Community Path Safety Improvements

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Map of the Community Path highlighting the old path and new extension

Background

The Somerville Community Path Extension opened in 2023 offering an off-street path through the center of Somerville for people biking, walking and rolling. A counter installed at Cedar Street recorded an average of 3,300 daily pedestrians in 2024!

Over the last couple of years, we have received inquiries from community members describing safety concerns or sharing experiences about conflicts, especially between slower and faster moving path users.

The Project

The goal is to implement both near-term quick-build improvements and longer-term design options along the path, at key intersections and at the two Green Line station entrances on the path.

As part of this project, we intend to:

  • Analyze community member inquiries related to issues on the community path, understand traffic patterns and uses of the path, and study the existing conditions

  • Collect public feedback about safety issues, solicit comments and ideas about possible safety interventions for the path.

  • Work with City departments – including Department of Public Works, Engineering Department, Parking Department, Public Space and Urban Forestry and the Fire department – to identify quick-build solutions such as new pavement markings and new street signage as well as possible permanent improvements to increase safety while still enabling maintenance and providing emergency access.

This work will help the City to continue to meet our Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

Timeline

From September to October 2025, we will be out on the Community Path to talk to people and hear your ideas on how to make it safer. In the fall of 2025 we will also publish a survey and provide opportunities to add comments to a Public Input Map. After reviewing all the input we gather, we aim to publish a set of safety improvement strategies in early 2026 with the goal to start quick-build implementations in the spring/summer of 2026.

Information in other languages

Si necesita ayuda en su idioma, comuníquese con nosotros a través de somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva o llame al 311 (617-666-3311)      

Caso precise de assistência em seu idioma, entre em contato conosco por meio deste formulário online: somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva ou ligue para 311 (617-666-3311)

Si ou bezwen asistans nan lang ou a, kontakte nou nan somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva oswa rele 311 (617-666-3311)    

यदि आफ्नो भाषामा सहायता चाहिन्छ भने कृपया सम्पर्क गर्नुहोस: www.somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva गर्नुहोस् वा यो ३११ (६१७-६६६-३३११) / 311 (617-666-3311)   

如果您需要語言方面的協助 請撥打 311 (617-666-3311) 或於somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva 聯絡 彩薩默: 移民事務辦公室。  

如果您需要语言方面的协助，请联系 (somervillema.gov/ContactSomerViva)或者请拨打 311 (617-666-3311）。

Background

The Somerville Community Path Extension opened in 2023 offering an off-street path through the center of Somerville for people biking, walking and rolling. A counter installed at Cedar Street recorded an average of 3,300 daily pedestrians in 2024!

Over the last couple of years, we have received inquiries from community members describing safety concerns or sharing experiences about conflicts, especially between slower and faster moving path users.

The Project

The goal is to implement both near-term quick-build improvements and longer-term design options along the path, at key intersections and at the two Green Line station entrances on the path.

As part of this project, we intend to:

  • Analyze community member inquiries related to issues on the community path, understand traffic patterns and uses of the path, and study the existing conditions

  • Collect public feedback about safety issues, solicit comments and ideas about possible safety interventions for the path.

  • Work with City departments – including Department of Public Works, Engineering Department, Parking Department, Public Space and Urban Forestry and the Fire department – to identify quick-build solutions such as new pavement markings and new street signage as well as possible permanent improvements to increase safety while still enabling maintenance and providing emergency access.

This work will help the City to continue to meet our Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

Timeline

From September to October 2025, we will be out on the Community Path to talk to people and hear your ideas on how to make it safer. In the fall of 2025 we will also publish a survey and provide opportunities to add comments to a Public Input Map. After reviewing all the input we gather, we aim to publish a set of safety improvement strategies in early 2026 with the goal to start quick-build implementations in the spring/summer of 2026.

Information in other languages

Si necesita ayuda en su idioma, comuníquese con nosotros a través de somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva o llame al 311 (617-666-3311)      

Caso precise de assistência em seu idioma, entre em contato conosco por meio deste formulário online: somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva ou ligue para 311 (617-666-3311)

Si ou bezwen asistans nan lang ou a, kontakte nou nan somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva oswa rele 311 (617-666-3311)    

यदि आफ्नो भाषामा सहायता चाहिन्छ भने कृपया सम्पर्क गर्नुहोस: www.somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva गर्नुहोस् वा यो ३११ (६१७-६६६-३३११) / 311 (617-666-3311)   

