May 18, 2026

Items Recommended for Full Council

Construction-related Parking Review – Approved 3-0

The committee approved Councilor Wheeler's order regarding construction-related parking in the Oak Street and Bolton Street area, with an action plan involving coordination between ISD, Traffic & Parking, and SPD (see details below).

Items Referred to Committee

Webster Ave/Prospect St Intersection Improvements & Construction Parking Complaints – Work Completed

These three items (the Webster/Prospect intersection order, the 64-resident letter about parking on Oak/Houghton/Bolton/Prospect, and the construction parking review) were discussed together as continuation of prior committee work. The committee invited ISD and SPD specifically to address enforcement gaps identified at the prior meeting.

Action plan that emerged:

• ISD (Building Inspector Elio Russo and Floyd Richardson) committed to directly communicating with contractors and developers in the area, reminding them of traffic management plan obligations

• Lt. Holland (SPD) confirmed the area will be prioritized; residents should call SPD directly at 617-625-1212 (not just 311) for blocked driveways, blocked roads, or deliveries obstructing traffic

• Lt. Holland offered to share the project list with his details sergeant so officers can proactively engage contractors

• Chair Sait will connect ISD and SPD after the meeting to coordinate

Inspector Russo noted projects at 54 Prospect Street and 118 Prospect Street are wrapping up within a few months, which should reduce spillover parking on Oak and Bolton.

Webster/Prospect Long-term Redesign – Update Received

Mobility Director Brad Rawson reported the intersection is part of the Union Square Streetscape project (currently at 25% design). Phase 1 design needs ~$1.2M (about $800K secured via state grant); construction estimated at ~$11M (with $1.4M state grant secured). Earliest construction start: Spring 2028, potentially aligning with the MassDOT Webster Ave Bridge replacement in 2027. Councilor Wheeler asked about quick-build improvements in the interim; Rawson said staff are considering them but cautioned that quick-builds generally cannot achieve ADA compliance.

Committee Discussion

2026 Safe Streets Ordinance Annual Report – Work Completed

Senior Transportation Planner Justin Schreiber presented the second annual report under the 2024 ordinance.

Key takeaways:

• Priority network slightly adjusted: now 28.79 miles (net +0.34 miles), reflecting that Broadway reconstruction added two-way bike facilities where only one direction was required, while Pearl Street provided less due to curbside access needs

• Several 2025 projects were not completed, primarily due to MassDOT McGrath bridge work and state approval delays

• The city does not anticipate completing the full priority bike network by the end of 2030 as originally targeted, citing staffing constraints, engagement timelines, and funding limits

• Quick-build cost averages identified per mile, including staffing, installation, and ~5-year material refresh

Councilor Mbah pressed on what steps would accelerate implementation. Rawson said bottlenecks exist across many departments (DPW, parking, law, IT, fire) and noted recent staffing wins (three DPW laborers, parking staff), but acknowledged Mobility division hasn't expanded in years and "belts are tightening."

Councilor Wheeler asked about speed hump height variability. Rawson explained early speed humps (2019-2020) had quality control issues; the city now coordinates closely with fire department on response routes (e.g., Dane Street, where contractor error required rebuilding humps). Design intent is a consistent 18-20 mph drive speed. Rawson emphasized: Somerville has had three consecutive years (2023, 2024, 2025) with zero traffic fatalities.

Wheeler also asked about Highland Avenue pavement condition; Rawson explained pavement management considers usage (schools, bus stops, parks) alongside condition data, and that the engineering director (not present) is the right person for a deeper conversation.

Bicycle Yield Signals Pilot – Work Completed

Director Rawson reported that the recently updated federal MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) prohibits the signal pattern requested in Councilor Ewen-Campen's order. Bicycle signals can only be green when no conflicting movements are permitted. Staff are exploring other approaches (e.g., protected concurrent signaling with right-turn holds), but the specific pilot requested cannot move forward.

Broadway/Main Street Pedestrian Safety – Work Completed

Rawson reported staff recently completed equipment upgrades to remove a private driveway from automatically triggering the signal cycle, shortening overall cycle times and reducing incentives for red-light running and unsafe pedestrian crossings. Longer-term, staff envision converting the Y-shaped intersection into a T-shape, but this requires inclusion in the 5-year street reconstruction plan after current Broadway work (Magoon Square to Central Street) completes.

What's Next

• Chair Sait will connect ISD and SPD to coordinate the contractor outreach plan; Lt. Holland to receive the list of active construction projects

• Councilors Wheeler and Mbah signaled interest in a broader policy conversation/possible ordinance on construction permit compliance and consequences for repeat violators

• Chair Sait indicated she'll try to schedule a community path safety update (led by Senior Planner Viola Augustine) before summer recess

• Engineering Director Brian Postlewaite to be invited back for a Highland Avenue pavement/reconstruction discussion