Transportation & Mobility

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The emissions from driving vehicles contributes to 34% of Somerville's total greenhouse gas emissions. We can curb our greenhouse gas emissions through promoting low-carbon options such as walking, biking, taking public transportation and carpooling to get where we need to go. Luckily, Somerville is already ahead of the game. Our city has a culture of sustainable transportation, where our urban location gives us access to public transit, walkable streets, and safe bike lanes. 

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Electric Vehicles

In order to fully realize our emissions reduction potential, transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) will be required. EVs don’t produce greenhouse gas pollution on the road, they also need less maintenance and help keep our air clean. Driving electric is a big part of our future and we want to make owning an EV accessible for everyone. That means creating more infrastructure for EVs, like adding additional charging stations in convenient and accessible places.
 

 

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Source: Massachusetts Vehicle Census GeoDOT

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?
The number of fully electric (zero-emission) vehicles registered in Somerville has increased by almost 200% since 2020!

EV Charging Stations

Somerville is working to make it easier to choose electric by installing charging stations with multiple plugs throughout the City. Currently, Somerville has 26 public plugs. Check them out with this map:
 

Starting July 1, 2024, Somerville’s public chargers cost $0.25/kWh of charging provided, with payments managed through the  ChargePoint app. This fee helps the City maintain our existing stations and expand our charging infrastructure. 

Charging infrastructure in Somerville goes beyond these City-owned locations, and a full map of chargers that are publicly accessible can be found at  plugshare.com. 

In 2023, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Environment commissioned the Somerville Public Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Siting Strategy Report to develop a thoughtful approach to siting EV charging stations in the coming years.

EVSE Siting Strategy StoryMap

2025-2026 On-Street Charging Expansion Program

The City of Somerville is participating in the  Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s On-Street Charging Solutions Program .

Learn more and stay tuned for updates through SomerVoice at voice.somervillema.gov/on-street-ev-charging .

EV Charging at Home

If you are a private property owner with a parking space looking to install EV charging, or if you are a renter who would like to suggest that your landlord install EV charging at your home, we have developed a guide for Installing EV Charging at Home .

Low-Carbon Transportation 

Public Transit

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Somerville is a public transit hotspot, and the City is dedicated to enhancing public transportation.

Citywide Bicycle Network Plan

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Check out the Plan! 

What You Can Do 

Get Around the City Sustainably

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• Learn about the City’s Transit Benefits Program for free monthly MBTA passes are available for youth and low-income residents

• Use the Bluebikes Locator Map to find a Bluebike station near you

• Explore our state-funded incentive program — MOR-EV — reduce the prices of electric vehicles and chargers