Orange Line

Tufts Daily: "$65 million influx boosts prospects for development in Assembly Sq. area" $25 million dollars are exclusively earmarked for the development of the new T stop, according to Mayor Curtatone.

The following letter was sent to Joseph Cosgrove, Director of Planning/Development at the MBTA
Dear Mr. Cosgrove:
We would like to take this opportunity to provide a number of comments and suggestions regarding the Assembly Square Station design, as presented to the public on June 29, 2009.
First and foremost, we would like to thank the MBTA for their collaboration with Federal Realty, IKEA, and the City of Somerville to make this project happen. Providing a new MBTA station on the Orange Line at Assembly Square will have a profound positive effect on how development and growth in this area takes place.

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"Residents say initial Orange Line design needs to better maximize ridership" Somerville's first community meeting regarding the Orange Line T stop at Assembly Square has residents less than pleased about a design that seems too inflexible, does not include a second head house or station nor have enough visibility to attract riders.

At the recent public meeting on Assembly Square, the MBTA presented its preferred station design. Download the slides (PDF). Or keep reading to see some of the maps and detailed diagrams.

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Last night many residents gathered at a community meeting to discuss the design of the new Orange Line stop at Assembly Square. MBTA project staff and the design consultant provided an overview of the preliminary design for the station, which includes just one headhouse for entry and exit. This was followed by a comment period during which many people argued for a second headhouse.
STEP’s Wig Zamore created a set of slides as background information and recommendations about the station design, pointing out the obvious need for a second headhouse. One headhouse would mean a less visible station, a long walk to many Assembly Square destinations (including IKEA), less effective bike connections, and poorer accessibility. Download the slides.

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WCVB: "Shovel-Ready Projects Begin Around State" “We think the combination of the T stop, the Mystic River, I-93 -- the confluence of all those things together makes this a great site to live, work and play,” said spokesperson Don Briggs.

The rendering above is by Goody Clancy.

Yesterday U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters joined Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen in pledging to build an important new Orange Line stop at Assembly Square. Developer Federal Realty is chipping in $15 million and the State is seeking $25 million more. "The fact that the federal transportation secretary came here and said this is a project they are behind is…

At a recent community meeting, Federal Realty Investment Trust, the developer of Assembly Square, presented designs for many future Assembly Square features, including a new Orange line MBTA station. Funding is available for the station, which could be open as soon as 2013. Click for larger maps.

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City of Somerville press release: “Start-up Work for Assembly Sq. MBTA Station Gets Green Light From Feds”
FTA Designates Assembly Square Transit Station as Eligible to Apply Directly for Federal Funding; “Exempt” Status Expedites Preliminary Engineering, Environmental Work for New Orange Line Stop

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