Virtual meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, will give residents opportunity to learn what to expect during upcoming construction, review the new street design, and ask City staff questions.  

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward One Councilor Matthew McLaughlin, and City staff are inviting the community to join a virtual community meeting about upcoming construction and safety improvements on Tufts Street.  

The event will take place Wednesday, May 14, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Visit somervillema.gov/tuftsstreet to learn more and attend the meeting. 

During the meeting, staff from the City’s Engineering Division will present information about the project including:  

• A brief review of the project objectives and final design 
• An overview of the construction process, expected impacts, and preliminary schedule of work 
• How residents can stay informed as work progress 

Following the event, a recorded presentation will be available on the project website. Construction is currently expected to begin in either late June or July. Schedules are subject to change due to weather or other factors. 

About the Tufts Street Reconstruction Project  
The City is repaving Tufts Street and reconstructing its sidewalks as part of the Citywide Pavement and Sidewalk Management Program (somervillema.gov/paving). As part of this effort, City staff have, after a year and a half of community engagement, developed a new design for the street to make it safer and more comfortable for everyone.  

Tufts Street is designated as a “Neighborway” in the Somerville Bicycle Network Plan, which is a walk- and bike-friendly street designed to lower vehicle volumes and speeds.  

The final design for Tufts includes:  

• Two-way connections for vehicles and for bikes 
• Wider sidewalks 
• Traffic calming features including raised crossing across Tufts Street at Glen Street, Dell Street, and Cross Street. 

• Landscaped areas and expanded tree wells to support the longevity and of health of trees increasing long-term shade coverage 

More information and visual representations of the final design are available on the project website at somervillema.gov/tuftstreet.  

This project is one of a series of actions the City is undertaking in pursuit of our Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and series injuries from our roadways.