The proposed Washington Street station, a point of interest for much of the Green Line process, was thoroughly redesigned, changing the format to a more modern site. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

By Andrew Firestone

Contractors of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin presented some of their final plans to community members April 5 and fielded questions about its use. The proposed Washington Street station, a point of interest for much of the Green Line process, was thoroughly redesigned, changing the format to a more modern site.

“The big difference is that we took the station that was here and slid it up right up against the abutment of the proposed bridge, so you’ll actually be accessing the station from the existing sidewalk level up the rail bridge,” said VHB’s Mark Louio.

The need for the new station came about when costs over the proposed land taking for the Cataldo Ambulance Service and other lots proved to be exorbitantly expensive. As such, the new design does not call for any land taking, though points of contention remain.

“The way it’s designed right now, the community path is basically inaccessible to people who live in East Somerville,” said Ellin Reisner of STEP. Reisner discussed various strategies that might be used to overcome the difficult placement of the proposed community path.

“It is also a very tough area for the community path connectivity because this is a place where the path has to get over both the commuter rail and the Green Line,” said Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Project Manager Kate Fichter.

“This is a difficult area for pedestrians, its obviously something that’s been flagged for a long time,” said Fichter. “We have some ideas on how to work on that, make it better. It’s going to be a tough area.”

- Photo by Andrew Firestone

“I’m wondering if you looked at alternatives which would involve either having a pedestrian bridged integrated somehow or maybe like undercarriage with the railway bridge or even the platform, or some kind of station span the bridge,” said Jim McGinnis.

The complete design for the Green Line should be finished in just over a year said Fichter. Architectural team of HDR/Gilbane, who won the bid after it was ordered to be put back out for competition last summer, will complete the design. Fichter would not comment as to whether the  Extension would still be implemented by 2015 as scheduled.

The meeting was the final for Louio and Mike McArdle of VHB, who had worked on the design phase since 2007.