I wonder that if the crossing lights at Prospect and Somerville Ave/Washington actually worked for all sides and if the lights at both that intersection and Webster and Somerville/Washington were more pedestrian-friendly--that if this wouldn't be as big of an issue. It's really hard to cross streets in Somerville in general because of the "all cross at once" lights. It would be great to be more staggered like...all of Cambridge...so that you could cross one side of a street and then the other. Getting from St. Joseph's church corner to Reliable Market is really difficult if you obey the crossing lights. In short, I think Union Square pedestrian issues need more thought in general. Sorry for the essay.