SomerStories: Community-Centered Murals

This project will commission local artists to create murals that will celebrate neighborhoods, the people who live in these neighborhoods, and their history. These murals would be in public spaces in a variety of locations across the city with the goal of increasing access to public art and driving foot traffic in these areas.

Estimated Cost: $120,000

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Keep Dog Waste Off the Community Path

Install poop bag dispensers at intersections along the community path to help keep the community path clean and clear of waste.

Estimated Cost: $15,000

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Expand Public Electric Vehicle Charging

Install 3 EV chargers at locations determined by City staff. Chargers would be placed at on-street sites where electric capacity is available. This proposal would accelerate existing city plans to install publicly accessible EV chargers by funding the purchase of three Level 2 (100amp, slow) chargers.

Estimated Cost: $65,000

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Outsmart Somerville Rats

Deploy an additional 40 SMART boxes in Somerville public spaces, which electrocute rodents upon entry while providing real-time data. Also install landscaping solutions to limit burrowing activity at city properties, such as schools. Additional funds can support community education on how improved trash management is the first step to outsmarting rats and rat infestations.

Estimated Cost: $120,000

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Afterschool Programs

This proposal would expand capacity at afterschool programming for residents by increasing capacity through collaborative partnerships across the community. This program would provide enriching opportunities for our city’s youngest learners to ease the pressure on working parents and foster academic, social, and emotional growth.

Estimated Cost: $150,000

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Boost Somerville’s Nutrition Security Network*

Improve our community’s access to fresh healthy food by expanding cold storage and fresh food volume. The project will work with community partners to purchase and install a walk-in fridge and freezer, to store and distribute fresh food donations to community partners, nonprofits, and community fridges. Funds will also directly supply the cold storage unit with increased volumes of fresh food, strengthening Somerville's emergency food system. *In 2024, the City of Somerville was awarded $50,000 to fund community resilience to climate change through the State's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) 2.0 grant program. If this project is selected by the public to fund, it may receive this MVP Funding as additional funding, increasing the project funding to $270,000.

Estimated Cost: $220,000

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Enhanced Safety for the Elm-Beacon Connector

Creating a Beacon of Safety: Fund additional pedestrian and bike safety measures in this high crash zone as part of the Elm-Beacon Connector project near Porter Square. This could include raised crossings, speed humps, concrete barriers, and pavement improvements.

Estimated Cost: $250,000

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SomerBlooms: Calming Traffic with Planters

Extend curbs with paint, flexposts, and planters to add green space to the city and slow traffic on neighborhood streets and intersections. These funds would go towards installation and initial maintenance to encourage drivers to slow down and navigate turns more carefully.

Estimated Cost: $50,000

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Public Community Compost

Install, contract, and maintain community composting drop-off bins at high-impact, public locations. Free, accessible, and rodent safe composting solutions are key for Somerville’s food system, rodent reduction, and climate resiliency. Funds for this program would also go towards coordination with community food rescue applications, transporting compost to community gardens, and supporting Somerville's food system.

Estimated Cost: $125,000

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Expand BigBelly Trash Can Adoption

Place additional BigBelly trash can units throughout the city to increase access to recycling and sanitary trash disposal. Locations to be determined at the discretion of city staff, with consideration for siting them at rat-prone hot-spots, and at sites at intersections along the community path. Funding will support informational displays on trash cans, empowering residents with rodent reduction resources and knowledge on the importance of securing food waste.

Estimated Cost: $125,000

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Park Bench Replacement

Pining for somewhere to sit? Spruce up Somerville’s parks with new benches. Benches in disrepair will be replaced with spiffy new ones!

Estimated Cost: $50,000

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Improve School Crossings for Kids

This project would fund traffic calming measures in areas immediately surrounding Somerville schools, daycares, and playgrounds. Improvements include additional speed limit signs, flashing crosswalk signs, speed humps, new crosswalks, raised crosswalks, and more to reduce vehicle speeds and increase safety for pedestrians.

Estimated Cost: $200,000

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Pollinator Gardens

This proposal will replant existing raised beds and add new raised beds with native flora in parks around the city. Enhancing native flora is consistent with the Somerville Pollinator Action Plan to provide more habitat for pollinators.

Estimated Cost: $30,000

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More Blue Bike Stations

Add three (3) year-round Blue Bike stations, each with 11 new bikes. These additional stations will improve mobility in high need areas throughout the city and encourage environmentally friendly commuting options.

Estimated Cost: $225,000

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Watering Truck to Improve Tree Care*

A watering truck will enable the city to care for Somerville’s trees and plantings more frequently without adding additional staff. Regular watering will keep the Somerville trees strong and ensure that young trees become healthy, mature ones! This will include a watering truck-naming contest for Somerville youth! *In 2024, the City of Somerville was awarded $50,000 to fund community resilience to climate change through the State's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) 2.0 grant program. If this project is selected by the public to fund, it may receive this MVP Funding to supplement the $150,000 cost of the watering truck

Estimated Cost: $150,000

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Green Light for Green Line Pedestrian Safety

Enhance pedestrian safety at intersections along Green Line Extension (GLX) E-Branch and the Community Path. The goal is to increase pedestrian/bike visibility, improve connection to GLX stops, and increase traffic calming. Improvements may include crosswalks, speed humps, bump outs, pedestrian signals, lighting, and/or additional signage.

Estimated Cost: $200,000

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Bike Network Guarantee

Provide funding to implement roughly one mile of separated bicycle lanes consistent with the Somerville Bicycle Network Plan’s 2026 program year. The Bicycle Network Plan guides investment in infrastructure that is safe and comfortable for all residents regardless of age, ability, gender and background. This proposal would help create financial resilience for this plan in the face of potential reductions in federal and state spending.

Estimated Cost: $400,000

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Bus Access for All: ADA-Compliant Bus Stops

Improve or redesign bus stops to be accessible for people with mobility challenges and ensure they are compliant with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). These changes may include curb bump-outs, ramps, benches, signage, lighting, and covered shelters.

Estimated Cost: $200,000

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Voting in the 'Ville

Want to be involved in your local government and elections but don’t know how? This project will encourage voter and civic participation by sending mailers to residents on how to be involved, including information on how to serve on local boards and commissions and run for office. Additionally, local artists will be commissioned to create new designs for the “I Voted” stickers and ballot drop boxes to raise election visibility.

Estimated Cost: $75,000

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Slow Streets, Safe Streets

Build or improve Neighborways using traffic calming treatments, wayfinding sign design, and asphalt art installations. Neighborways are traffic-calmed streets that are inviting for people of all ages, and encourage safer biking and walking on residential streets.

Estimated Cost: $200,000

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