Glen Street and Otis Street Quick-Build Neighborway

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The City of Somerville is partnering with CultureHouse and Neighborways Design to create a Neighborway on Glen Street in East Somerville between Tufts Street and Broadway, and on Otis Street between McGrath Highway and the East Somerville Community School. Our goal with the Neighborways is to have streets designed for speeds of 20 mph and below that will:

  • Increase safety for everyone
  • Improve comfort and ease for people of all ages and abilities walking, rolling, and biking
  • Connect schools, homes, businesses, and popular destinations

This project is Funded by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the City of Somerville.

Stay in the Loop!

Sign up for the Mobility Newsletter and keep an eye on this page for updates on upcoming public meetings, street pop-up community engagement events, and project progress.

Learn more about the project on this website and subscribe.

What is a Neighborway?

As defined in the Somerville Bicycle Network Plan, Neighborways are walk-, roll-, and-bike friendly streets that run parallel to larger main streets, creating a low-stress and high comfort experience on residential streets. These streets are designed to lower volume and speeds for vehicles with measures like speed humps or narrowing the entrance to the street to discourage people using the street as a cut through. Neighborways will always provide a two-way connection for people biking even if the street is one-way for vehicular traffic.

What is a Quick-Build Project?

The Glen and Otis Street Neighborways installation is a quick-build project. This means that the work will be limited to changes that can be done without digging or making major structural changes to the street (such as moving sidewalk curbs or changing the height of the road). There will be no sidewalk or major roadway resurfacing as part of the project. Instead, we will use materials that are quicker to install like planters, vertical plastic posts, paint markings on the street, and speed humps. This approach allows us to build this project much quicker and cheaper than a street reconstruction.

Why Glen Street and Otis Street?

With three schools directly on the streets and others close by, both Glen and Otis Street sees high use from children and other vulnerable road users (people walking, rolling, and biking). As both streets also cut through the neighborhood, they also have the potential to be safer and higher-comfort biking, walking and rolling routes to connect the East Somerville T station to the Broadway business district and Winter Hill. For these reasons, among others, these streets were selected as a high priority for Neighborway installations in the Somerville Bicycle Network Plan.

Timeline

In the summer and fall of 2023, we will engage community members to gather feedback on how people use the streets currently, hear what would make them feel comfortable walking, rolling, and biking on it, and collect feedback and concerns. We will then create draft designs for the public to provide feedback on before finalizing. We aim to install the final designs on Glen and Otis Street in the spring of 2024. We will continue to post updates and share opportunities to engage on this webpage.

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）。

The City of Somerville is partnering with CultureHouse and Neighborways Design to create a Neighborway on Glen Street in East Somerville between Tufts Street and Broadway, and on Otis Street between McGrath Highway and the East Somerville Community School. Our goal with the Neighborways is to have streets designed for speeds of 20 mph and below that will:

  • Increase safety for everyone
  • Improve comfort and ease for people of all ages and abilities walking, rolling, and biking
  • Connect schools, homes, businesses, and popular destinations

This project is Funded by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the City of Somerville.

Stay in the Loop!

Sign up for the Mobility Newsletter and keep an eye on this page for updates on upcoming public meetings, street pop-up community engagement events, and project progress.

Learn more about the project on this website and subscribe.

What is a Neighborway?

As defined in the Somerville Bicycle Network Plan, Neighborways are walk-, roll-, and-bike friendly streets that run parallel to larger main streets, creating a low-stress and high comfort experience on residential streets. These streets are designed to lower volume and speeds for vehicles with measures like speed humps or narrowing the entrance to the street to discourage people using the street as a cut through. Neighborways will always provide a two-way connection for people biking even if the street is one-way for vehicular traffic.

What is a Quick-Build Project?

