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City officials are concerned about accessibility issues with the current GLX Union Square station. — Photo courtesy of Fennick|McCredie Architecture LTD
By Jim Clark
A resolution was put forward at the latest regular meeting of the Somerville City Council calling for improved accessibility at the forthcoming Union Square Green Line Station.
The initial sponsor, Ward 3 Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen, spoke in favor of the resolution saying, “For those who don’t know, currently the access to the Union Square station is from the north. It’s from the corner of Prospect Street and something called Bennett Court, which is basically where the old radiator shop was. So for anyone coming from Cambridge or Inman Square, when you get to the top of Prospect Street, according to the current proposal you’ll be able to take a staircase down that’s being built by the private developer. But if you can’t take stairs, whether that’s a stroller or you have mobility issues, you’ll have to go – according to my analysis on Google Maps – an additional 850 feet, which Councilor Niedergang reminded me is almost three football fields out of your way, just to reach the station.”
Ewen-Campen went on to say, “So this is something that I think there’s really no one involved that sees this as a good idea. Last night I was at a neighborhood meeting hosted by the Union Square Neighborhood Council, where both the Council and the developer really both strongly feel that for this to be a successful station, and a successful development in Union Square, you want access for people coming from the south.
“Ideally, you want access from the south, from Boynton Yards,” according to Ewen-Campen. “You don’t want people to have to walk all the way into Union Square. But just at the most basic level, this is an ADA accessibility issue, and we’ve been told repeatedly that we’re not going to see any changes to any of these designs that aren’t cost-neutral. And I just think it’s important that we continue to hammer away at this, because this is really just a basic issue of accessibility and fairness. That we’re asking people with mobility issues to travel almost three football fields to access the same train station.”
The full text of the resolution reads as follows:
“WHEREAS: The 2019 Accountability Report “Assessing the MBTA’s Progress on the Strategic Plan,” prepared by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, found significant shortcomings in the MBTA’s progress towards its stated goal of expanding accessibility across the MBTA system; and
“WHEREAS: Construction on the long-awaited Green Line Extension station in Union Square is slated to begin soon, marking a critical moment in the long-sought goal of providing high-quality public transportation options to the area, a goal for which Somerville and Cambridge have invested $50 million and $25 million, respectively; and
“WHEREAS: The current station design in Union Square continues to raise serious concerns regarding accessibility for those people approaching from points South, including from Cambridge; and
“WHEREAS: The current station planning process is complicated by the involvement of the GLX Project Team, GLX Constructors and a private developer (US2), the latter of which has agreed to provide a staircase, but not an elevator, from the top of Prospect St, directly down to the station; and
“WHEREAS: Any person unable to use this proposed staircase would have to walk approximately 850 additional feet (the length of almost three football fields) in order to access the station’s at-grade entrance at Bennett Court & Prospect; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Somerville City Council urges MassDOT, the City of Somerville, and the private developer US2, to work collaboratively with residents and community groups to improve the accessibility of the Union Square GLX Station for people with mobility impairments; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this Resolution be presented to Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Mayor Joseph Curtatone, MBTA GLX Project Program Manager John Dalton, Governor Charles D. Baker, and the Somerville delegation in the State Legislature, on behalf of the Somerville City Council.”
The resolution was unanimously approved.
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Shame on the city of Somerville for this. They haven’t been paying attention to a single thing, from this to bridges being closed for a year. Then they scramble and try to save face with a last-minute and meaningless resolution. There will certainly be a lawsuit if this is built as planned, and I worry how much our taxes will go up to cover it. And they wonder why people don’t take the T?
Be direct. Are you suggesting we pay another $250k or $500k to put in an elevator? How many riders are expected per day who are mobile enough to get to the south side but not mobile enough to take the stairs? Is saving them another “three football fields” worth whatever the price tag is?
Things changed from the original plan as it went way over budget. Which meant a lot of things had to be cut out to fit into the budget allowed. Trying to put these things back in to make it accessible to everyone is going to bring it back to the original problem. We do not have elected officials who are knowledgeable about these things but they are the ones in charge. So let’s see how they mess this up some more.
Wow, Joe. Let’s see, people with mobility issues, heart issues, etc., often can’t walk a few feet, never mind 3 football fields. I guess they just can’t take the T, huh? Our tax $$$ went into it just like yours. There are certainly other things to cut besides the federally required accessibility issue. And I don’t believe for a minute that no one in the city knew anything about this. And if anyone thinks a resolution will help they’re crazy. Where is Joe storming the Governor’s Office??
Will the stairs be covered? Will there be a ramp – covered – for wheel chairs/carriages/crutches? Who will keep the stairs, ramp and path to the train free of ice and snow in the winter which lasts a good long time in Somerville. MBTA does not have a good track record for that – sidewalk on bridge of train tracks at Prospect and Webster is often not cleared by City of MBTA.
The people to suffer the consequences of this cutback are not the ones who created the problem of money shortage. Stop hiring consultants and giving tax breaks to developers if it compromises the needs of the citizens. We are being asked in Somerville to give up a lot for the GLX – note all the traffic nightmares and displacements. It would only be fair to make sure once it is completed that it be usable easily and by all.
TO: This is not about people who can’t walk a few feet. The question is people who got to the south entrance but then cannot take the stairs, which seems to me to be an extremely small number of people. If they were getting dropped off, they would use the actual drop-off zone on the north side (is it a loop?). And if they are coming from the north, there isn’t a problem at all.
How many people can walk all the way to the south entrance from wherever they’re coming from but can’t take the stairs and also can’t walk around the block? Is it worth an undisclosed X dollars to build an unspecified solution?
I’d preemptively add that we’re not discussing people taking public transportation to the south entrance either because I believe the 86 is the only bus that goes by the south entrance, but it passes the north entrance too.
I believe the ADA is pretty explicit on accessibility for all. There is no disclaimer to provide accessibility only if lots of people will need it. I do find it hard to believe that the T thinks it’s okay to cut accessibility and that the city was not aware it was being done. Like every other government project/entity there is always lots to be cut without making it inaccessible to ANYONE. Joe, I hope you never experience some of the issues that would impact your use of this station. There are many who can walk a few feet but in great pain, and stairs are pretty impossible. If accessibility is cut out of this project I and others like me should be receiving a refund on the dollars paid by the city to the T to complete this project. And by the way, do we still have a Disability Commission in the city?? Where are they??
I’m not sure what this Councilor was smoking, the new design adds less than 200 ft of walking and is not even close to walking into Union Square.
Joe you are an absolute snot. It’s nobody’s business how anyone gets there or where they’re coming from. Federal law says it ALL has to be accessible. People with disabilities are sick of being questioned about whether they really need these things. You have no idea and don’t seem interested in learning. (I’m addressing ignorant commenter, not the Mayor)
The Dilboy Access plan– build state of the art stadium, spend millions. If a wheelchair/crutches/walker/pain individual is on the field they need to exit the gate near the pool, wheel down the road about 50 yards, turn right, wheel about 50 yds more, and enter gate. Then theres no seating for them to enjoy an event. They actually have Special Olympics there and some kids can’t get to the lunch break area. Recently built, no excuse cept ignorance