Much-needed safety improvements on Route 16 in Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford need your support today. Somerville Alliance for Safe Streets, made us aware that an earmark of ~$750,000 for a traffic study is being discussed this week in the Ways and Means Committee that is necessary to move forward with critical safety improvements on Route 16.

Residents of Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Arlington, Belmont and Watertown and anyone who travels through this dangerous corridor are encouraged to take action today! Reach out to your local legislators to share your personal stories about the significance of the safety improvements and how these improvements are important for the entire region. We need you to convey the impact these improvements will have on your travels along Rt 16 and voice support for increased safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.

Proposed safety improvements include:

• Protected left turns for motorists at the intersections of Broadway Ave and Boston Ave due to high crash rates
• Significant safety improvements to existing  crosswalks along the entire corridor as well as the addition of a crosswalk for safe access to the Dilboy stadium, fields, and parkland 
• Redesign of the dangerous rotary where Alewife Brook and Mystic Valley Parkways meet to provide safe pedestrian access and safety for all road users
• Lane reduction from two lanes to one in each direction to reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians and to curb rampant speeding 

Background

This section of Route 16 from Mass Ave in Cambridge to Main St in Medford is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and is made up of Alewife Brook and Mystic Valley Parkways, and was originally designed to be a “pleasure road” for taking in the beautiful scenery of the surrounding parkland. Today it is a high-speed roadway with some of the highest crash rates in the region that acts exactly opposite to its original intent: it is a dangerous barrier that impedes access of local residents to parkland, nearby amenities and businesses, and negatively impacts the Alewife Brook and Mystic River waterways and climate. 

Take Action

• Contact your local Senator– share your personal story & ask them to support the Rt. 16 traffic study earmark in the Ways & Means Committee
• Contact your local Representative– share your personal story & ask them to support the Rt. 16 traffic study earmark in the Ways & Means Committee
• Residents of Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Arlington, Belmont, and Watertown: reach out to your Mayor, Councilor or Selectman with your personal story & why you support safety improvements on Route 16 in Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford.

For more information, please email [email protected]