The Glen and Otis Street Neighborways installation is a quick-build project. This means that the work will be limited to changes that can be done without digging or making major structural changes to the street (such as moving sidewalk curbs or changing the height of the road). There will be no sidewalk or major roadway resurfacing as part of the project. Instead, we will use materials that are quicker to install like planters, vertical plastic posts, paint markings on the street, and speed humps. This approach allows us to build this project much quicker and cheaper than a street reconstruction.

Why Glen Street and Otis Street?

With three schools directly on the streets and others close by, both Glen and Otis Street sees high use from children and other vulnerable road users (people walking, rolling, and biking). As both streets also cut through the neighborhood, they also have the potential to be safer and higher-comfort biking, walking and rolling routes to connect the East Somerville T station to the Broadway business district and Winter Hill. For these reasons, among others, these streets were selected as a high priority for Neighborway installations in the Somerville Bicycle Network Plan.

Timeline

In the summer and fall of 2023, we will engage community members to gather feedback on how people use the streets currently, hear what would make them feel comfortable walking, rolling, and biking on it, and collect feedback and concerns. We will then create draft designs for the public to provide feedback on before finalizing. We aim to install the final designs on Glen and Otis Street in the spring of 2024. We will continue to post updates and share opportunities to engage on this webpage.

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）。

  • Signage and pavement markings installation

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    Weather permitting, over the coming weeks contractors will install new signage and add new pavement markings as part of the City’s Glen and Otis Street Neighborway project.

    What is happening?

    Parking Signage and Pavement Marking Updates

    • Clear Corners - Under local, state, and federal law, parking is prohibited ahead of a crosswalk or intersection. Additional signage and pavement marks will be added to reinforce these existing parking restrictions.
    • Two-way bike neighborway “gateways” - Gateways serve as the entrance to a Neighborway and include specific pavement markings and signage to increase safety for people using the street.
      • Parking is restricted approximately either 40 feet or 30 feet (including the 20’ for clear corners) from the intersection to increase safety for two-way bike travel
        • Parking restrictions total approximately 6 spaces across the project area.

    Introduction of Bi-directional/Contra-flow Travel for People Biking

    • “Neighborway” Signage and Pavement Markings - Addition of new signage and pavement markings to indicate people riding bikes can travel both directions along the street.
    • Introduction of two–way or “contra-flow” bicycle traffic - Following the installation of pavement markings and associated signage Glen and Otis Street will become two-way for people biking.

    Anticipated Work Schedule (subject to change):

    • Week of 7/1 or Soon After - Parking Signage Installation
      • Parking signage adjustment/installation to take place during regular construction hours, weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Week of 7/8 or Soon After - Pavement Marking and Two-way Bicycle Traffic Signage
      • Pavement marking/street paint work hours are weekdays between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.
      • Once most of the pavement markings are in place, signs related to two-way contra-flow bicycle traffic will get installed.
      • Additional signs, curbs, planters, and pavement symbol street paint will finalize the project.
      • This work is expected to take no more than 1-2 days to complete.

    Construction Impacts:

    • On-street parking may be restricted during construction (no parking signs will be posted 48 hours in advance).
    • Potential periods of elevated noise levels around work zones during work hours.
    • Access to your driveway may be temporarily restricted during pavement marking, but onsite crews will help you get in and out of your driveway if needed.

    Have questions?

    If you have questions about pavement markings/construction, please call the Engineering Division at 617-625-6600 ext. 5400 or email construction@somervillema.gov.

    If you have questions about the project design and safety improvements, please email transportation@somervillema.gov.

  • East Somerville Community School Mural & Pavement Markings Update

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    On June 22, volunteers painted two murals at the East Somerville Community School as part of the implementation for the Glen and Otis Street Quick-Build Neighborways. The wall mural and parking lot mural included motifs of the phoenix to honor the school’s mascot.


    Thank you to the community members who joined on Saturday to create this art. Art is a component of designing Neighborways, dedicated low stress and more comfortable routes for people walking, wheeling, and biking.


