Traffic & Parking

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 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.

Construction starting right now on roads and infrastructure at and around Assembly Square. IKEA not to start construction until after Spring 2011. Planned improvements to Kensington Ave. pedestrian crossing from Stop & Shop to Assembly Square.

[ June 9, 2010; 6:30 pm; ] This meeting is important because it deals with ongoing developments at Assembly Square and East Somerville.

[ 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.

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 9, 2010; 6:30 pm; ] Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Planning Meeting

Tues., Mar. 9, 6:30 PM

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

This is the second phase 3 planning meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. At this meeting, the group will continue specifying goals, policies and actions to implement the vision statement.

The goal of the comprehensive plan [...]

The New England Center for Investigative Reporting at Boston University has taken an interest in our (Somerville Voices) proposed investigation of parking fines and has offered to analyze the ticket data for the amount of $500.
With this analysis, we’ll know how much revenue the city is getting from the 48-hour limit on parking in one [...]

[ March 3, 2010; 6:30 pm; ] Davis Square Visioning Meeting

Wed. Mar. 3 6:30 PM

Tufts Administration Building (TAB)
169 Holland St.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD), is intended to promote discussion about what should happen in the Davis Square area in the future. There will be statistical data presentations, visual [...]

[ March 2, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] Assembly Square Public Advisory Committee Meeting

Tues. Mar. 2 6:00 PM

Federal Realty Investment Trust
5 Middlesex Ave. Suite 401
Somerville MA (map)

This is the regular meeting the Assembly Square PAC. At this meeting we will discuss how the IKEA development is to proceed in 2010 and how to begin work on the Transportation Mitigation [...]

[ 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 [...]

Following an armed robbery in the Market Basket parking lot last October, store representatives promised the Aldermen to address safety issues by installing surveillance cameras and better lighting in the parking lot. They also promised to undertake a parking study to address concerns about overcrowding and parked cars in fire lanes.  I wonder how much [...]

[ January 7, 2010; 7:00 pm; ] MassDOT Public Hearing for Somerville’s Washington Street Project

Thurs. Jan. 7, 7:00 PM

Ralph and Jenny Senior Center
9 New Washington St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is a public hearing on road improvements to Washington Street from New Washington Street to the Boston city line. These improvements are near the proposed Brickbottom Green Line Extension stop.

For more information, see Washington [...]

[ 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 [...]

[ November 30, 2009; 7:30 pm; ] Ward 2 ResiStat Meeting

Mon. Nov. 30, 7:30 PM

Argenziano School
290 Washington Street
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward 2 Alderman Heuston, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 2. Similar meetings are held in all other wards of the city. Citizen input from these meetings are compiled into yearly reports on [...]

Pittsburgh floats a sales tax on college tuition!

Permit parking changes are coming. The City has officially set Monday January 4th as the enforcement date for citywide resident permit parking. + SPARCs Push for Tweaks to Permit Parking- Wins to Report + Summary from Nov 4th Parking Solutions Task Force meeting.

[ November 15, 2009; 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. ] Somerville Voices will sponsor a public forum on Sunday, Nov 15th, 7-9:30 pm about our city’s changing parking regulations and how they will affect residents, visitors, businesses, and the city budget.

Courtney Koslow, director of the Somerville Parking Advocacy and Reform Coalition (SPARC) and member of the City’s Parking Solutions Task Force will address your questions [...]

[ October 8, 2009; 6:30 pm; ] Rutherford Avenue/Sullivan Square Project Design Meeting

Thurs. Oct. 8, 6:30 PM

Schrafft’s Center Cafe
529 Main St.
Charlestown MA (map) ‎

Public meeting to discuss the Rutherford Ave./Sullivan Square Design.

For background and issue to monitor, see Rutherford Avenue / Sullivan Square Redesign Project .

[ October 15, 2009; 6:00 pm; 6:00 pm; ] Somerville Traffic Commission Meeting

Thurs. Oct. 15, 6:00 PM

Somerville Traffic and Parking
133 Holland St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the regular meeting of the Traffic Commission to discuss parking and traffic issues throughout Somerville, including resident parking, meter rates, and time periods.

For background and issues to monitor, see Somerville Parking Rate Increase.

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 [...]

In preparation for the parking tickets story, I have submitted the following request for public records to the City:
—————–
to Jaclyn Rossetti <JRossetti(at)somervillema.gov>
cc Thomas Champion <TChampion(at)somervillema.gov>
date Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 10:16 AM
subject Public Records Request : Parking Meter Revenues
Dear Public Information Officer Jackie Rossetti, (cc Thomas Champion, Exec Dir of Communications)
In the public interest and per MA public records [...]

In preparation for the parking tickets story, I have submitted the following request for public records to the City:
—————–
to Jaclyn Rossetti <JRossetti(at)somervillema.gov>
cc Thomas Champion <TChampion(at)somervillema.gov>
date Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 10:10 AM
subject Public Records Request : Parking Officer Data
Dear Public Information Officer Jackie Rossetti, (cc Thomas Champion, Exec Dir of Communications)
In the public interest and per MA public records [...]

