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8/5/10 Planning Board Meeting — Beat Report

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 11:25 am on August 6, 2010

This meeting was devoted entirely to passing the proposed modifications to the Preliminary Master Plan for Assembly Square. The Planning Staff had asked Federal Realty to generalize the use mix from Office and R&D because Somerville zoning has a very narrow definition of Office use. Federal Realty widened the definition to include all Somerville uses under special permit. The Planning Board stated that in the absence of any opposition, they would waive the reading of the 70 conditions and voted to approve the changes to the PUD. Some citizens present had expected to have a period for written comment before the vote.

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Posted in Assembly Square, Beat Reporter, Bicycles, City Finances, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, MBTA, Orange Line, Pedestrians, Somerville By The Numbers, Transportation Projects | No Comments »

7/28/10 Boston Region MPO Certification Review Public Meeting — Beat Report

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 3:42 pm on July 30, 2010

This meeting was held at 6:30 at the State Transportation Building, around the corner from the Boylston T-Stop. A half-dozen officials from the Federal transportation authorities were present, along with some translators (never called upon) and a half-dozen or so members of the MPO. Only about a half-dozen members of the public showed up, all from Somerville.

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Posted in Beat Reporter, Bicycles, Buses, Green Line, MBTA, Orange Line, Pedestrians, Traffic & Parking, Trains, Transportation, Transportation Projects | No Comments »

7/28/10 Boston Region MPO Certification Review Public Meeting

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 11:00 pm on July 18, 2010

[ July 28, 2010; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] The Boston MPO must be certified by the federal government in order for the Boston area to receive federal funding for transportation improvements. Citizen input is an important part of this process.

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Posted in All Ages, Beat Reporter, Bicycles, Buses, Events, Green Line, MBTA, Orange Line, Pedestrians, Traffic & Parking, Trains, Transportation, Transportation Projects | 1 Comment »

9/9/10 Designing for Pedestrian Safety Part 4: Intersection Geometry

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 10:50 pm on

[ September 9, 2010; 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. ] This is the fourth in the 8-part Free Webinar Series on Designing for Pedestrian Safety being given by the Federal Highway Administration and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Pedestrian and bicycle safety is essential to the success of the new Assembly Square roadways and Orange Line T-Stop and around the new Green Line stops.

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Posted in Accessibility, All Ages, Assembly Square, Ball Square, Beat Reporter, Bicycles, Events, Green Line, Neighborhoods and Squares, Orange Line, Pedestrians, Traffic & Parking, Trains, Transportation, Transportation Projects, Union Square | No Comments »

8/17/10 Designing for Pedestrian Safety Part 3: Treatments at Unsignalized Pedestrian Crossings

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 10:47 pm on

[ August 17, 2010; 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. ] This is the third in the 8-part Free Webinar Series on Designing for Pedestrian Safety being given by the Federal Highway Administration and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Pedestrian and bicycle safety is essential to the success of the new Assembly Square roadways and Orange Line T-Stop and around the new Green Line stops.

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Posted in Accessibility, All Ages, Assembly Square, Ball Square, Beat Reporter, Bicycles, Events, Green Line, Orange Line, Pedestrians, Traffic & Parking, Trains, Transportation, Union Square | No Comments »

8/3/10 Designing for Pedestrian Safety Part 2: Sidewalk Design

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 10:43 pm on

[ August 3, 2010; 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. ] This is the second in the 8-part Free Webinar Series on Designing for Pedestrian Safety being given by the Federal Highway Administration and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Pedestrian and bicycle safety is essential to the success of the new Assembly Square roadways and Orange Line T-Stop and around the new Green Line stops.

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Posted in Accessibility, All Ages, Assembly Square, Ball Square, Beat Reporter, Bicycles, Events, Green Line, Orange Line, Pedestrians, Traffic & Parking, Trains, Transportation, Transportation Projects, Union Square | No Comments »

7/20/10 Designing for Pedestrian Safety Part 1: Introduction to Pedestrian Safety Design and Planning Principles

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 10:39 pm on

[ July 20, 2010; 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm. ] This is the first in the 8-part Free Webinar Series on Designing for Pedestrian Safety being given by the Federal Highway Administration and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Safe pedestrian and bicycle access is essential to the success of the new Assembly Square Orange Line T-Stop and new Green Line stops.