如果您需要語言方面的協助 請撥打 311 (617-666-3311) 或於somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva 聯絡 彩薩默: 移民事務辦公室。  

如果您需要语言方面的协助，请联系 (somervillema.gov/ContactSomerViva)或者请拨打 311 (617-666-3311）。

  • Community Path Safety Concern and Feedback Period is Closed

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    Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the Community Path Safety Improvements Project. Over the last two months we have received feedback from over 1,000 Somerville community members through our surveys, online public input map, pop-ups on the path, and attending community events. We will be reviewing all these comments and using them to create a strategy for safety improvements that we will share in early 2026. A Community Engagement Report highlighting comments and feedback we heard through this process will be shared later in 2025.

    If you have any comments, please email us at transportation@somervillema.gov or call us at 617-666-3311. Subscribe to the Mobility Monthly Newsletter for project updates.

  • Community Path Safety Concern Survey Deadline Extended to October 21!

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    We are extending the deadline to share your safety concerns on the Community Path through our survey and public input map to October 21, 2025! Take the survey online in English, Español, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, नेपाली, 繁體中文, 简体中文.

    Join us at our next two pop-ups, to share your ideas in-person.

    • Saturday, September 27, 11:00am-12:00pm, Lowell Street
    • Thursday, October 2, 8-9:30am, East Somerville MBTA Station

    At anytime, you can always share your ideas or questions via email to transportation@somervillema.gov or via phone at 617-666-3311. Subscribe to the Mobility Monthly Newsletter for project updates.

  • Share Your Feedback to Help Shape Community Path Safety Improvements

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    The City has been analyzing feedback and safety issues, how people are using the path and the current conditions of the path. Based on these learnings we have created a list of proposed interventions on the path.


    We want to hear from you! There are multiple ways to share your input to help us learn more about your safety concerns and gather feedback on design elements we should implement to enhance safety on the Community Path.

    • Share your ideas through our survey! Take the survey online in English, Español, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, नेपाली, 繁體中文, 简体中文. The survey is available until Friday, October 10.
    • Add your comments to our online Public Input Map. Writing your comments on this map will let us know what you see as issues and opportunities in the project area. Use pins to highlight locations that you think are important for us to prioritize for changes or improvements, as well as locations that are currently working well. The map is available until Friday, October 10.
    • Come join us at upcoming street outreach pop-ups to talk to staff in-person, share your ideas, and ask questions. (Flyers available in English, Español, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, नेपाली, 繁體中文, 简体中文)
      • Wednesday, September 17, 5:00pm-6:30pm, Gilman Square MBTA Station
      • Monday, September 22, 5:00pm-6:30pm, Buena Vista Road
      • Saturday, September 27, 11:00am-12:00pm, Lowell Street
      • Thursday, October 2, 8:00am-9:30am, East Somerville MBTA Station
      • Rain dates (Check the website for location updates)
        • Wednesday, September 24, 5:00pm-6:30pm
        • Tuesday, October 7, 8:00am-9:30am


    Check out our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the project. We will be adding more questions and answers throughout the development of the project as we gather more questions from community members.


    At anytime, you can always share your ideas or questions via email to transportation@somervillema.gov or via phone at 617-666-3311. Learn more about the project at somervillema.gov/communitypathsafety.

  • Share Your Feedback at Pop-ups on the Path!

    Share Share Your Feedback at Pop-ups on the Path! on Facebook Share Share Your Feedback at Pop-ups on the Path! on Twitter Share Share Your Feedback at Pop-ups on the Path! on Linkedin Email Share Your Feedback at Pop-ups on the Path! link

    Come join us at upcoming street outreach pop-ups to talk to staff in-person, share your ideas, and ask questions.

    • Wednesday, September 17, 5-6:30pm, Gilman Square MBTA Station
    • Monday, September 22, 5-6:30pm, Buena Vista Road
    • Saturday, September 27, 11:00am-12:00pm, Lowell Street
    • Thursday, October 2, 8-9:30am, East Somerville MBTA Station


    Rain dates

    Check the website for location updates

    • Wednesday, September 24, 5-6:30pm
    • Tuesday, October 7, 8-9:30am


    We will be sharing more opportunities for engagement and feedback over the next few weeks, keep an eye on the website for updates. At anytime, you can always share your ideas or questions via email to transportation@somervillema.gov or via phone at 617-666-3311. Subscribe to the Mobility Monthly Newsletter for project updates.

Page last updated: 22 Oct 2025, 09:07 AM