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URBAN DESIGN IN
SQUARE/PEDESTRIAN ACCESS/OPEN SPACE
It is
important to preserve the character of Union Square –
recognizing that pedestrian distances are not that great.
We need to
weigh the needs of pedestrians and cars
Keep
heights low, not even over 4 stories
Pedestrian
access must be given careful consideration
Re-engineer
Webster and Prospect St to 2-way streets for better traffic
flow and improve Sq’s ambiance
Keep safe
and accessible – disabled, bikes, strollers, little kids
Avoid brick
sidewalks for better disability access
Encourage
walking and movement without destroying fabric of
neighborhood
Weigh needs
of drivers and non-drivers
Linking
with the community path
How do
people feel about density and building height for Union
Square?
Is there
coordination between Somerville Avenue construction and
Green Line regarding sidewalk improvements?
Will there
be a building height limit?
More info
on development (landscape, architecture, environment) of
Union Sq after the T is here.
Look at
Best Practices – Pollution (air and noise), look at
diversity of housing/mixed use/commercial, access sidewalks
What are
constraints caused by pollution
What is
link of decisions of Green Line design with other urban
planning for Union SQ
How to
address noise?
How does
the Green Line fit in with larger transportation plan for
Union Sq? What is impact on development?
Zoning – If
we go up, what is the impact?
Somerville
Ave reconstruction – is there coordination in design, what
are plans? Any sidewalk improvements through this?
TRAFFIC/CONGESTION
How will
congestion on Somerville Ave be addressed if the Green Line
runs on street?
We should
be concerned about limiting cars as we plan for current and
future land use
Help reduce
traffic congestion in the Sq
Re-engineer
Webster and Prospect to 2-way streets for better traffic
flow and improve Sq’s ambiance
What will
happen with traffic congestion when construction goes on?
What
happened to the Bluestone study? Inexpensive traffic
options?
Concerns
about congestion on Somerville Ave
Limit car
traffic
Create
incentives to get people out of cars
Could we
narrow/limit traffic in Union Square
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/LAND
USE ISSUES
We need to
know more about constraints for developing the Kiley Barrel
site due to serious pollution.
Considerations for station siting are determined by who and
what you are planning for – residents, business mix,
residents and people with disabilities that impact access to
some proposed station locations. Need to consider access
between buses and Green Line.
Need to
clarify densities and best practices for factors such as
housing value and cost, retail and mixed use, urban design
including sidewalks
How do
people feel about density and building height for Union
Square?
Somerville
should consider engaging in a planning process such as being
done around the Jackson Square Orange Line stop in Jamaica
Plan to make the best use of TOD for Union Square.
Can zoning
be planned for the larger infrastructure?
Will there
be a building height limit?
More info
on development (landscape, architecture, environment) of
Union Sq after the T is here.
Smart
economic development – small businesses and human scale
buildings – not bank branches (see current Harvard Sq) and
no high rises! Do not turn Union Sq into an urban canyon.
Factoring
in affordable housing
Keep SCAT
in Union Square – great cultural resource
Avoiding
displacement of current residents
Keep
heights low, not even over 4 stories
Look at
Best Practices – Pollution (air and noise), look at
diversity of housing/mixed use/commercial, access sidewalks
Details on
current business mix chart
We need to
separate transportation from development
Zoning and
planning by the city will be critical to determine future
residential and economic development
What are
interests for each Union Square station alternative?
Look at
present and future land use
What are
constraints caused by pollution
Compare
various station locations for Union Sq on potential of
business development
Compare
economic impact of other stations on their neighborhoods
What is
future vision for business uses
Look at
residential and business uses – what are boundaries for
uses, create through zoning
Zoning
needs to anticipate the station
What
resources ($, grants) are available for TOD (transit
oriented development)?
How does
the Green Line fit in with larger transportation plan for
Union Sq? What is impact on development?
Jamaica
Plain, Jackson Sq as best practices case for
housing/commercial/mixed use
What is
impact on housing – on existing housing, on developing new
housing within 10 minute walk
Zoning – If
we go up, what is the impact?
STATION DESIGN/TROLLEY AND
TRAIN ISSUES
How will
the station location affect bus connections?
Can
commuter rail pollution be reduced with hybrid technology
Who is
looking at and what criteria are being used to address
accessibility for people with disabilities for siting stop
along the Fitchburg line vs. in the center of Union Square?
Somerville
should consider engaging in a planning process such as being
done around the Jackson Square Orange Line stop in Jamaica
Plan to make the best use of TOD for Union Square.
Concern
about pollution caused by commuter rail stops in Somerville
A small
footprint Head house would work for Union Square
Can the
community get access to studies and best practices for light
rail from the US, Europe and Canada?
Link with
commuter rail – if only a few stops a day
frequency
of trains?
Pedestrian
access must be given careful consideration
Keep safe
and accessible – disabled, bikes, strollers, little kids
Avoid brick
sidewalks for better disability access
Ensure that
new T stations meet or exceed ADA
Use quality
construction
Ensure good
lighting, police presence, keep stations safe
Disability
access
How will
the two lines impact current green line service
operationally – timeliness, peak hour capacity.
