STEP is a community group fighting for improved transportation in Somerville. Read background information on the issues, or check out the latest news in getting the Green Line and Orange Line into Somerville.

WHAT'S NEW

July 03, 2009

Somerville Journal: Orange Line design meeting

"Residents say initial Orange Line design needs to better maximize ridership"
Somerville’s first community meeting regarding the Orange Line T stop at Assembly Square has residents less than pleased about a design that seems too inflexible, does not include a second head house or station nor have enough visibility to attract riders.

July 01, 2009

MBTA's proposed design for Assembly Square T stop

Assembly Square T stop

At the recent public meeting on Assembly Square, the MBTA presented its preferred station design. Download the slides (PDF). Or keep reading to see some of the maps and detailed diagrams.

Read more...

June 30, 2009

Orange Line Assembly Square meeting: We need a second headhouse

Assembly Square Orange Line: second headhouse

Last night many residents gathered at a community meeting to discuss the design of the new Orange Line stop at Assembly Square. MBTA project staff and the design consultant provided an overview of the preliminary design for the station, which includes just one headhouse for entry and exit. This was followed by a comment period during which many people argued for a second headhouse.

STEP's Wig Zamore created a set of slides as background information and recommendations about the station design, pointing out the obvious need for a second headhouse. One headhouse would mean a less visible station, a long walk to many Assembly Square destinations (including IKEA), less effective bike connections, and poorer accessibility. Download the slides.

Read more...

State wants to reduce Urban Ring in Somerville

Urban Ring map

The EOT has just filed a Notice of Project Change for the Urban Ring which revises the Preferred Local Alternative to run directly to Sullivan Square from Everett, down Route 99, completely eliminating Medford and mostly eliminating Assembly Square in Somerville, which now would get a backwards spur off of one of the bus routes but lose the direct connection to Logan and is removed from the mainline of the Northern Tier which is proposed to be built. This is strange as the Urban Ring ridership projections for Wellington (5,800) and Assembly Square (5,200) had far exceeded those projected for Sullivan Square (2,700) in the recently filed Urban Ring Phase 2 Revised Draft EIR / Draft EIS. Stay tuned for more updates.

June 29, 2009

STEP analysis reveals design problems with Yard 8 maintenance facility

The following letter and analysis were sent from STEP to the Executive Office of Transportation.

Dear Secretary Aloisi,

STEP has carefully reviewed the EOT report on locations for the maintenance facility. We found that the state's decision in favor of Yard 8 failed to account for key operational issues. In other words, there are design problems in the track design for the Yard 8 design. The state's critique of other locations in the report did not take into account the operational design flaws of the Yard 8 plan.

Concerned that the criteria for evaluating the locations was not consistent, STEP requested that Mr. Stephen Kaiser review and evaluate the operational issues for both Yard 8 and Mirror Scheme H. Mr. Kaiser is a Cambridge engineer who formerly worked for 15 years with the state on matters of transportation and environmental review. Download his summary report of June 26 (PDF).

Read more...

June 28, 2009

America's streetcar renaissance

Street-running train networks are making a comeback, as this map from The Infrastructurist shows.

America Rediscovers the Streetcar map

June 25, 2009

Somerville air quality testing begins soon

Somerville News: "Comprehensive air quality testing for one year begins soon"
The Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership, a group of concerned Somervillians, has partnered with Tufts University to devise and implement a study of air quality in neighborhoods just off major highways in Somerville. It is thought that the added pollution from passing cars negatively affects the residents' cardiovascular health.

June 22, 2009

STEP meeting

Topics included the Orange Line Assembly Square planning meeting, Community Corridor planning meetings, and the CAFEH study.
Meeting notes (PDF)

May 27, 2009

Somerville News: East Cambridge meeting on Green Line

"East Cambridge residents voice concern about Green Line changes"
While most attendees were in agreement that the Green Line expansion is a positive endeavor, the modest crowd of approximately 60 people were unanimously concerned about pedestrian access across O'Brien Highway, the newly scaled-down design of the station in comparison to that of the previously grandiose North Point Development Designs, better signage and the historic preservation of the current Lechmere Station.

Read more news about the Green Line, Orange Line, and STEP.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Route 16 Green Line station planning meeting

Wednesday, July 8, 6 pm
Clarendon Hill Apts
Powderhouse and North St (map)

Read more...

Union Square transportation community meeting

Wednesday, July 8, 6:30 pm
Argenziano School at Lincoln Park
290 Washington Street (map)

Read more...

Ball Square Green Line station planning meeting

Tuesday, July 14, 6 pm
Nathan Tufts Field House
Powderhouse Square

Read more...

Lowell St Green Line station planning meeting

Thursday, July 16, 6 pm
Visiting Nurses Association
259 Lowell St (map)

Read more...

Union Square Green Line station planning meeting

Saturday, July 25, 10 am
Boys and Girls Club
181 Washington St (map)

Read more...

STEP meeting

Monday, July 27, 7-9 pm
VNA Assisted Living Facility (Community Room)
259 Lowell St (map)

Inner Belt / Brickbottom Green Line station planning meeting

Wednesday, July 29, 6 pm
Holiday Inn
30 Washington St (map)

Read more...

Gilman Square Green Line station planning meeting

Wednesday, Aug 5, 6 pm
Pearl Street Park Community Room
238 Pearl St (map)

Read more...

STEP meetings usually occur the third Monday of the month. Please come!

MAP OF THE FUTURE

Explore an interactive map of the new Green Line stops, including aerial photos and detailed station plans.

Green Line map
View interactive map

OFF TRACK DOCUMENTARY

Watch a documentary about Somerville's fight for the Green Line!

Watch Off Track
View movie

GREEN LINE TIMELINE

Discover the history of the Green Line extension through text and pictures.

Green Line Timelinesm
View timeline (large image)

WHAT YOU CAN DO

You can make a difference! Come to a STEP meeting, and learn more about getting involved if you care about faster commutes, reduced traffic, improved air quality, and new businesses for Somerville.

Join our email list and be part of the discussion:

 

Email STEP at info@somervillestep.org

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