Attend the Western Pearl Street Concept Design Options Open House, May 7!

Open House will Showcase Multiple Design Options for the Western Pearl Street Reconstruction Project and Provide Opportunity for Community Feedback.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 4 Councilor Jesse Clingan, Ward 1 Councilor Matt McLaughlin, and City staff invite you to an outdoor open house to discuss the proposed concept design options for Pearl Street between McGrath Highway and Medford Street.

Date & Time: Wednesday, May 7, from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. (Rain date: Thursday, May 8)

Location: Ed Leathers Park, 98 Walnut Street (between Walnut Street and Skilton Avenue)

About the event: The City of Somerville is planning to reconstruct sidewalks, repave, and redesign Western Pearl Street between McGrath Highway and Medford Street to improve safety, accessibility, and sustainability. In the fall of 2024, we gathered community feedback on preferred design directions. Shaped by that input, we’ve developed two conceptual design options.

Join us at our upcoming open house to learn about these conceptual design options for the street and share your feedback!

The open house will feature multiple stations describing different aspects of the project. Drop-in anytime during the event to review materials and talk with project team members about your feedback and questions. Pizza will be provided.

If inclement weather is forecasted: If rain or extreme heat is forecasted for May 7, approximately 48 hours ahead of time, we will update this webpage and share if we plan to gather on the rain date. We will also send a note to our direct email list and send a City Alert to subscribers in the nearby area. If you are not already on and want to be on our direct email list, please send your request to transportation@somervillema.gov.

Other ways to learn more and provide feedback on the design options: We aim to provide a range of options to learn and engage in this phase of the project.

Recorded presentation: Within a week of the open house, we will upload a recorded presentation going through the same materials presented at the open house.
Design feedback survey: From May 7 through June 13, community members can share their feedback via our online survey. The survey will be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Nepali, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. If you prefer to take this survey via phone, call 311 (617-666-3311) and submit a call back request.
Street Outreach Pop-Up: Come talk to us on the street. We are aiming to host a pop-up at the intersection of Medford Street and Pearl Street on May 14 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. If inclement weather is forecasted, check the website approximately 48 hours ahead for event updates.
Virtual Office Hour: Join City staff on a Zoom webinar on May 22 anytime between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to ask your questions and share your comments directly with staff.
- Register in advance: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6UHzfmhEScOTEIaLunkNgw
- Call-in information: +16469313860,,86937723457#,,,,*652457#
- Or dial: +1 646 931 3860
- Webinar ID: 869 3772 3457
- Passcode: 652457

Community group outreach and community events: Between May 8 and June 13, we will also be scheduling meetings with local community groups, visiting nearby small businesses, and tabling at SomerStreets Carnval.

Questions: At anytime, please feel free to reach out to the Mobility Division with your questions and comments by email at transportation@somervillema.gov or by calling 311.

Accessibility: 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.

Language Interpretation options: Interpretation into any language is available upon advance request (at least seven days in advance) by contacting the SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs at somervillema.gov/ContactSomerViva or calling 311 at 617-666-3311.