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Posted in Accessibility, All Ages, Assembly Square, Ball Square, Beat Reporter, Bicycles, Events, Green Line, Orange Line, Pedestrians, Traffic & Parking, Transportation, Transportation Projects, Union Square | No Comments »

7/13/10 MassDOT Bridge Program Bicycle/Pedestrian Outreach Meeting

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 5:34 pm on July 9, 2010

[ July 13, 2010; 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. ] This meeting is important because bridges are in need of repair in and around Somerville, and these repairs should include pedestrian and bicycle access.

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Posted in Accessibility, All Ages, Beat Reporter, Bicycles, Events, Pedestrians, Traffic & Parking, Transportation, Transportation Projects | No Comments »

7/23/10 End of Comment Period on Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) on Green Line Extension

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 8:54 pm on June 20, 2010

[ July 23, 2010; ] All citizens of Somerville and Medford should evaluate this document and give feedback, because this is one of the final steps before the project begins implementation. Written comments will be accepted until July 23.

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Posted in All Ages, Ball Square, Beat Reporter, Bicycles, Buses, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Green Line, MBTA, Magoun Square, Pedestrians, Somerville By The Numbers, Teele Square, Trains, Transportation, Transportation Projects, Union Square | 1 Comment »

Davis Square Visioning Meeting

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 5:59 pm on May 31, 2010

[ June 2, 2010; 6:30 pm; ] This meeting is important because it provides an early opportunity to influence future plans for Davis Square.

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Posted in All Ages, Bicycles, City Finances, Davis Square, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Housing, Somerville By The Numbers, Trains, Transportation | No Comments »

6/2/10 Green Line Community Corridor Station Design Workshop Part 3

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 7:51 am on May 11, 2010

[ June 2, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] At this meeting, citizens will evaluate professional designs and documentation for the Green stations in your neighborhood.

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Posted in All Ages, Ball Square, Bicycles, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Green Line, Housing, Magoun Square, Neighborhoods and Squares, Pedestrians, Transportation, Transportation Projects, Union Square | No Comments »

Green Line Community Corridor Station Design Workshop Part 2

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 7:46 am on

[ May 22, 2010; 1:00 pm; ] This meeting is important because it begins work on sustainable station designs for the Green Line Extension.

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Posted in All Ages, Ball Square, Bicycles, Buses, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Green Line, Housing, Magoun Square, Neighborhoods and Squares, Pedestrians, Transportation, Transportation Projects, Union Square | No Comments »

Green Line Community Corridor Station Design Workshop Part 1

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 7:43 am on

[ May 21, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] This meeting is important because it provides background information on sustainable station designs for the Green Line Extension.

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Posted in All Ages, Ball Square, Bicycles, Buses, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Green Line, Housing, Magoun Square, Neighborhoods and Squares, Pedestrians, Transportation, Transportation Projects, Union Square | No Comments »

Historic Bike Tour

Posted by Linda Conte a 7:27 pm on May 3, 2010

[ May 23, 2010; 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. ] The 9th annual Historic Bike Tour will once again be sponsored in collaboration with the Somerville Bike Committee.  The theme this year will be the “Lost Theatres of Somerville.”  The guided ride, accompanied by the Somerville Police, will begin at City Hall at 1:00 pm and end at the Somerville Museum around 4:00 pm, with [...]

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Posted in Bicycles, Events, Historical, Special | No Comments »

MAPC Bike Meeting with Dr. Anne Lusk

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 7:15 pm on March 21, 2010

[ March 23, 2010; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] MAPC Bike Meeting with Dr. Anne Lusk

Tues. Mar. 23 6:00 PM

MAPC Offices
60 Temple Place
Boston MA (map)

This Metropolitan Area Planning Council meeting features Dr. Anne Lusk, a Research Fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health, who will discuss how to improve Boston’s bicycling infrastructure to increase bicycling and improve public [...]

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Posted in All Ages, Bicycles, Environment and Open Space, Events, Neighborhoods and Squares, Public Health & Safety, Special, Transportation | No Comments »

Regional Transportation Advisory Council Meeting

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 10:11 pm on February 8, 2010

[ February 10, 2010; 3:00 pm; ] Regional Transportation Advisory Council Meeting

Wed. Feb. 10 3:00 PM

State Transportation Building
Conf. Rm. 4
10 Park Plaza
Boston MA (map)

Jan. 28, 2010 MPO Amendment to Public Comment Period. (PDF)

Feb 2. 2010 TCAC Letter to MPO (PDF)

This is the regular meeting of the Regional Transportation Advisory Council (RTAC), which is charged by the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organizaiton (MPO) [...]

