Somerville, MA Shared Streets Pilot combines street adjustments with new crosswalk technology

COVID-19: Mobility Strategy | SomerVoice

This page is your resource for how the city is responding to essential mobility and transportation needs during the pandemic. We are watching what cities around the world are doing and working with other city departments, so that we can adapt and implement the right mobility solutions for Somerville. We want to hear from you! The situation caused by the pandemic changes daily and we want to meet your mobility needs and help you get where you need to go safely and efficiently - everything we're implementing is being put on the ground with a light touch, so that it can be modified to meet the needs of the city. Current Mobility initiatives to help keep residents safe during this time include: hands-free pedestrian signals traffic calming shared curbs shared streets (see Shared Streets and Shared Curbs map) Read more below for information on these projects. For information on other Mobility Division planning and projects, please refer to the main Mobility Division web page. Current Updates Shared Streets and Shared Curbs Update 6/02/20: Phase 1 of Somerville's Shared Streets Network was installed yesterday! Check it out and let us know what you think! Over the coming days, we will be monitoring the streets, replacing or moving signs as needed, and observing how this new approach is working - input from you is a key part of this! As you'll see, the network is being implemented with sawhorses and cones. These light touch materials will allow us to be flexible and make adjustments as we see how these new shared streets work and when we hear from you. Update 5/29/20: The Shared Curbs pilot in Union Square was installed this morning. Check out the photos and let us know what you think! The pilot implements extended sidewalks with cones, painted pedestrian symbols on the street, and short-term (15 min.) parallel parking spaces for pick-up/drop-off at local businesses. ADA parking spaces are also maintained in front of these businesses. The map below shows the overall network as currently envisioned. You can download the Shared Streets and Shared Curbs Map under "Important Documents." You can also find a PDF presentation of the city's overall COVID-19 mobility strategy in that section. Support for Businesses We are also working with other city departments to help support the needs of local businesses during this time! Fill out this survey to tell us your needs for short-term parking zones, queuing space on sidewalks, or temporary widening of sidewalks in front of your business. Stay In Touch The most up-to-date general information about the virus, how the city is responding, and resources for residents can be found at SomervilleMA.gov/coronavirus. You can also sign up for city alerts to get general, citywide updates as they are announced. For other ways to get involved in mobility issues in the city, check out the Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee.