Green Line Extension: The Missing Vision in the Union Square
Ⅰ. Introduction
Copley, Harvard, and Davis. Can you guess a word that follows all of these names? The answer is, “Square.” As Childs (2004) points out, “In Boston many otherwise unremarkable street intersections are labeled ‘so and so’ square”. Squares not only exist in downtown, but all over the Boston area. However, there are various kinds of squares, with different historical backgrounds, roles in the society, and scenery. For example, it makes a lot of difference if a square is located near a train station.
Since 2005, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (massDOT) and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) have been planning to extend the Green Line to Union Square and thus a new station is to be made. As massDOT (2011) noted, with a station in a square, we can expect “local and regional mobility, address longstanding transportation inequities . . . fewer automobiles on local roads, and help to combat greenhouse gas emissions and other components of air pollution” for the city. However, could actually close traditional stores, calm and quiet neighborhood and classic scenery. If the massDOT and MBTA do not consider these possibilities, the project might ruin the square and the neighborhood’s value.
This paper will first examine the general role of squares, and then will analyze the benefits of Green Line Extension and Union Square’s future vision. The aim is to find the negative effects the Green Line Extension could have on Union Square and its community.
Ⅱ. The History and Role of Squares
There is no doubt that squares play an important role in daily lives around Boston. Some people might go shopping, some might use the “T,” or others might go and just relax on a bench. Also, the square’s name itself describes an area. For example, people usually say “I live in . . . Square.” Squares are used so regularly in daily life that they are an indispensable experience for people in Boston. In this section, we will observe how these
Copley, Harvard, and Davis. Can you guess a word that follows all of these names? The answer is, “Square.” As Childs (2004) points out, “In Boston many otherwise unremarkable street intersections are labeled ‘so and so’ square”. Squares not only exist in downtown, but all over the Boston area. However, there are various kinds of squares, with different historical backgrounds, roles in the society, and scenery. For example, it makes a lot of difference if a square is located near a train station.
Since 2005, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (massDOT) and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) have been planning to extend the Green Line to Union Square and thus a new station is to be made. As massDOT (2011) noted, with a station in a square, we can expect “local and regional mobility, address longstanding transportation inequities . . . fewer automobiles on local roads, and help to combat greenhouse gas emissions and other components of air pollution” for the city. However, could actually close traditional stores, calm and quiet neighborhood and classic scenery. If the massDOT and MBTA do not consider these possibilities, the project might ruin the square and the neighborhood’s value.
This paper will first examine the general role of squares, and then will analyze the benefits of Green Line Extension and Union Square’s future vision. The aim is to find the negative effects the Green Line Extension could have on Union Square and its community.
Ⅱ. The History and Role of Squares
There is no doubt that squares play an important role in daily lives around Boston. Some people might go shopping, some might use the “T,” or others might go and just relax on a bench. Also, the square’s name itself describes an area. For example, people usually say “I live in . . . Square.” Squares are used so regularly in daily life that they are an indispensable experience for people in Boston. In this section, we will observe how these