Powder House Blvd. Office Hours Canceled, Community Meeting Scheduled for May 22

Please note that the May 22 community meeting has been moved to 6:30 p.m. (originally 6 p.m.)

The third Powder House Blvd. Neighborhood Office Hours session scheduled for tonight, Thurs., April 25, has been canceled. A community meeting to discuss progress on the Powder House Blvd. Traffic Safety plan and officially kick off community discussion of the bike lane options for the Boulevard is scheduled for Wed., May 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the West Somerville Neighborhood School, 177 Powder House Blvd. To see a copy of the plan, please visit www.somervillema.gov/powderhouseboulevard.

Safety Plan: The plan builds on earlier safety measures and traffic calming improvements made to the Boulevard in recent years. The next steps detailed in the plan include a number of additional improvements already scheduled for the current construction season as well as some new elements developed this year in response to community input. Every action detailed in the plan aims to increase safety on Powder House Blvd. for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

Bike Lane Options: The plan also updates existing plans for a “road diet” for the Boulevard, an effective approach for slowing traffic by narrowing the vehicle travel lanes. Single lane bike lanes had been previously planned for Fall 2019 for the Boulevard to both improve cyclist safety as well as narrow the road. In collaboration with the Somerville Bicycle Committee, discussions will be held from May through the summer to determine if the community prefers the existing plan or a two-lane, two-way bike path instead that could have additional safety benefits for both cyclists and pedestrians that would require the elimination of a significant amount of parking.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact should contact Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@somervillema.gov.