Elm-Beacon Connector Safety Improvements to Start Late Summer 2026

At any time of the day and any day of the week you’ll, see people walking, rolling, biking, driving, or catching the bus to travel along Elm Street in Somerville. All of these should be safe activities, but unfortunately, Elm Street, along with nearby Somerville Avenue and Beacon Street, are considered high-crash streets for people walking and riding bikes. The City’s Elm-Beacon Connector project is designed to change that. 

After over a year spent engaging community members, analyzing traffic patterns and signal options, testing emergency and public transit operations, and finalizing plans, the City is set to begin implementing a new, safer street design later this month or early August. The majority of implementation is expected to be complete by November.  

“I always say getting around your city shouldn’t be a high-risk activity,” said Mayor Jake Wilson. “With the Elm-Beacon Connector we’re set to increase safety for everyone on our streets. I want to thank everyone involved and acknowledge what it takes to make a project like this a reality—ongoing community advocacy and feedback, rigorous technical analysis and planning, and a deep commitment to our Vision Zero goals. None of that is easy, but it is lifesaving. Somerville has not seen a traffic death in years because these values inform all our efforts, and the Elm-Beacon Connector is an example of this commitment.” 

The Elm-Beacon Connector is a quick-build project and does not involve major street reconstruction. Instead, the project will primarily use pavement markings, signage, flex posts, and traffic signal upgrades to implement a new design and make the street safer.  

“Everyone in our city deserves to be able to get around the city safely,” said Ward 3 City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen. “I’m thrilled to see the launch of our first street safety re-design being built under our Safe Streets Ordinance, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who took time to give the City feedback on this project over the past several years.” 

Highlights of the new design include: 

• Separated bike lanes on Elm Street, Somerville Avenue, and Beacon Street protected with a buffer and plastic flex posts. 
• A new Neighborway on Mossland Street allowing north-and south-bound travel for people biking while dead-ending the section of Mossland Street at Elm Street for motor vehicles. 
• Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles at both ends of the street.
• Clear Corners installation at all intersections to improve sight lines.
• New traffic signal equipment to allow smooth travel for all modes of transportation, including bus detection for more efficient public transit movement. 

In addition to this year’s quick-build improvements, contractors will build a raised crosswalk across Elm Street at Cherry Street next to the Kennedy School next year.  Regular updates on installation progress will be available on the project webpage at somervillema.gov/elmbeacon. 

More About the Project and New Street Design 

The Elm-Beacon Connector project area includes Elm Street between Russell Street and Somerville Avenue, Somerville Avenue between the City Line and Elm Street, and Beacon Street between Somerville Avenue and Oxford Street, as well as all of Mossland Street.  

Making space for these safety improvements will require removing most parking on the south side of Elm Street as well as the removal of select spots on Somerville Avenue, Beacon Street, and Mossland Street. Some new spaces will be added on Russell Street, Cutter Avenue, and Summer Street, and high-priority regulations such as accessible parking and loading zones will be added throughout the project area.  

New dedicated pick-up and drop-off areas will be created on Cherry Street and Sartwell Avenue to facilitate school arrival and dismissal. A detailed outline of parking changes is available on the project webpage.  

In addition to the community feedback, the design is informed by Somerville’s commitment to Vision Zero (a commitment to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injury) and the City’s Bicycle Network Plan (a roadmap for expanding bicycle safety and features across the city).  

To learn more about the project, including details on the final design and feedback from the community process, please visit somervillema.gov/elmbeacon. 

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 in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@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 languageaccess@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event.