Somerville Wire

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OPINION: GLX IS HERE! CELEBRATING AND LOOKING AHEAD

After decades of advocacy, I was thrilled to celebrate the opening of the Green Line Extension through my district in Somerville and Medford last week. This public works project is the result of years of hard work from countless community members, laborers, activists, and colleagues at all levels of government. I’m proud that we made […]

MBTA REVISES ITS BUS NETWORK DESIGN

Abundant public comments lead to substantial changes in future Somerville routes (Somerville Wire) – After receiving more than 20,000 comments on its plan to reorganize its bus routes, the MBTA announced a revised plan last week. The new version of the map makes changes to more than half the routes announced in its initial proposal […]

SPEAK YOUR MIND: BROADWAY BUS LANES, NOV. 9, 6 P.M.

Public forum at the Somerville Media Center main studio, opponents and proponents encouraged to participate! In the three years since the City of Somerville installed dedicated bus lanes on Broadway, they have gotten both cheers and jeers from residents, business owners, and commuters passing through the area. Local stakeholders from abutting neighborhoods are invited to […]

SOMERVILLE WIRE: September 20, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

New Bike Plan, Fairies, Fall Shots, and More! ARTICLES BACKYARD COTTAGES NOW ALLOWED ‘BY RIGHT’ Council makes it easier to create accessory dwelling units From the Cambridge Day Rally promotes safer bike lanes, other solutions that protect riders across city lines and statewide SHORTS Presenting a New Bike Plan  Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, City staff, and […]

SOMERVILLE WIRE: August 23, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Bus or Billboard? Union Square, Somerville, Mass., August 2022. Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.

Getting Around During the MBTA Shutdown …  and More! Article PARTS AND CRAFTS MOVES TO BOYNTON YARDS Kids’ makerspace gets cool new digs thanks to community benefits   Shorts How Are You Getting Around? In case you haven’t heard, the MBTA has suspended service on the entire Orange Line and part of the Green Line […]

COMPREHENSIVE BICYCLE NETWORK PLANNED

Draft City of Somerville Draft Bike Network Vision. Image courtesy of the City of Somerville, Mass.

Streets throughout Somerville to be designated “Neighborways” with reduced vehicle speeds (Somerville Wire) – The City is currently planning a broad new system of bicycle routes throughout Somerville. The preliminary plans, which are being vetted in small pop-ups around the city this spring and summer, would add more separated bike lanes and also improve protection […]

CITY, STATE PLANNING SAFETY OVERHAUL FOR ROUTES 28 & 38

Traffic on McGrath Highway

Officials hope to slow traffic, reduce crashes around high-traffic intersection Utilizing federal and state funding, the city and state are moving forward together with plans to improve safety on Routes 28 and 38, including raised crosswalks, separated bike lanes, and additional traffic signals. Made more urgent by recent pedestrian fatalities, the project focuses on McGrath […]

HOW DOES THE FARE COLLECTION SYSTEM AT THE GLX WORK?

Photo by Shira Laucharoen Pols raise concerns about the temporary design at the new stations (Somerville Wire) – If you are looking to board the GLX at the new Union Square and Lechmere stations, you will find that there are no turnstiles to pass through. This is because the MBTA is temporarily implementing a different […]

THE GREEN LINE EXTENSION: TRANSFORMING TRANSPORTATION OR CAUSING DISPLACEMENT?

Photo by Cindy Weisbart New transit arrives in Somerville, met with a mixed bag of emotions (Somerville Wire) – Somerville celebrated the opening of the first phase of the Green Line Extension, with new stations in Union Square and Lechmere, on March 21. The moment was historic, the result of decades of planning, and passengers, […]