Union Square
Union Square opened on March 21, 2022 as a one station branch of the Green Line from Lechmere. It was the first phase of the Green Line Extension to open as a one new location for a station extension of the Green Line, along with the restoration of service to Lechmere via an elevated station across the street from the original station. This station is serviced by the ‘D’ branch of the Green Line.
The station consists of two additional Light Rail tracks along with an island platform, built adjacent to, with some ballast and fence separating them, the two tracks used by the MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line. This island platform is entirely canopied with a simple grey canopy structure. To exit there is a single uncovered walkway that leads between the two terminating tracks 200 feet, where the tracks finally terminate at bumper blocks. Trains don’t pull up to the end of the platform, they stop at a cone in the middle of the tracks farther down the platform making the walk from station entrance to train more like 300 feet, which feels long for a ground-level station. Green Line trains use crossovers before the station to change direction, with a sign with lighted arrows used to indicate which train on which track is leaving first.
The entrance walkway arrives to a small exposed entrance area with a information panel across from some benches followed by the CVMs (including tap your CharlieCard to activate a ride for Proof-of-Payment) before the closable gate that is the actual station entrance. Next passengers must pass under a sculpture PASSAGE by Matt Trimble to leave the station. Photos of the fabrication of this 3D-printed sculpture are on the station name panels/windscreens along the platform.
From here passengers arrive at a new plaza constructed with the station called Union Square with a plaque form the City of Somerville honoring its construction in 2023. This plaza is just beneath the overpass above the Fitchburg Line tracks of Prospect Street. The T built an elevator next to the stairs up to Prospect Street, although there are additional entrances to the station that are step free once Prospect Street heads down to ground-level east of the station and from a path to Charleston Place by doubling back around one of the tracks (and walking past a Pedal and Park Bike Parcade).
Photos 1-33: June 21, 2024
