Oak Grove Improvements Don't Go Far Enough: Your Reactions

MALDEN, MA — The improvement project at Oak Grove Station is welcome, but doesn't go far enough, according to reader feedback from a recent story on the Oak Grove Station Improvement project.

In more than 70 comments between Melrose and Malden community- and politics-oriented Facebook pages, questions arose on whether the estimated $16 million price tag is a bit rich for the improvements laid out by officials.

"Goodness! $16m to fix elevators, a ceiling and paint? This work absolutely has to be done but really surprised at the price tag"

"$16m is a hefty price tag to refresh a station and improve/add elevators. Someone needs to scrub these numbers and then sharpen their pencils."

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Others asked about whether more parking improvements can be made and how much the MBTA can work on the surrounding roads and sidewalks.

Not everyone was put off by the price tag, viewing the work as necessary.

"I use the current elevators a few times a year when I just can't manage the stairs. They need work. Access to the 132 bus from the train requires using the stairs or walking out of the station and across the nearby bridge and then back to the station (or getting off at Malden, I suppose). I'm not getting any younger; I look forward to improved access. I don't expect that work to be cheap."

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The following were posted to the Malden Patch Facebook page:

Rudolph T. - "How about more parking spaces......build a garage maybe....."

Diana H. - "Lifting the existing parking area to be a 2-3 story garage might be a nice thing to do"

Robert F. - "Are they going to get the smell of urine out of the station to [sic]"

The following were posted to the Melrose Patch Facebook page:

The following is a comment posted to the story:

Nasochkas - "2 years to add 2 elevators, replace 2 elevators, some side walks and paint the place...."

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