Ballantyne Administration Brings Braille & Raised Text Street Signs to 200 Somerville Intersections

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is pleased to announce that more accessible signage is coming to streets around Somerville. As part of ongoing work to make Somerville's streets safer and more accessible, the City will be installing new signage featuring braille and raised text at intersections around Somerville. A total of 200 new signs will be installed at crosswalks with pedestrian signals and accessible push buttons to make them easier to navigate for people with visual impairments.  

“Making our streets work for everyone means designing them in ways that are inclusive of all the different ways people receive and process the information they need to move around the city safely and comfortably,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “This is another great example of teams working across departments to deliver important services to our community. I especially want to thank our Parking, Engineering, Mobility, and ADA staff for collaborating to make our streets more accessible.” 

The new signage will alert people walking or wheeling to the presence of a button they can push to activate an audible and vibrotactile (vibrating to enable perception through touch) signal that lets them know when the walk signal is active and it is safe to cross the street. Where possible the new signs will also include street names in braille and raised text. This makes street name information accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired and unable to read street names posted on traditional signage providing important wayfinding information.  

“Having new signage and updated walk signals not only increases accessibility for persons with disabilities but everyone who wishes to access our streets and crosswalks safely. It’s improvements such as these that make Somerville truly accessible and inclusive for all.”  said Adrienne Pomeroy, ADA Coordinator  

Crews are already installing the 200 new signs around the city and expect to complete this project over the coming weeks. Click here for photos of new signage.

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.  

The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter in your language for free. To request an interpreter, please contact us at somerviva@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event.