    In addition to the new murals, the City anticipates installing some of the new pavement markings in July. These markings include the Clear Corners rectangles and contraflow bike gateway treatments. Later, contractors will return and install the purple sharrows. Click here to see the final design plans.

  • Glen Street Paint Day Block Party June 22

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    Come join your neighbors, the City, Neighborways Design and CultureHouse for a Paint Day Block Party! This work is part of the installation of the Glen and Otis Street Neighborways Installation.

    Date: Saturday June 22, 2024 (Rain date: June 23)

    Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    Location: East Somerville Community School parking lot, (across from the intersection of Glen Street and Webster Street)

    Neighbors of all ages are invited! No painting experience necessary. You must be 10 years and older to paint. A chalk area will be available for younger artists with parental supervision.

    Enjoy free food, music, and help paint a community mural! Our design is of beautiful flowers and fun phoenix motif based on ideas gleaned from our open house events and local artists. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about the Glen and Otis Street Neighborway construction happening this summer.

    Outdoor painting is weather dependent. Be sure to check the Glen and Otis Street Project website for event date changes due to inclement weather. Check out the proposed designs below.

    Wall mural including phoenix motifs, the mascot for the East Somerville Community School.

    Street mural including phoenix motifs, the mascot for the East Somerville Community School.

  • Speed humps installation on Glen Street

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    Starting June 3 or soon after, City Contractors will begin installing speed humps on Glen Street and other streets designated for speed humps in 2024. Speed hump installation begins with targeted pavement milling and signage installation. Then city contractors construct the asphalt mound and place temporary tape to highlight the speed hump. Later, pavement markings contractors will come and install permanent markings on the new speed humps. These include large white chevrons and diagonal yellow stripes.

    To learn more about speed humps in Somerville, visit www.somervillema.gov/trafficcalming. You can also check out the Citywide Traffic Calming map that displays recently installed speed humps in addition to plans for speed hump locations over the next two years.

    If you have any questions regarding construction, please reach out to construction@somervillema.gov or call 617-625-6600 ext. 5400.

  • See the Final Plans for the Glen and Otis Street Neighborways

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    Starting in the Summer of 2023, CultureHouse and Neighborways Design, in collaboration with the City of Somerville, has been engaging with the community in East Somerville around the planned installation of Neighborway slow streets on Glen and Otis Street. We have talked to over 40 residents while canvassing door-to-door, hosted a walk audit with the Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee, posted information in local businesses and newsletters, talked to over 35 residents at community events, hosted a hot cider social attended by 20 adults and 10 kids, and met with school principals.

    During this time, we also collected observational data on mode share, demographics, and behavior at four locations on Glen and Otis Street on weekends and weekdays during the morning (7–11 am), afternoon (12–4 pm), and evening (5–8 pm) hours. We also completed video analysis of Glen Street at Oliver Street during peak traffic times.

    We heard from community members about their concerns regarding safety on the street for people walking, rolling, and biking. We heard feedback that some of the recent changes to Pearl Street like the Neighborhood Traffic circles were confusing. We saw that fewer people were biking on Glen and Otis Street compared to the goals in the Bicycle Network Plan.

    These findings led to us creating draft plans for the Neighborways to improve safety using traffic calming measures and install clear signage along the corridor to improve connectivity. We presented our draft designs to the community at a block party on March 16th, attended by over 40 people, and digitally through the project webpage.

    After receiving feedback on our proposed design options, we have created final designs that we plan to install on the streets this summer. Our proposed design uses several components to create a safe street for people walking. rolling, and biking.

    Gateways serve as the entrance to the Neighborway. Branded signs and pavement markings provide wayfinding for people traveling on the street and installations near the crosswalk increase visibility and pedestrian safety. Speed humps (on Glen Street only) help slow vehicles to make the street safer to walk and bike on. Art (on Tufts Street and at East Somerville Community School) liven up the street with murals. In response to community feedback, we have decided on a design for the new Neighborways sign and selected purple as the brand color.

