Lowell Street Green Line crosswalk cleared for 2027 construction

Items Discussed

Lowell Street and School Street crosswalks at Green Line stations – Recommended for approval

This order, which Chair Sait said she filed about a year ago and kept in committee for updates, asked the Director of Engineering to report on crosswalks facing the Magoun Square and Gilman Square stations. Engineering Director Brian Postlewaite delivered what Sait called a "really exciting update."

Lowell Street: The city's preferred crossing directly in front of the station at Maxwell's Green has been dropped. Postlewaite said that after review with the fire department, a crossing that narrow would have made it difficult to reach the large Maxwell's Green buildings, which lack good rear access. Instead, the city will build a raised crossing at the Vernon Street and Lowell Street intersection, improving the Lowell crossing and the Vernon crosswalk. Because that intersection sits outside the MassDOT-owned bridge, no state approval is needed. Postlewaite said the fire department concluded this option was "actually gonna be better operations for them." The design is going to the engineer already working on the Broadway–Magoun project and will be folded into the FY27 annual streets contract, expected to bid between December and February, with construction potentially next year. Sait noted most people approaching the station come down Vernon Street and that "it only took a decade," crediting former Ward 5 councilor Mark Niedergang's earlier advocacy.

School Street: Postlewaite described this crossing as harder because the Community Path is offset by 10 to 15 feet across the street and the crosswalk straddles the edge of a MassDOT bridge. MassDOT rejected a full raised crossing because repeated vehicle impacts would damage the bridge over time. The emerging hybrid plan would put a raised crossing on the path side (cyclists "just aren't that heavy"), an at-grade crossing in the vehicle lane, and a small island between them. Staff are still working through fire department turning access to the high school driveways and Montrose Street. Postlewaite expects to return to MassDOT before year's end, with construction documents by mid-to-late 2027 for the FY28 streets contract—"about a year behind" the Lowell project.

Councilor Wheeler said he had found it "flabbergasting" that a small curb ramp could be so contentious, though he understood the bridge-seam and vehicle-impact concerns. Postlewaite replied the ramp idea is "substantively more complicated" structurally and for ADA accessibility on an eight-foot sidewalk. Wheeler also suggested larger lane-separator objects as an alternative to flex posts for truck turning radii.

Community Path safety measures and Maxwell's Green signage – Signage item recommended for approval; safety item kept in committee

Taken together, these orders (both filed earlier this year and kept for regular updates) asked for better signage at Maxwell's Green and Lowell Street and a broader discussion of path safety, including motorized vehicle enforcement and e-bike speed regulation.

Mobility Director Brad Rawson reported his staff published a short-term safety plan last week based on a 1,200-person survey. Measures planned for fall 2026 include:

• Thermoplastic speed humps for faster wheeled users approaching street crossings, already being tested between Central and Sycamore streets, to be replicated at other locations in coming weeks
• Replacing text-heavy and outdated "bike route" signs with graphic signs showing which vehicles are not allowed, in partnership with the Parking Department
• "Share the path" signage and pavement markings reminding cyclists and scooter riders to yield to pedestrians
• Flex posts and strengthened traffic calming at path crossings

Larger curb extensions or street murals may come in 2027 and beyond, but Rawson said staff are "not ready to commit" to designs or timelines. Pavement marking work will happen overnight with limited disruption.

Wheeler praised the "not waiting for the perfect" approach and asked whether downhill stretches, such as westbound under the Lowell Street overpass, would also be addressed. Rawson said staff are prioritizing "conflict points" beyond street crossings—citing the Cross Street access ramp—and will produce a plan drawing showing all phase-one locations.

Sait kept item 10 in committee specifically so the committee can discuss enforcement with the Police Department next month, noting the Alliance for Safe Streets told her they want more enforcement. She asked the clerk to attach the new safety report to the record.

