Brickbottom transit may hit rock bottom

Resolution proposes T station move across Ward lines

By Jack Nicas

After already losing one proposed Green Line stop of its original two, the Brickbottom district may now be left with none.

A resolution was proposed at the Board of Aldermen meeting Thursday to move the remaining Brickbottom stop, at the intersection of Washington Street and Joy Street, across the train tracks to Cobble Hill, at the intersection of Washington Street and New Washington Street.

Ward 1 Alderman William M. Roche proposed the resolution for his elderly constituents in Cobble Hill, who would have to walk to the Brickbottom district for T access if the proposed plans remain unchanged.

"Other than the residents of Brickbottom,” he said, “[The proposed location] is not convenient for anybody. On the other side, it's much more convenient, not only for residents of Cobble Hill, but for all of the people in east Somerville.”

Roche also said the proposed Ward 2 station is in the middle of an industrial zone, with auto body and tow truck shops surrounding it. “The Joy Street location is not going to be a very welcoming entrance to a T station.”

Ward 2 Alderman Maryann M. Heuston opposed the resolution. She said at Thursday's meeting that the stop was essential for “both the residents of Ward 2 and the businesses in Union Square.”

She said the extension into Union Square still has not been decided. “If that spur does not go into Union Square, then that means the Green Line will not hit anywhere near Union Square or Ward 2. The only stop we'll have in the area will be very high in Cobble Hill.”

Roche said Brickbottom would not be without a T station regardless of the proposed move to Cobble Hill. He said the new Lechmere station at NorthPoint “is actually going to be the same distance from Brickbottom as [the proposed station] on Joy Street,” and that the MBTA plans to build a pedestrian path connecting the two.

However, Heuston said she will “fight this resolution and make sure it goes nowhere.” She said the change “has come up out of the blue, at the 11th hour, after we've had meetings about the T for the last 10 years.”

As for the proposed T station's proximity to the planned Inner Belt development, the New Washington Street location will be 440 feet closer to Inner Belt Road.

Alderman-at-Large William A. White said the resolution should go to committee because “[New Washington Street] may not even be a viable option.”

Roche said he discussed the plans with Steve Woelfel, the state's transit planning manager, who “seemed to think it made sense, but logistically didn't know what had to be done.” The space requirements may not allow a new entrance on New Washington Street, Roche said.

The Board sent the resolution to the Community Housing and Development Committee at Thursday's meeting. Alderman-at-Large Bruce Desmond said, “We don't have enough information to act on it this evening; there's an awful lot to be determined.”

Comments

[nobody3]

I don't see how its possible for the stop to be at New Washington Street. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's not on the Lowell line!

[Ron Newman]

It's on the Lowell Line, but the wrong side of the line. The Green Line needs to be south (west) of the Lowell Line tracks.

[nobody3]

Still seems pretty far from the Lowell Line looking at a map, unless they mean that the entrance will be there and the tracks/train itself will still be on the Lowell line right of way. What does it matter what side the entrance to the sation is on? To summarize, is the change their proposing different in that 1) its closer to Washington St. (was going to be a half block in from WA St or something) 2) the entrance would be on the Cobble Hill side?

[daph]

Very interesting. Somerville loves Brickbottom when they want to trot out their commitment to art and artists. As citizens however, the people who live there (and many are not artists) are easily dismissed and treated as second-rate citizens. Brickbottomers must be delighted to have the trolley run right next to their building, a 24/7 maintenance facility for 80 cars 100 feet away, and oh, by the way, let's not give them a Green Line stop. They've walked down the highway to Lechmere for 21 years. In the winter months IN the highway because the snow and ice are plowed onto the sidewalks. And, yes, wouldn't it be extra nice to give the air rights over the maintenance facility to a soccer stadium? The more noise, dirt, and crowds the better. After all, they're just a bunch of silly artists.,

[My Two Cents]

When you move into a building in the middle of an industrial area, what do you expect?

[Screwed Once Again]

This is another how do you do to the residence of Brickbottom. We get tucked every time and now one including our Alderman at Large seems to care.

[daph]

To My Two Cents:
As a resident of Somerville, I expect the same services and considerations as other home-owning, tax-paying, voting citizens.