Somerville Shares Community Path Safety Improvements

Somerville’s Community Path is getting some community-focused safety upgrades. This fall, the City plans to address the top safety concerns shared by over 1,000 path users including speeding, motorized vehicles on the path, failure to yield at street crossings, and visibility issues. 

Since the extension leading to East Cambridge opened in 2023, the path regularly sees thousands of daily users. Visit the path and you’ll see people heading to work, bringing their children to school, out for a morning jog, catching up with a friend, and more. Now, Somerville is taking additional steps to ensure using the path is safer and more comfortable for everyone—whether they are walking/rolling or riding a bike or scooter.

Planned Community Path Updates – Fall 2026

Near-term, quick-build interventions to address the concerns this fall will include:

• Adding pavement markings and quick build curb extensions at crossings to increase visibility and prompt path users to slow down
• Installing flex posts along the centerline at key locations to emphasize lanes and reduce speeds
• Improving signage with universal symbols to encourage sharing the path and emphasizing restrictions on motor vehicles

Prior to implementation, all planned changes are reviewed with staff from across City divisions, including the Department of Public Works and Emergency Services to ensure compatibility with essential municipal operations.

Learn More and Sign Up for Mobility Division Newsletter

Learn more about the project as well as the community input that helped inform it and read a summary report on the plans at voice.somervillema.gov/communitypathsafety.

To stay up to date on this project and other efforts to make getting around Somerville safer and more accessible, sign up for the Mobility Division’s monthly newsletter.

To view this update and more City news on the City website, visit somervillema.gov/news. 

ADA accommodations: 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 contact the ADA Coordinator in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.

Language access: If you need assistance understanding this information, please contact us at languageaccess@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311). The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter for free.