Route 80 bus elimination – PTAC comments marked work completed

The Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee's letter opposed the MBTA's plan to eliminate the Route 80 segment linking Ball Square, Magoun Square, Gilman Square, East Somerville and Lechmere, keeping only the Arlington–Tufts portion rerouted down College Avenue to Davis Square. Rawson said the MBTA board formally approved the change years ago, but the agency has shown willingness to adjust plans; city staff and Mayor Wilson have raised concerns directly with the state transportation secretary. Rawson stressed the 115 Sycamore Street school project was not part of the MBTA's 2021–22 analysis and that the city "just reject[s] that logic" that Route 80 duplicates Green Line service. He also noted Route 80 ridership is at roughly 30 percent of pre-pandemic levels, versus 50–70 percent on most Somerville routes, and that the MBTA is reallocating scarce buses and operators rather than adding service.

Councilor Mbah asked what the city itself is doing; Rawson pointed to enhanced bus stops under construction on Western Pearl Street, designed on the assumption the bus continues, and ongoing coordination with Medford, Arlington and Cambridge. Wheeler highlighted the letter's point about Route 85's early cutoff and limited weekend service, arguing reliable frequency "unlocks" spontaneous travel. Sait, whose ward includes several affected squares, called the proposal "a huge loss."

Rawson expects the MBTA to announce results of its latest feedback round after the New Year. At his suggestion, the committee closed this communication; Sait said she would file a new order in January to track updates.

No Turn on Red at Broadway and Cedar Street – Kept in committee

Sait's order described the intersection—next to Trum Field, a 7-Eleven, DPW and the north–south emergency route—as "extremely unsafe," with trucks and drivers routinely stopping in the crosswalk. Rawson recalled a citywide audit found about 97 percent of eligible turns already carry no-turn-on-red regulations; this location likely lacks one because of its dedicated right-turn lane, so adding a sign would require an assessment and a Traffic Commission vote. The intersection is also within the Broadway–Magoun reconstruction, bidding this winter with construction possibly next summer.

Wheeler asked whether the city should simply ban turns on red at all city-owned signals, as Cambridge did in 2022, rather than study intersections one by one; he said collision statistics on right-turn-on-red pedestrian crashes had convinced him his prior driver's instinct was wrong. Sait recalled hearing the state requires an intersection-by-intersection process. Rawson said the staff effort is "a couple of emails" and committed to report back in writing on the regulatory background and this location.

Neighborhood traffic calming (Vernon/Partridge and Prospect Hill) – Both marked work completed

Rawson gave similar responses on both orders. For Vernon Street and Partridge Avenue (Sait's order, prompted by neighbors), data has been collected and Vernon is among candidate streets under review, with the online traffic calming map to be updated this fall; sight-line fixes through the Clear Corners program are possible, though that program currently prioritizes arterials like Highland Avenue. For Prospect Hill (sponsored by Councilors Mbah, Link and Ewen-Campen, covering Monroe, Greenville, Hamlet, Prospect Hill Avenue and Walnut), data collection is scheduled for mid-October, followed by months of processing and interdepartmental review before streets are assigned to the 2027–28 or 2028–29 construction batches. Rawson acknowledged demand far exceeds resources. Sait closed both items and said they can be resubmitted after data arrives.

Parking permit items – Kept in committee

Two items on a proposed lower-cost daytime-only permit for residents with driveways were skipped because the Director of Parking could not attend; they will be taken up next month.

Minutes of June 22 – Accepted 3-0

Approved without discussion.

What's Next

• Items 8 (Maxwell's Green/Lowell Street signage) and 9 (crosswalk update) go to the full council with a recommendation for approval. The transcript shows a 2-0 roll call (Councilor Mbah appeared to have logged off), though the official record lists 3 in favor.
• Item 10 (Community Path safety) stays in committee for an enforcement discussion with the Police Department next month.
• Broadway/Cedar no-turn-on-red stays in committee pending a written report from Rawson on regulatory requirements and effort needed.
• Parking permit items (2 and 3) stay in committee for next month.
• Sait will file a new order in January to track MBTA Route 80 decisions, expected after the New Year.
• Rawson will consult staff on downhill Community Path locations raised by Wheeler and produce a phase-one plan drawing.
• Postlewaite will return to MassDOT on the School Street design before year's end.