    We also will be installing planters at intersections where we have residents who have volunteered to maintain them. Are you interested in adopting a planter? Email us at somerville@neighborways.com by May 31st to let us know.

    You can review our final plans here. Over the coming weeks, we will be placing posters on signposts along the street, and dropping flyers with information about the designs we plan to install at homes on Glen and Oliver Street.

    Pending weather and scheduling constraints, we aim to install the paint, signs, barriers, and murals in July and August 2024. Other elements like speed humps, clear corners, and wayfinding may be installed later in the year.

    Click here to see the Glen and Otis Street Neighborways Final Designs Presentation Slides.

    Click here to see the Glen and Otis Street Neighborways Final Street Plans.

  • Glen Street and Pearl Street Intersection Treatment Demonstration

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    As part of the Glen & Otis Street Quick-Build Neighboway project, City staff will install a temporary intersection treatment on April 2 between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m at Glen Street and Pearl Street. We invite you to check out the demonstration anytime that afternoon and share your feedback with our team at somerville@neighborways.com.

    The Glen Street and Otis Street quick-build project will turn these streets into Neighborways as designated in the Somerville Bicycle Network plan. Quick-build projects use tools like pavement markings and signage to make changes to the street. The goal of the project is to reduce car volumes and speeds to make it comfortable and safe for people walking, wheeling, and biking.

    Intersection treatments are important to:

    • ensure safe entry and exit
    • announce Neighborways to all users
    • provide clear signage and directions

  • Learn About Our Proposed Design Options

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    On March 16th, 2024, we hosted a block party at the East Somerville Community School to share our proposed designs for the Glen and Otis Street Neighborways. At the block party, we received feedback on possible designs and colors for signs, proposed safety improvements at intersections, and public art options. We also shared updates about the engagement and data collection we’ve completed so far.

    You can view the materials that we showed at the block party here. We will be using feedback from the community to inform our decision as we finalize our designs.

    Didn't get the chance to join? Share your feedback or questions with us at somerville@neighborways.com. We are collecting additional feedback. We anticipate having final designs to share towards the end of Spring.

  • Glen and Otis Street Neighborways Block Party

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    Information available in English, Español, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, नेपाली, 繁體中文, 简体中文.

    You’re invited to a winter block party to discuss upcoming safety improvements on Glen and Otis Street at the East Somerville Community School Cafeteria on Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.!

    We’ll have games, music, snacks, hot drinks, and more. After hearing from some community members in door-to-door outreach and cider socials, we have developed potential designs for the street. Join us at the block party to learn more about the proposed designs and share your feedback!

  • Fall Work Update

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    Engagement

    We spent the months of September, October, and November talking to residents on Glen and Otis Street, parents and students at the East Somerville Community and Capuano Schools, and members of local community groups. We engaged with community members, door-to-door canvassing, tabling events at the Somerville Public Library, talking to teens at Teen Empowerment, walking with the Somerville Pedestrian & Transit Advisory Committee, and hosting a Hot Cider Social at the East Somerville Community School. Over this time, we talked to and got feedback from over 60 people. If you didn’t get to talk to us, you still can! Email us at somerville@neighborways.com.

    Data Collection

    We completed observational and video data collection on the current use patterns at four locations on Glen and Otis Streets from August through October. We studied the street during weekdays and weekends multiple times a day to understand how people are using the street. This data will help us create designs that make the streets safer.

    CultureHouse staff talking to Glen Street residentCanvassing

    East Somerville residents gathered at hot cider socialHot Cider Social

    We are now taking what we learned and drafting up design options for the streets. We plan to share these for public feedback in early 2024.

  • Glen and Otis Street Social

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    On Saturday, November 18, 10:30am–12pm, join Neighborways Design at the East Somerville Community School cafeteria for refreshments, friendly conversation, and a visioning session for the upcoming safety improvements on Glen and Otis Street.

Page last updated: 01 Jul 2024, 03:33 PM