Broadway through Magoun Square will be reconstructed with a street design to increase safety, improve accessibility, incorporate more sustainability and plant life and create a more comfortable street. Somerville invites people to come learn about and discuss the design at an open house on Wednesday.
The Broadway Magoun Reconstruction Project encompasses all sidewalks along Broadway from Winchester Street to Central Street, repaving from curb to curb, adding accessible curb ramps and upgrading bicycle facilities to provide protection, among other improvements.
This segment of Broadway is designated for protected bike lanes in both directions as part of the Somerville Bicycle Network Plan and required by the Safe Streets Ordinance.
The open house is 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Arthur D. Healey School, 167 Holland St., in the Tufts neighborhood near Teele Square, showcasing the updated design and collecting feedback from the community. All posters and brochures used at the open house will be available online afterward on the project website.
There will also be a virtual office hour from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 13 for people to ask questions and share comments via Zoom webinar.
This is the third round of community meetings. The first was in October 2025. After this round of community feedback, Somerville finalizes the design and prepares for construction between 2027 and 2029 depending on contractors’ schedules.
A New Magoun Square intersection design
One announcement to be made at the open house: how the Magoun Square intersection (Broadway at Medford Street) will work. In the Spring of this year, Somerville collected feedback about three options.
Adapted from the project website:
The Roundabout removes traffic signals and transforms the intersection into a roundabout shape with shorter crossing distances, raised crosswalks, a raised bicycle lane and one motor vehicle lane. This option has the least delay for people driving, biking and walking.
The “X” reduces the intersection to primarily four approaches with a much shorter signal cycle. Crossing distances are shorter, and there is more pedestrian space at the corners. This option provides the fewest vehicle signal phases and maintains an exclusive pedestrian phase.
The “T” splits the intersection into two sections with a shorter signal cycle. Crossing distances are shorter, and there is more pedestrian space at the corners. This option provides more vehicle signal phases and travel lanes, but shorter wait times for pedestrians and increased separation for people biking.
The roundabout was the most popular option in the spring survey, preferred by 65 percent of respondents.
Bike activities calendar
Boston Cafe Bikers (recurring). Boston Cafe Bikers rides at 11 a.m. Saturday from Central Square, Cambridge, to Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ & Bakery in Dorchester. Free.
Cafe Zing! Social Ride (recurring). Every Thursday, join friends and neighbors for a party-pace social ride. Meet at Cafe Zing, 25 White St., Porter Square, Cambridge, at 6:30 p.m. to mingle before the 7 p.m. ride.
E-Bike Adventure Rides with Casa Bikes (recurring). Every Saturday at 9:30 a.m., bring your own e-bike or borrow one of Casa’s. Free, but register.
Critical Mass Ride (recurring). A free social activist ride meeting at 6:30 (and taking off at 7 p.m.) the last Friday of every month in Copley Square, Boston. No RSVP required.
Have a bike event to list? Send it to ecao.csindie@gmail.com. For more Boston bike events, see bostonbikeevents.net. (No affiliation with The Independent.)