Concerns
about congestion on Somerville Ave
Foster bus
and trolley connections
Make
station accessible
Emphasize
pedestrian access
Station
head houses – look at “Courthouse” as an example
ALIGNMENT AND STATION
PLACEMENT QUESTIONS/SUGGESTIONS
Why not
curve the Green Line at Union Square so that there is only
one line and it goes right to Union Square?
Several
questions about the Harvard/subway Urban Ring connection and
implications
Several
questions about extending Green Line to Harvard, Porter and
Davis
Can the
community get access to studies and best practices for light
rail from the US, Europe and Canada?
Why didn’t
you ask whether people want a Somerville Ave route or
Fitchburg alignment and if they want a station stop right in
the middle of the Square or off the Fitchburg line?
Station
location is important. Close to center of Union Square.
Bicycle accessible. What is purpose of current construction
in Union Square. Lights cause chaos at times. No cops to
direct traffic.
Linking
Union to Porter makes a lot of sense, creates a real
transportation link, improves commuter rail, will help bring
people to Union Square
Link with
commuter rail – if only a few stops a day
I really
want to push for a Union Sq station that comes right into
the heart of the square. I would feel much more safe and
would use the service more.
Keep things
close in to the businesses, not even two blocks away.
Is there an
engineer employed by the City to have the City’s interests
in mind? The MBTA’s engineers will not have the City’s
interests as a high priority
Intermodal
connection at Webster Ave and Kingman Rd would connect with
existing bus routes to Sullivan, Inman, Central Sqs. Purple
line/Green line would permit bicycle access to commuters.
Union Sq and Inman Sq would benefit greatly from this,
bringing people in from Fitchburg, Waltham, Belmont, Porter
Sq, North Station, East Cambridge, Boston.
Disability
access
What are
interests for each Union Square station alternative?
What are
constraints caused by pollution
Perhaps
curve the alignment off Fitchburg line and loop back on
Washington St?
Encourage
walking and movement without destroying fabric of
neighborhood
What is
relationship between light and heavy rail – why not
combine/change over?
Webster Ave
– create dual platform for commuter and light rail – a
possible site?
Downeaster
line?
What ways
could draw people from the station – Dunkin’ Donuts site to
draw to Somerville Ave
Connecting
to Porter
Comparative
analysis of catchment areas of various stations – what is
expected/current ridership for each?
Compare
various station locations for Union Sq on potential of
business development
How to
address noise?
Linking
with the community path
Who owns
the old Union Sq station land on Webster beside the condos?
Create
document on proposed station locations – pros and cons of
each
CONSTRUCTION AND TIMING
Can/should
the Union Square spur be built at the same time or
separately from the Lowell line?
Is there
coordination between Somerville Avenue construction and
Green Line regarding sidewalk improvements?
Several
questions about the Harvard/subway Urban Ring connection and
implications
Is there an
engineer employed by the City to have the City’s interests
in mind? The MBTA’s engineers will not have the City’s
interests as a high priority
What will
happen with traffic congestion when construction goes on?
STATE & FED
PROCESS/TIMELINES/FUNDING
There are
budgetary constraints on how the project will be carried out
Questions
about status of project funding
What other
infrastructure issues are there that affect the project, for
example McGrath-O’Brien Highway and Miller’s River?
What
interests are being used to drive decisions about station
location?
Are the
state/feds committed to both the Union Sq and Medford lines?
Is there still a risk there?
What is the
probability of the Union Sq station being built by 2014?
What are
budgetary constraints? Is money set and how much?
Is there an
engineer employed by the City to have the City’s interests
in mind? The MBTA’s engineers will not have the City’s
interests as a high priority
What could
stop the Green Line from coming to Somerville? Impact of
McGrath reconstruction, Miller’s River?
Compare
real and actual timelines of Green Line with other transit
timelines
What is
timeline of decisions from here
EOT studies
on-line
COMMUNITY DECISION MAKING ISSUES
Need to
clarify densities and best practices for factors such as
housing value and cost, retail and mixed use, urban design
including sidewalks
Ensure that
abutters are present in decision making– need to reach out
to them
Develop and
share decision point timeline from now going forward with
the community.
Are the
state/feds committed to both the Union Sq and Medford lines?
Is there still a risk there?
What can
Somerville residents do to make sure the project proceeds?
Pull
together many groups for joint planning
What could
stop the Green Line from coming to Somerville? Impact of
McGrath reconstruction, Miller’s River?
What
happened to the Bluestone study? Inexpensive traffic
options?
How do we
go about getting technical assistance to go with our wishes?
Is there funding for such a thing? We need engineers on our
side.
What
aspects of this project do we have control over?
Abutters
should be involved
Do a
walking tour of the areas
What
resources ($, grants) are available for TOD (transit
oriented development)?
Compare
real and actual timelines of Green Line with other transit
timelines
What is
timeline of decisions from here
Develop sub
groups of this group to look at some of these issues
Find
studies/examples that would inform our process from Europe
and Canada
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