Union Square station (Somerville)
Light rail station in Somerville, Massachusetts, US / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Union Square station is a light rail station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line located in the Union Square neighborhood of southeastern Somerville, Massachusetts. The accessible terminal station has a single island platform serving the two tracks of the Union Square Branch, which parallels the Fitchburg Line. It opened on March 21, 2022, as part of the Green Line Extension (GLX), which added two northern branches to the Green Line.
Union Square | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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General information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location | Prospect Street south of Union Square Somerville, Massachusetts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 42°22′37.72″N 71°5′39.45″W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line(s) | Union Square Branch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Platforms | 1 island platform (Green Line) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tracks | 2 (Green Line) 2 (Fitchburg Line) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Connections | MBTA bus: 85, 86, 87, 91, CT2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bicycle facilities | 120 spaces[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accessible | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opened | March 21, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Passengers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,645 boardings (projected)[2]: 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Fitchburg Railroad opened a station at Prospect Street in the 1840s; it was renamed to Union Square around 1875. The station was closed in 1938 and demolished around that time. Extensions to the Green Line were proposed throughout the 20th century, but a Union Square spur was not considered until the early 21st century. Several station sites and alignments were considered, with the Prospect Street location and the route along the Fitchburg Line chosen in 2009. The MBTA agreed in 2012 to open the station by 2017, and a construction contract was awarded in 2013.
Cost increases triggered a wholesale reevaluation of the GLX project in 2015. A scaled-down station design was released in 2016, with a design and construction contract issued in 2017. Construction of Union Square station began in early 2020 and was largely completed by late 2021. The station was initially served by the Green Line E branch, but is now served by the Green Line D branch. A major development project is under construction near the station.