Union Square area residents, business people and property owners are invited to two community   meetings to learn about and discuss the proposed Green Line spur to Union Square. Union Square Main Streets and STEP (Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership) are sponsoring the meetings.

The first meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Building at 220 Washington Street in Union Square and will focus on issues of importance for the Union Square neighborhood, particularly station location and the route of the spur. A second meeting on Tuesday, February 12 at the same time and place will continue the conversation.  Union Square Main Streets and STEP are holding the meetings to inform the community about the various options being considered for the Union Square spur and to learn neighborhood concerns and priorities.

Currently first formal step towards construction of the Green Line is underway with through the Draft Environmental Impact Review (DEIR) by the state’s Executive Office of Transportation. This is a comprehensive analysis of transportation and environmental requirements and will make important pre-design and construction recommendations such as where to locate the stations. There is a citizen’s advisory committee for the DEIR project with community representatives from Somerville, Medford and Cambridge.

Union Square is the largest commercial district along the proposed route and the transit improvements the Green Line will bring could encourage private investment in the large number of underutilized commercial properties in the Square. The new light rail service promises increased vitality for the neighborhood, both for current small, independent businesses and through new development in the brownfield areas on the eastern side of the Square. Improved public transportation will enable faster and easier trips for commuters and shoppers.  The location and design of the Union Square station presents opportunities and challenges to maximize accessibility for pedestrians, to allow for convenient connections with buses and to be centrally located without adding to the burdens in an already congested neighborhood.

STEP is a group of residents working to improve transportation and air quality for Somerville residents and business and to increase social equity and economic opportunity in Somerville by advocating for transportation improvements throughout the city.  Through their work and the efforts of Somerville‚Äôs elected officials the State is fulfilling its legal mandate to construct the Green Line extensions to mitigate the environmental impacts of the Big Dig.

Union Square Main Streets brings together merchants, residents, property owners and others to advance the commercial district of Union Square.  With a focus on greater economic vitality of the area‚Äôs businesses, the non-profit organization makes the neighborhood a better place to live, work and shop.