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