There have been some changes in the lobby where there used to be huge lines.

By Harry Kane

The new traffic and parking initiatives set forth by the Director of Traffic, Matthew Dias, reform the streets of Somerville with a new mentality: manage parking instead of viewing parking as a revenue stream, create safe crosswalks, new bike lanes and traffic calming tables plus an overhaul of the website to make it more user-friendly.

Public safety remains the most important element. The administration aggressively controls speeds using various measures such as radar feedback signs and traffic calming tables, but there is more need for such traffic management programs.

The city owns one radar feedback sign and has another on loan. Dias says he will add more radar signage for next year. “Because we only have two we are rotating them around the city in hot spots on an intermittent allocation to keep people on their toes,” Dias said.

Future parking and traffic programs may consist of sensors in the ground. These sensors would track the utilization, building a database so the city could see how often the spots are turning over and what times of the day demand is the highest.

New city streetscapes create a more compassionate space for residents to bicycle, walk and play. These developments are long-term incentives for getting residents to get out of their cars and walk to public transportation.

“This past year we spent more money on bike lanes, cross walks and pedestrian improvements than any year in the history of the city,” Dias said.

In an effort to enhance public safety the city piloted “two new radar feedback traffic-calming signs, painted 11 new miles of bike lanes, over 400 crosswalks, and partnered with MassDOT for additional line striping in high accident locations,” according to a city official.

The second goal of Parking and Traffic is to improve customer service and utilize new technologies.

The traffic and parking website is the most utilized website, according to Dias. Last month alone they had 9000 thousand visitors. “Our website is the happening place. It’s popping,” Dias said.

Dias plans to integrate videos and feedback about current streetscape issues. The site will be more appealing to the eye, making it easier to find information.

There have been some changes at the lobby where there used to be huge lines and “in the year that I’ve been here we have not had a line out the door,” Dias said.

Residents can do more of the work beforehand on the website, including printing permits online, and have the initial information needed such as a utility bill, or copy of registration.

“People are coming informed and prepared, They’re not just standing in line for twenty minutes, finding out that they don’t have the right form and then being sent away, which was really frustrating for folks,” Dias said.

Concerned resident, Jane Parkin Kullmann commented about Matthew Dias. “He’s really focusing on modernizing and making traffic and parking in Somerville more efficient.

“He seems to have a really good understanding of the issues, what’s most important and how to go about addressing those issues. That’s the best anyone can do, really,” Kullmann said.

Parking and traffic has created a fifth customer service window. Issuing approximately 100,000 permits a year “by adding this fifth window we improve our customer service by 25 percent,” Dias said.

They also  issue thousands of business permits so during the business renewal period they will delegate one window for business permit pick-up. “Its been a huge benefit in terms of the lobby, it can get really stuffy in there in the summer,” Dias said.

Two months ago they started accepting credit cards. In the two months since implementing credit card usage, it’s about a 60/40 split, 60 percent cash or check and 40 percent credit cards, according to Dias. “People have been really stoked about that,” Dias said.