SOMERVILLE RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN TRANSPORTATION ISSUES

SOMERVILLE
– The National Association of City
Transportation Officials (NACTO) added the City of Somerville, MA to its
affiliate member list last week, including Somerville in its prestigious list
of just 18 member cities and 12 affiliate members nationwide that includes
Boston, Denver, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia,
Seattle, and Washington, D.C., among others. In a press release, NACTO
officials lauded Somerville for its “[commitment] to sustainable transportation
initiatives, aiming to strengthen cities and improve quality of life through
better street design and transportation policy.” Earlier this month, Somerville
was also recognized by the League of American Cyclists with a Silver level
Bicycle Friendly Community Award, recognizing a significant step up from Bronze
in only two years. 

“It
is an honor to be included with such prestigious larger cities across the
nation for our focus on increasing or improving sustainable transportation,”
said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “Whether it’s walking, biking, driving or using
alternate transportation, Somerville has a demonstrated commitment to
increasing access and maintaining safe opportunities for all residents. In the
last three years we have added more than 25 miles of bike lanes, updated or
added pedestrian safety infrastructure such as street trees, curb bump-outs and
ADA-accessible ramps, and we are on the crux of a tremendous expansion of
public transportation with the addition of Orange and Green Line stations
across the City. I want to thank NACTO for this great recognition.”

While
the City was recognized with this honor as because of its implementation of
numerous progressive projects and initiatives over the past few years, the
membership also recognizes its future promise: the goals outlined in the
SomerVision plan and the City’s groundwork towards reaching them. Programs and
initiatives such as the Somerville by Design series, Safe Routes to School,
Hubway, and Somerstreets have demonstrated the City’s ability to plan and
program towards a future vision. Somerville’s membership in NACTO is a learning
opportunity to join with the most progressive cities in exchanging concepts to
reach new levels of access and sustainability. 

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About NACTO
 
NACTO is an association of 18 major US cities formed to exchange transportation
ideas, insights and practices and cooperatively approach national
transportation issues. Members include Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte,
Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York,
Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and
Washington, DC. Affiliate members of NACTO include Arlington (VA), Austin,
Burlington (VT), Cambridge, Hoboken, Indianapolis, Louisville, Memphis,
Oakland, Salt Lake City, Somerville (MA), and Ventura (CA).

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Contact:

Jackie Rossetti 617-625-6600,
ext. 2614