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Posted in All Ages, Bicycles, Buses, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Green Line, Neighborhoods and Squares, Pedestrians, Special, Traffic & Parking, Trains, Transportation, Transportation Projects | No Comments »

Comment Period on Amendment to MPO Public Participation Plan

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 10:09 pm on

[ February 8, 2010 9:00 am to February 25, 2010 5:00 pm. ] Comment Period on Amendment to MPO Public Participation Plan

Starts: Mon. Feb. 8
Ends: Thurs. Mar. 25

Amendment (PDF)

This is the beginning of the 45-day comment period on the MPO Public Participation Plan to shorten or waive the public comment period on certification documents.

Ordinarily, amendments have a 30-day public comment period. The change is to allow the [...]

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Posted in Bicycles, Buses, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Green Line, Housing, Pedestrians, Special, Traffic & Parking, Trains, Transportation, Transportation Projects | No Comments »

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Planning Meeting

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 7:16 pm on January 31, 2010

[ February 16, 2010; 6:30 pm; ] Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Planning Meeting

Tues., Feb. 16, 6:30 PM

Upper Hall
Greek Orthodox Church
29 Central St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the rescheduling of the Feb. 9 Phase 3 planning meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. At this meeting, the group will begin specifying goals, policies and actions to implement the vision statement. A guest speaker is [...]

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Posted in All Ages, Bicycles, Buses, City Finances, Crime, Development and Zoning, Economy & Poverty, Environment and Open Space, Events, Green Line, Health Care, Housing, Immigration, Neighborhoods and Squares, Pedestrians, Public Health & Safety, Somerville By The Numbers, Special, Traffic & Parking, Trains, Transportation, Transportation Projects | 1 Comment »

Somerville Bicycle Committee Meeting

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 9:54 pm on January 4, 2010

[ January 12, 2010; 7:00 pm; ] This is the first 2010 meeting of the Somerville Bicycle Committee. They may be discussing the contamination issue on the bike path.

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Posted in All Ages, Bicycles, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Public Health & Safety, Transportation | No Comments »

BOA Committee on Parks and Open Space

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 6:47 pm on January 3, 2010

[ January 6, 2010; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] BOA Committee on Parks and Open Space

Wed. Jan. 6, 7:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (PDF)

This is the first 2010 meeting of the new Committee on Parks and Open Space. On the agenda is discussing contamination of the bike path. This may relate to the MaxPack development off Lowell [...]

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Posted in All Ages, Bicycles, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Special | No Comments »

Public Meeting on Mystic River Reservation Recreational Path Extension (Wellington Undercarriage)

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 7:17 pm on December 13, 2009

[ December 17, 2009; 6:30 pm; ] Public Meeting on Mystic River Reservation Recreational Path Extension (Wellington Undercarriage)

Thurs. Dec. 17 6:30 PM

Mystic Activity Center
535 Mystic Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting is a forum for discussing the planned boardwalk connecting the recreational path under Route 28 to link Ten Hills and Assembly Square at the Mystic River. This meeting was sponsored by Mayor [...]

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Posted in Accessibility, All Ages, Bicycles, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Neighborhoods and Squares, Pedestrians, Special, Transportation | No Comments »

Community Members Set Priorities for Green Line Extension

Posted by Jennifer Lawrence a 2:15 pm on December 1, 2009

Community ratifies set of 11 principles for land use planning along the Green Line extension.

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Posted in Bicycles, Buses, Civil and Human Rights, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Green Line, Housing, Neighborhoods and Squares, Pedestrians, Press Release, Trains, Transportation, Transportation Projects | No Comments »

Ward 5 ResiStat Meeting

Posted by David Dahlbacka a 8:38 pm on November 25, 2009

[ December 1, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] Ward 5 ResiStat Meeting

Tues. Dec. 1, 7:00 PM

Cafeterium
John F. Kennedy School
5 Cherry St.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward 5 Alderman O’Donovan, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 5. Similar meetings are held in all other wards of the city. Citizen input from these meetings are compiled into yearly [...]

