Map showing current Somerville Shared Streets locations. (click to enlarge)

By Rachel Berets

On Thursday, June 18, the Somerville Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC) met virtually to discuss the Somerville Shared Streets initiative and ongoing construction, including the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Green Line Extension Project.

The Shared Streets project, which started in late May, aims to equip pedestrians and bikers with adequate space to social distance from one another. For example, residents will be able to step off of a narrow sidewalk into the open, but cordoned off, road to social distance from other pedestrians. According to the City of Somerville’s website, “The Shared Streets initiative opens up low-volume or residential side-streets to pedestrians, cyclists, and other users while still allowing vehicle access for residents of the street, first responders, delivery drivers, sanitation trucks, and street sweepers.”

The first phase of the initiative, “connected Winter Hill and East Somerville and passed by several food resources and schools,” while the second phase of the initiative, set to open on Tuesday, June 23, “will provide access to the Stop & Shop on Alewife Brook Parkway, North Street Housing (which hosts the Somerville Mobile Farmers’ Market on Saturdays starting July 11), the West Somerville Neighborhood School, David Square, and the Community Path,” according to the City of Somerville’s website. There are several more streets and curbs under consideration for future phases.

During the PTAC meeting, there was some concern about the availability of traffic cones, given the increase in shared streets and curb initiatives in several surrounding towns. There was also discussion of additional signage and a possible advisory speed limit, given the increased pedestrian traffic. 

Additionally, Somerville PTAC discussed a monitoring system run by volunteers to track the effectiveness of the Shared Streets initiative. Questions and comments about the initiative submitted by non-volunteers can be sent to transportation@somervillema.gov.

The Somerville PTAC also addressed the MBTA construction on the Green Line extension project, noting that Broadway and Washington Street are now open, but the School Street Bridge remains closed as does Medford Street.

More information about the Somerville PTAC and their projects can be found at https://www.somervilleptac.org/ or https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/somerville-pedestrian-and-transit-advisory-committee.