Project, informed by community feedback, aims to improve key Gilman Square street 

The City of Somerville is working to make the western segment of Pearl Street between McGrath Highway and Medford Street safer and more accessible by redesigning and reconstructing the street. The project will include improved crosswalks, new trees, protected bike lanes, better bus stops, and traffic calming on Pearl Street and in the nearby area.   

This past spring, the city presented multiple design options to the community and gathered feedback from neighbors, students, local business owners and managers, community group representatives, and city advisory committee members. 

City staff have spent the past few months reviewing all the community feedback and data collected, identifying the option most aligned with that feedback, and advancing the design. 
 
As a next step in the process, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 4 Councilor Jesse Clingan, Ward 1 Councilor Matt McLaughlin, and city staff are excited to invite community members to come to an open house to learn more about the updated design and share their input.   

·         When: Saturday, October 4, from 12 to 2 p.m. 

·         Where: Ed Leathers Park between Skilton Avenue and Walnut Street 

·         Inclement weather location: Somerville High School Atrium, 81 Highland Avenue.  

o    If there is inclement weather in the forecast, the city will update the project website approximately 48 hours ahead of time. 

 
At the open house, community members can explore different stations describing aspects of the design and talk directly to the project team about their questions and comments. Pizza will be provided.  

If community members cannot attend the open house, there will be multiple other ways to share feedback such as through an online feedback survey, virtual office hours, a street outreach pop-up, tabling at SomerStreets Monster Mash, and more.   
 
Visit somervillema.gov/westernpearl to learn more. 
 
Later this fall, the project team will present the updated design to community members to gather additional input before finalizing the design over the winter and preparing for construction between 2026 and 2027. 

More About the Project  

 The City has prioritized this segment of Pearl Street for sidewalk reconstruction and repaving (a Complete Street reconstruction) as part of the Pavement and Sidewalk Management Program (somervillema.gov/paving). With the opportunity to redesign the street, the City looks to enhance transportation safety to fulfill Vision Zero goals, improve accessibility as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan, and carry out the vision for bicycle facilities for people of all ages and abilities as part of the Somerville Bicycle Network Plan.