In preparation for the parking tickets story, I have submitted the following request for public records to the City:
——————
to Jaclyn Rossetti <JRossetti(at)somervillema.gov>
cc Thomas Champion <TChampion(at)somervillema.gov>
date Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 10:00 AM
subject Public Records Request : Car Towing Information
Dear Public Information Officer Jackie Rossetti, (cc Thomas Champion, Exec Dir of Communications)
In the public interest and per MA public records [...]

In preparation for the parking tickets story, I have submitted the following request for public records to the City:
——————
to Jaclyn Rossetti <JRossetti(at)somervillema.gov>
cc Thomas Champion <TChampion(at)somervillema.gov>
date Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 9:55 AM
subject Public Records Request : Parking Ticket Appeals
Dear Public Information Officer Jackie Rossetti, (cc Thomas Champion, Exec Dir of Communications)
In the public interest and per MA public records [...]

In preparation for the parking tickets story, I have submitted the following request for public records to the city:
——————
to Jaclyn Rossetti <JRossetti(at)somervillema.gov>
cc Thomas Champion <TChampion(at)somervillema.gov>
date Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 9:21 AM
subject Public Records Request : Parking Ticket Data
Dear Public Information Officer Jackie Rossetti, (cc Thomas Champion, Exec Dir of Communications)
In the public interest and per MA public records [...]

[ August 20, 2009; 6:00 pm; ] This is the regular meeting of the Traffic Commission to discuss extending resident-only parking throughout Somerville and increasing meter rates and time periods. Thurs. Aug. 20, 6 PM , Tufts Admin. Building (TAB) 167 Holland St.

I would like to read Somerville’s official parking regulations, including the schedule of fines, the hearing process, etc. Does anyone know if this information is available online? Thanks.

Thursday’s event at City Hall was a far cry from the tense, emotion-high fracas that went down at the Traffic Commission meeting two weeks ago. The stately Aldermanic chamber was likewise filled with concerned Somerville citizens, but this time, the city’s controversial May 21 vote was the agenda.
Listen to the public hearing (thanks to [...]

Click here to listen: link
An mp3 audio recording of the August 13 Somerville Traffic Board meeting can be downloaded at
http://teafortwo.us/somerville.html
for those who may want to review it.

Although parking tickets are meant to punish violators and provide maximum street access to those who live, work, or visit here, the city depends on this revenue to shore up its budget. We intend to find out whether all residential neighborhoods and business districts pay an equitable share of parking fines. If not, why? [...]

Traffic Board Meeting and Hearing
Thurs. Aug. 13, 6 PM
Aldermanic Chamber
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)
Agenda (PDF)
This is a special meeting of the Traffic Board. It includes a public hearing on petitions challenging the decision to extend parking meter hours, increase parking meter rates, and extend residents-only parking throughout Somerville.
For background [...]

[ August 13, 2009; 6:00 pm; ] This public hearing will be convened by the Traffic Board in the Aldemanic Chamber at City Hall. I initially noticed this in Deb Filcman’s Aug 7 SJ blog post.  For background about the parking changes, visit the SPARC blog , check out the just-posted video of the 7/27 interview on SCAT’s Progressive Voices of SPARC-co-founder Courtney Koslow,  or [...]

It seems as if the Somerville Traffic Commission has a sticky situation on it’s hands. I attended the regularly scheduled Somerville Traffic Commission meeting at the Tufts Administration building this evening, and from what was printed on the agenda, I expected a fairly run-of-the-mill session. But the 75-odd residents who packed the TAB cafeteria had a different agenda in mind…

[ July 30, 2009; 5:00 pm; ] Somerville Traffic Commission Meeting

Thurs. July 30, 5 PM

Tufts Admin. Building (TAB)
167 Holland St.
Somerville MA (map)

Report of Parking Solutions Task Force, June 2009 (PDF)

This is a regular meeting of the Traffic Commission. Note time change. Matters of interest:

Expanding residents’ only parking to all of Somerville.
Increasing metered parking rates to $1/hr.
Adding “second shift” permits.
Parking in [...]

Somerville Parking Advocacy and Reform Coalition (SPARC), a group of business groups, neighborhood associations and concerned residents advocating for a more thoughtful and comprehensive approach to parking regulation in Somerville, has formed to addresses the recent citywide parking changes.
SPARC is concerned about that impact that these changes will have on the economic vitality of Somerville [...]

I got ticketed for not moving my car. The snow had melted, noone had complained. This rule is AWFUL

Pleasant Auto School and Somerville Adult Evening School have teamed up to provide a 5 week driver’s education course for any teens or adults with a learner’s permit. Students receive 30 hours of classroom instruction, twelve hours of Road Lessons, six hours of observation time.