By Jack Nicas

The Green Line is coming to Somerville; that is definite. However, where it will stop is not. The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) is carrying out its Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which analyzes all proposed stations to determine where each will be definitively located.

“No location has been secured for any of the T stops,” said Ward 1 Alderman William M. Roche. “They are all basically placeholders.”

Wig Zamore, an active member of the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership, said although all proposed stations will be examined, some are garnering considerable discussion. Specifically the Brickbottom, Lowell Street, and Union Square stops and whether the extension’s terminus is located at Route 16 or in the Medford Hillside neighborhood, he said.

However, no station will experience major changes. Community Development Director Monica Lamboy said moves would be “smaller than hundreds of yards,” with the exception of Union Square; that spur has three alternatives, “with some potential distance between them,” she said.

The first alternative shows the Union Square branch staying on the Fitchburg commuter rail line right of way, with an underground station on lower Prospect Street, near the intersection with Webster Avenue. The second is a possible street-level extension down Somerville Avenue, concluding at the intersection with Prospect Street or in the heart of the square. The third also goes down Somerville Avenue, stopping at Prospect Street, and then looping around to the commuter rail line to head back.

The Brickbottom stop has also created debate, specifically within the Board of Aldermen due to the ward-line separation of the two proposed locations. The station was originally proposed to be at the intersection of Washington and Joy streets, in Ward 2, but Roche maintains the area is too industrial. His proposal shifts the station over into his ward, at the intersection of Washington and New Washington streets.

‚ÄúIt’d be a more open area,‚Äù he said, ‚Äúwhich would be more convenient for people to be dropped off and picked up.‚Äù Ward 2 Alderman Maryann M. Heuston wants the proposed location to remain in her ward. She said Brickbottom residents deserve it after having other proposed stations rescinded.

Zamore said in an area such as Brickbottom, it is important to consider the future of the neighborhood.. ‚ÄúA really key issue is how well this station is going to serve potential development,‚Äù he said, ‚Äúwhereas in areas where you’ve already got 90 to 95 percent of the population you’re ever going to have, such as Lowell Street, you need to design for the existing population.‚Äù

He said the EOT is also examining if there is enough room to build a station, if it is a serviceable drop-off point, if it is in a convenient location to serve residents within one-third or one-half of a mile, and if it can be an intermodal stop, linking up with bus or commuter rail lines. Lamboy said the EOT is looking to maximize pedestrian, cyclist, and handicap access.

A public advisory committee, which includes representatives from Cambridge, Somerville and Medford, has been serving as an ongoing sounding board during the EOT’s study. Meetings are open to the public.

Lamboy said the study should be concluded by September, when it will then be submitted to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office, who has authority on all major projects in the state. After the submission, Zamore said there would be a public commentary period open to city officials and residents. MEPA will next review the report and commentary and then raise any additional issues to the EOT for the Final EIR. If the Draft EIR is deemed complete, MEPA can consider it a final report and issue a certificate to move onto engineering level design.

Even then, ‚Äúit’s a concept plan at that time, so it’s still subject to nuances,‚Äù Lamboy said. ‚ÄúSo we should see some pretty good alternatives by September, which will be reformed as time goes on.‚Äù

‚ÄúThere’s only one city out of 351 in Massachusetts to get any new light rail stops and we’re getting two whole branches,‚Äù Zamore said. ‚ÄúWe have an extraordinary opportunity and we need to make the most of it.‚Äù