By Andrea Gregory

The plan to bring a T station to Assembly Square is not moving on the fast-track officials and area residents had hoped.

Bringing the Orange Line to Assembly Square is an intricate part of the revitalizing the region. Large retailers, a movie theater, a hotel and several other establishments are making plans to move to the area. Having a subway stop there is not only attractive to businesses, but is being considered a must to support the area’s future.

However, the city learned its plan to go through the most direct and streamlined process with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will not be getting a green light.

The FTA did not return phone calls.

U.S. Rep. Michael E. Capuano, who helped to earmark $25 million for the project, said the news is not as bad as some people may think. Although it would have been the fastest and most direct way to bring the Orange Line to Somerville, it is not the only way to do it.

“There is more than one way to skin a cat,” said Capuano.

He said not being eligible for this one program should not alone delay the project.

Federal Realty Investment Trust, the Rockville, Md.-based developer for Assembly Square’s revitalization, teamed up with retailer Ikea to also invest $15 million into a new subway station.

“Our primary concern is that we want to get the new T station built as soon as possible. We have recently begun preliminary conversations with the FTA on what is the best route to access the $25 million that is in SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users),” said Bob Walsh, vice president of development for Federal Realty, in an email. “We are working cooperatively with the FTA, the MBTA, Congressman Capuano, the city and the state on finding that route. We are on track, but are not yet even at the formal application stage with FTA.”

But the latest news about the anticipated Orange Line T stop, follows in the footsteps on disappointing delays for a Green Line Extension to Somerville. The Green Line project is facing an additional two-year delay. The proposal to even further delay the already-behind-schedule project by Gov. Deval Patrick was already upsetting to local officials. Although the projects are not connected, some officials are seeing it as two blows to the future of Somerville’s transit and are calling it frustrating for those who have worked to see the city obtain additional stops.

“I’m disappointed because coming on the heels of the Green Line, this is a double whammy,” said Alderman-at-Large Jack Connolly. “We have worked so hard to try and make this happen. Any further delays are just a slap in the face.”

According to Connolly, the project is expected to bring $15 million per year in commercial tax revenues. He said without the boost expected to come from the redevelopment of Assembly Square to the city’s budget, residents and taxpayers could be the ones feeling the crunch.

“All the burden is going to fall on the residential taxpayer to some degree,” said Connolly.

Connolly said another option would be for the mayor to layoff city employees. Neither option is a good one for the city, said Connolly, pointing out that the mayor does not need to watch progress slow down during an election year.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone did not return phone calls.

Tracks already run through Assembly Square, and Orange Line trains regularly pass right through the area, only there is no station. The proposed stop would fall between the Sullivan Square and Wellington Station stops.

“It is important for everyone in the community to have the T up and running as soon as possible,” said Wig Zamore, a transportation activist with the Mystic View Task Force, a grassroots organization focusing on the development of Assembly Square. “The developers and the city and the T really need to work together.”

Zamore said the newest date he heard was 2013 to open the T station. He said that number was put out there by Federal Reality, the projects main developer.

Zamore said the developer’s $15 million contribution to bring the T to Assembly Square shows commitment to the area and a desire to see the T come in. But at the same time, Zamore is hoping plans for the new station move at a quicker pace.

“It is just a matter of putting it through the proper channels,” he said. “We think the city will be receptive to the need for the T to be built before 2013. If you can’t do it faster than that, you are not trying.”