Pedestrians

Three years after the Somerville Avenue Reconstruction Project began, Union Square businesses are still hindered by lack of thoughtful pedestrian planning during construction; and Union Square residents, visitors and workers are still unable to walk these streets with confidence and comfort.

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.

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.

[ 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.

[ 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.

[ 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.

[ 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.

[ 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.

[ 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.

[ 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.

[ June 12, 2010; 10:00 am; ] This meeting is important because it relates to land use around the new Green Line stations in Somerville and to the forthcoming Comprehensive Plan for Somerville.

[ May 20, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] This meeting includes a continuation of the 1 Benton Road case, which has proved controversial.

This Planning Board meeting included continuing hearings on 79-83 Broadway (slightly controversial), 39R Medford St., and 1 Benton Rd. (also controversial). There was also a discussion of declaring properties part of historical districts, sometimes controversial.

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

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

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

Somerville has a number of stairways that pedestrians can use to walk between places that aren’t well-connected by streets. Most of these are poorly marked and unknown to people outside their immediate neighborhood.
I’ve made a Google map called Obscure Stairways of Somerville, showing 12 of these staircases. If you know of more, [...]

Before the emergence of Coffee Parties, we saw, locally, the advent of Somervillevoices.org, a courageous and worthy experiment in a 21st Century democratic, community- controlled public media forum, and of the much heralded, government- built Resistat program…

[ March 28, 2010; 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] This spring, Somerville is launching its first “one city, one book” campaign, a community reading project in which people all over the City will be encouraged to read and discuss the same book.

The kickoff event will be on Sunday, March 28, 4:00 to 8:00 at the Somerville Armory on Highland Avenue.  The book that has [...]

[ February 24, 2010; 1:00 pm; ] MPO Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA Meeting

Wed. Feb. 24 1:00 PM

State Transportation Building
Conf. Rms. 2, 3
10 Park Plaza
Boston MA (map)

Agenda (PDF)

This is the regular meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Access Advisory Committee. This committee was created to improve transit access and services for people with disabilities.

This meeting is [...]

[ 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) [...]

[ 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 [...]

[ 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 [...]

[ 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 [...]

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

Here’s a 12% slope in Union Square, at the crosswalk between 2 HP parking spaces, nearest curbcut to the Union Square Bus stop, necessary to access the commercial area and the SCAT building:

And here’s what that steep slope does to a friend just trying to get out for a meal in Union Square- it [...]

In RE: Joe Lynch on Joe’s Original Crosswalks
The situation you describe, Joe, in which the Magoun Square project consultant told you that cost is the reason that a principal location, one where safe wheelchair access is crucial, will not be built in compliance with ADA specifications- is scandalous. I join you in believing that readers [...]

Q:  Why Didn’t the Rolling Somerville Pedestrian Cross the Road at the Crosswalk?
A:  Because the City of Somerville Deciders have been playing chicken with standards.
This photo essay will show 30 lost opportunities to create a safer community on Mayor Curtatone’s watch. All of these streets or sidewalks were reconstructed between 2004- 2008.  This is just [...]

My long-lived friends keep telling me stories about pedestrian accidents in Davis Square.  Fractured a jaw.  Twisted knees.  Fractured elbow, shoulder, wrists.  Slipped and broke an ankle, on crutches for 5 months, still don’t feel safe walking.  Couldn’t even drive for 5 months.  Davis Square bricks.
Yep, reported it, tried to.  Told the Aldermen.  Told them [...]

[ 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!

I have a new idea as to how Somerville can raise revenue: ticket jaywalkers.  I drive through Davis Square daily to drop my son off at daycare and DAILY come across pedestrians who think it is OK to cross the street wherever they want.   Sometimes the pedestrians look and sometimes they feel no need to [...]

If a municipality’s Bus stops are unreachable and inaccessible, due to badly built street facilities, then its residents are restricted from accessing public transportation systems, etc..For some individuals, the challenges created by these issues cause them to be nearly or fully housebound.
Do you think such quality of life issues should continue to be put off until “tomorrow?” …

The Milk Row Cemetery is a Historic Preservation Commission project, and its improvements triggered sidewalk accessibility improvements by 2005. Below is the copy of the complaint I submitted today. This is at least the third time this issue has been brought to the attention of the City ADA Coordinator in the past year.