Somerville Commits To Vision Zero Plan

SOMERVILLE, MA – Mayor Curtatone announced Wednesday the launch of Vision Zero Somerville, an initiative to improve safety on the city's streets using a multi-department, data driven approach. The Vision Zero Action Plan establishes one-, three- and five-year goals around engineering, education and enforcement efforts to support safety enhancements.

Somerville joins 27 other communities nationwide in making improvements under the Vision Zero plan. The city began its commitment 18 months ago by lowering speed limits on most roads from 30 to 25 mph, establishing 65 safety zones around areas such as schools, parks and senior centers where the speed limit is 20 mph, implementing protected bike lanes on Washington Street and installing new signals in Union Square.

"In 2016 alone, Somerville saw 636 reported crashes on City-owned roadways, and 224 of those resulted in some type of injury," Curtatone said in a press release. "This is unacceptable; traffic deaths and serious injuries are preventable. If Somerville is to become the most walkable, bike-able, transit-friendly city in America, an achievement we are steadily striving for, then we must take a systematic approach to creating safer streets."

Work will continue as the Vision Zero Action Plan progresses. One such project, the ongoing Beacon Street reconstruction, includes safety features like raised and separated bicycle facilities and pedestrian beacons at frequently used crosswalks.

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