective look at many potential solutions to problems, she can bounce ideas off her colleagues to make sure any problems that arise are being looked at from all angles.

When construction begins, Patterson will be available at Town Hall on Tuesday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Thursday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. She will also be available for scheduled appointments on a case-by-case basis.

The Greenbush line which runs 17.7 miles from Braintree to Scituate is expected to begin service in late 2005. Greenbush is part of the mitigation of the central artery part of the Big Dig project. Construction on Greenbush started last summer and after a temporary freeze was lifted, it has reached Cohasset.

?EUR??,,????'??A rail line called Old Colony Line is still in existence and owned by the railway,?EUR??,,????'?? said Patterson. ?EUR??,,????'??A commuter line goes south of Braintree and is mitigated to enhance the surrounding Boston area. I?EUR??,,????'???m part of the town mitigation project and will be involved as long as needed, probably one or two years.?EUR??,,????'??

Each town along the Greenbush line has its own agreement with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, with each community paying a portion of the ombudsman?EUR??,,????'???s 20-hour per week salary.

?EUR??,,????'??This project?EUR??,,????'???s positive effects are the hope to decrease traffic along the south shore towns,?EUR??,,????'?? said Patterson. ?EUR??,,????'??Adversely, it could add more traffic and confusion of certain crossing areas. It could cause more congestion and noise.?EUR??,,????'??

So far, the reactions have gone about 50/50 for and against the project, said Patterson. The concerns vary from wanting information about land use to how construction will affect the entire area. Patterson was hired to answer questions and serve as a conduit to direct the concerns to qualified individuals.

?EUR??,,????'??What I like most about being an ombudsman is bringing people together,?EUR??,,????'?? said Patterson. ?EUR??,,????'??I can see who people need to talk to and facilitate the discussions. The difficulty comes when there?EUR??,,????'???s a stalemate. Not having everyone happy is what?EUR??,,????'???s most challenging.

Patterson said the railway designs are stringent which allows a balance between environmental concerns and maintaining the town?EUR??,,????'???s history and character. A lot of time is allotted to look at the designs and how it affects the community. ?EUR??,,????'??No stone is left unturned, as far as that?EUR??,,????'???s concerned,?EUR??,,????'?? said Patterson.

Web site: www.cohasset-greenbush.com