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Posted in All Ages, Bicycles, City Finances, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Housing, Neighborhoods and Squares, Somerville By The Numbers, Special, Traffic & Parking, Transportation, Transportation Projects | No Comments »

City Bike Auction

Posted by Columbine a 10:26 pm on October 22, 2009

[ November 14, 2009; 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. ] The City of Somerville will be auctioning off over 300 bicycles on Saturday, November 14th from 11 to 3 p.m. at the Somerville High School Atrium located at 81 Highland Avenue in Somerville.  All those interested may preview the bicycles from 10 – 11 a.m. on November 14th at the Somerville High School Atrium.

According to [...]

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Posted in Bicycles, Consumer Money Saving, Events | No Comments »

Ride to the Boston Under Water Climate Festival!

Posted by Vanessa Rule a 9:18 pm on

[ October 24, 2009; 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm. ] RIDE YOUR BIKE OR THE T TO THE BOSTON UNDER WATER CLIMATE FESTIVAL!!!   (co-organized by Somerville Climate Action)

FROM SOMERVILLE:
Freedom Riders Unite for the International Day of Climate Action Bike Ride!
1:30pm. Prospect Hill Park, Munroe Street in Union Sq. Somerville
Dress in water gear or blue for a bike ride along the Freedom Trail from Somerville to [...]

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Posted in Bicycles, Environment and Open Space, Events | No Comments »

Tour de Somerville: City of Seven (Or More) Hills

Posted by Ron Newman a 3:17 am on September 29, 2009

[ October 17, 2009; 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. ] Join the Somerville Bicycle Committee for our 17th annual fall Tour de Somerville. This year’s theme is “Somerville: City of Seven (Or More) Hills”.

We’ll meet on Saturday, October 17 at 10 am at Seven Hills Park (behind the Holland Street T entrance in Davis Square), leaving promptly at 10:15.

Our ride will be approximately 11 miles, [...]

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Posted in All Ages, Announcements, Bicycles, Events, Neighborhoods and Squares | No Comments »

HONK! Festival Parade Open Meeting

Posted by Columbine a 8:56 pm on August 18, 2009

[ September 10, 2009; 7:00 pm to 8:45 pm. ] Get the skinny on Somerville’s own sassy, classy, and definitely brassy festival of alternative marching bands coming up October 11th, and find out how to be part of the fun!

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Posted in Arts and Culture, Bicycles, Events, Pedestrians | No Comments »

8/18 Bike-tune up workshop

Posted by Vanessa Rule a 11:35 am on August 13, 2009

Get some bike tune-up help and tips with Ace Wheelworks
and learn how to get involved in the International Day of Climate Action on October 24th
with Somerville Climate Action!

Bike on Over with a Picnic
The Growing Center, Vinal Avenue, Union Square
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18TH   6:00pm to 8:00pm
(will be rescheduled the event of rain)

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Posted in All Ages, Bicycles, Civic Action, Environment and Open Space | No Comments »

Somerville Cracks Down on Sidewalk Cyclists

Posted by Barry Rafkind a 9:29 pm on November 15, 2008

Two days ago, the City of Somerville announced it would start enforcing regulations prohibiting the use of bicycles on sidewalks with fines between $20 and $50… Given the city’s budget problems, I wonder whether this policy change is motivated more by a need to find new sources of revenue rather than by public safety concerns.

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Posted in Announcements, Bicycles, Public Health & Safety | 30 Comments »

Tour de Somerville: Explore Somerville’s Outer Limits by Bike

Posted by Ron Newman a 6:56 am on October 1, 2008

[ October 18, 2008; 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. ] Join the Somerville Bicycle Committee for the 16th Annual Tour de Somerville on Saturday, October 18th.   We’ll meet at 10 am at Seven Hills Park, behind the Holland Street T entrance in Davis Square.    From there, we’ll trace the entire boundary of our city, from leafy Alewife Brook and Tufts University to gritty [...]

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Posted in Announcements, Bicycles, Events | No Comments »

This Saturday (5/31): Somerville History Bicycle Tour

Posted by Ron Newman a 8:36 am on May 29, 2008

This Saturday, May 31, I’m co-leading a bicycle tour of historical sights around Somerville, on behalf of the Somerville Bicycle Committee and the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission. The ride will focus on the many commuter rail stations that Somerville once had, and on the Green Line stations that will soon take their place.

The ride starts at 10 am at Somerville City Hall …

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Posted in Bicycles, Neighborhoods and Squares | No Comments »