West Broadway Reconstruction

In April 2025, the City of Somerville finalized the design for the West Broadway Reconstruction project. After a year and a half of community engagement, data collection, and design development, the City presents a vision for Broadway between Clarendon Avenue and Alewife Brook Parkway that includes:

• Reconstructed sidewalks
• Repaved road
• Accessible curb ramps at all existing and new crosswalks
• Raised crossings and shortened crossing distances on Broadway and side streets
• Protected bike lanes
• Floating bus stops with new bus shelters
• More trees, benches, and bike racks
• On-street parking on one side of the street
• Accessible parking spaces compliant with Somerville standards

We are excited to be able to construct this new design to increase safety and create more sustainable and accessible transportation options. The community members we spoke to in conversations on the street, at our open houses, in small businesses and community events or heard from in surveys and emailed comments really shaped the details of the final design. Some examples of key features that were guided by community input include:

• A raised and shorter crosswalk across Broadway by Clarendon Hill Towers, which will have a new rectangular rapid flashing beacon (button-actuated flashing pedestrian signal and sign with audible messaging).
• New bike lane treatments at floating bus stops that aim to slow down people biking and emphasize pedestrian priority at crossings.
• A raised block on Broadway to slow vehicle speeds and connect two future Neighborways.
• Changes to some side street parking regulations for more flexible resident and business uses.

Click here to see the final illustrative plan. For more specific details check out the Sign and Pavement Markings Plan. For an overview of the project and what is new in the design, check out our Final Design presentation.

Summary of Project Design Timeline

We listened to community input about safety issues on West Broadway in the fall of 2023. In spring 2024, we published a concept design and gathered initial community feedback. That feedback informed an updated design that we shared with the community in the fall of 2024. Community feedback on the updated design helped us refine the details of the final design. We will publish a Community Engagement Report in the coming months detailing everything we heard in community feedback in fall 2024.

On January 9, 2025, our team presented the project to the City’s Traffic Commission, which approved changes to parking regulations necessary to implement the project. Due to the available width of the street, we can only fit one side of parking when we install protected bike lanes in both directions. We requested the Traffic Commission to approve parking removal primarily on the south side, install new accessible spaces and loading zones, and to approve changes on the first 100 feet of side streets between Garrison Avenue to Clarendon Avenue to convert some parking spaces to 2-hour except by permit. Review our presentation to see details about planned new parking regulations in the area. On April 10, 2025, the Traffic Commission approved regulation updates related to an accessible parking space and loading zone on Broadway near North Street.

Thank you to all the community members who gave their time to attend our outreach events, write and send comments, and submit survey responses. We really appreciate you engaging in this effort.

Looking Ahead to Construction

While work is not yet scheduled, we anticipate construction will begin during the 2025 construction season. At this stage, the City’s Engineering Division is in the process of hiring a general contractor to undertake this work. Once we have selected a contractor and have a preliminary construction schedule, we will provide an update on this page indicating when we anticipate work will begin.

Please note, Eversource is planning to do some subsurface utility work from spring/summer 2025. There will be temporary traffic impacts and potential detours. This work is not a part of the start of the West Broadway construction but is being done prior to ensure that necessary utility work isn’t scheduled immediately following the reconstruction of the street.

How you can stay informed

• This website - Once construction begins, we’ll post regular detailed updates about ongoing and upcoming works on this page.
• Sign up for City Alerts– Sign up for City Alerts to receive notifications about this project and other essential information. Alerts are geographically targeted so make sure your address is updated to receive all alerts related to this project.
• Construction newsletter – A monthly email about work happening across Somerville--featuring progress updates on Tufts Street and more.
• Follow Somerville Infrastructure on Bluesky - Posts about curb-cuts, culverts, and more.

Getting in touch with the project team

On October 22, 2024, the City hosted an open house to share the updated design for the West Broadway Reconstruction project. Building off of the concept design released in April, the City further developed the design with the goals of enhancing safety, sustainability, and comfort.

Thank you to the community members who were able to join, ask questions, and share your thoughts. Check out the materials below to learn more about the updated design.

• Check out the posters from the October 22 Open House detailing the project design elements
• Review the updated illustrative plan and dimensioned roll plan
• Check out the brochure providing descriptions for new street elements in the design and background on the project
• Watch a recording of the project team presenting about the updated design

We want to hear from you! Over the next month, we aim to gather as much feedback as possible through a variety of community outreach activities.

Take our Updated Design Feedback Survey to share your feedback. The survey is now available until November 22, 2024. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Nepali, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.

Come join us at our upcoming street outreach pop-up on October 28 at the intersection of Broadway and North Street from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to talk to staff in-person, share your ideas, and ask questions. Our inclement weather date is October 29. Check back on this website for any date updates.

Join one of our Virtual Office Hours on October 30 and November 20 to ask your questions or give feedback to the project team. Community members can log into the zoom webinar at any time during the event.

• October 30, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • Register in advance: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_P1TCEx9iQY6tUAcsmVSnQg
  • Call in information: +16469313860,,81073043725#,,,,*385566# or +13017158592,,81073043725#,,,,*385566#
  • Or dial: +1 646 931 3860
  • Webinar ID: 810 7304 3725
  • Passcode: 385566
• November 20, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • Register in advance: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_plvh9Gy6Q-yfxb2iw5dHgg
  • Call in information: +16465588656,,87601249982#,,,,*034661# or +16469313860,,87601249982#,,,,*034661#
  • Or dial: +1 646 558 8656
  • Webinar ID: 876 0124 9982
  • Passcode: 034661

At any time, please feel free to reach out to the Mobility Division with any of your questions or comments at transportation@somervillema.gov or 311 (617-666-3311).

The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter in your language for free. To request an interpreter, please contact us at somervillema.gov/ContactSomerViva or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event.

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.