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By Joseph A. Curtatone

Taking a closer look at notable city data – and interesting numbers. 

We recently released the proposed SomerVision 2040 plan, which updates and extends the community-developed SomerVision comprehensive plan. Thanks to months of work by the SomerVision 2040 Committee, community members, and City staff, SomerVision 2040 contains some new and updated goals around important issues like housing, development, the environment, and job creation. Below are a few numbers from the plan, and you can see the full document at www.somervision2040.com. The Planning Board is also accepting comments on SomerVision 2040, which you can send to planning@somervillema.gov.

80% decrease: The original SomerVision plan identified sustainability as a community goal, and SomerVision 2040 builds on that with a section specifically looking at climate change and sustainability. SomerVision 2040 sets a goal of an 80% decrease in carbon emissions from 2014 levels by 2040 and outlines many steps the City and community can take to get there. Many SomerVision goals and priorities are interrelated. For example, 65% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings and 32% come from transportation, so it will be important to think about climate change when we’re making housing, development, and transportation decisions.

75% of commutes: SomerVision 2040 sets the goal that 75% of work commutes will not involve a car by 2040. We know that getting there depends on having safe, reliable transportation options that meet people’s needs. That’s why we released our VisionZero plan and recommitted to making the roadways safer for all users. We’ll also need to continue improving public transit, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure with a focus on accessibility. Achieving this goal will also take some advocacy work and working with the MBTA to expand bus service through Somerville. There are a lot of changes to be made to make a system designed for cars work for other modes of transportation, but it’s important work that we can’t push off any longer.

20% permanently affordable: SomerVision originally set two housing goals – 6,000 new housing units, with 1,200 of them permanently affordable, by 2030. That goal was expanded to ensuring that 20% of all Somerville housing be affordable housing by 2040. Between adopting the original SomerVision and the SomerVision 2040 update, we’ve taken a lot of action on housing that will help us reach this new goal including raising the minimum inclusionary zoning to 20% for more new developments, purchasing housing through the 100 Homes Program that will be permanently affordable, and helping establish the Somerville Community Land Trust.

1:1 ratio: SomerVision 2040 updates the original SomerVision goal of adding 30,000 new jobs to the city to ensuring there are enough jobs in the city for every worker. We know not every worker who lives in Somerville will ultimately end up working in Somerville, but having jobs that match our workforce numbers have several benefits. Getting these jobs into the city will require commercial development, which in turn helps boost the local economy and shift to a less residential-dependent tax base. Having more of a daytime population is also good for other Somerville businesses because workers will often pick a nearby restaurant or business to patronize during the day. And, more jobs in Somerville means more Somerville residents will have the option to work close to home. Their decreased commutes would contribute to their quality of life and help cut down on the carbon emissions linked to commuting.

77 pages: The proposed SomerVision Plan is 77 pages of ambitious, equity-minded, and thoughtful goals for making sure Somerville is a great place for all to live, play, work, raise a family, and age in place into the future. I hope you’ll take the time to read it, share your thoughts with the Planning Board, and join us in working to take a stand for hope and progress as we set out to achieve our community’s shared goals.

Data-based decision making is at the core of how the City of Somerville develops policy and sets priorities. Every day we check the latest 311 stats, and throughout the week we meet for in-depth review of departmental data and city trends. The Data Download column shares some of the data we’ve been reviewing recently, as well as interesting updates. To see more Somerville Data, visit the online Somerville Data Farm at www.somervillema.gov/datafarm.