Mayor Ballantyne's Infrastructure Investments are Building a Better Somerville
Mayor Katjana's leadership on infrastructure investments is transforming Somerville into a modern, sustainable, and equitable city. By prioritizing key areas such as public safety, transportation, water and sewer infrastructure, schools, and open space, she is laying the foundation for a thriving community for generations to come. And thanks to her strong fiscal management, she has earned Somerville’s first S&P Global, triple A bond rating so Somerville can afford to keep fixing what’s broken.
Streets, Sidewalks and Transportation
Mayor Ballantyne's administration has paved 45,000 linear feet of streets and rebuilt 90,000 linear feet of sidewalks, completed numerous road and street improvement projects throughout the city. These projects include:
- Eastern Pearl Street: This project focused on traffic calming measures, pedestrian safety improvements, and green infrastructure elements.
- Powder House Boulevard: This project involved roadway resurfacing, sidewalk repairs, and accessibility upgrades.
- Holland Street: This project included roadway reconstruction, new bike lanes, and improved pedestrian crossings.
- Highland Avenue (Phase 1): The first phase of Highland Avenue's repaving was completed, with a focus on improving the road surface and addressing drainage issues.
- Highland Avenue Redesign: Recognizing the need for a comprehensive redesign of Highland Avenue, the city is planning a major overhaul of this critical corridor. The redesign will prioritize safety for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, and will incorporate sustainable design elements.
Infrastructure Priorities Creating Safety
- Dangerous Intersection Re-engineering: Mayor Katjana's administration has re-engineer dangerous intersections to improve safety for all users. This includes implementing traffic calming measures, improving pedestrian crossings, and enhancing visibility.
- Road and Sidewalk Reconstruction: Road and sidewalk reconstruction projects are ongoing throughout the city, with a focus on improving accessibility, safety, and aesthetics.
- Neighborhood Planning: Mayor Ballantyne recognizes the importance of community input in shaping the city's future. Neighborhood planning processes have been restarted to ensure that residents have a voice in decisions that affect their communities.
Water and Sewer Infrastructure
Major Sewer Investments: Mayor Ballantyne has prioritized investments in the city's aging sewer system to prevent overflows, protect water quality, and ensure public health. Key projects include:
- Somerville Avenue Sewer Overhaul: This major project involves the replacement of aging sewer pipes and the installation of new infrastructure to improve the system's capacity and reliability.
- Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project: This project aims to separate the combined sewer and stormwater system in the Spring Hill neighborhood, reducing the risk of sewer overflows during heavy rain events.
- Poplar Street Pump Station: The construction of a new pump station on Poplar Street will improve the sewer system's efficiency and help prevent backups and flooding in Union Square.
Poplar Street Pump Station
Fire and Public Safety
- Fire Station Master Plan: Recognizing the need for strategic upgrades to the city's fire stations, Mayor Ballantyne developed Somerville's first-ever Fire Station Master Plan. This plan will assess current facilities, identify needs, and guide future investments to ensure the Fire Department has the resources to protect the community effectively.
- New Fire Station in Assembly Square: A major milestone in the city's fire safety infrastructure is the construction of a new fire station in Assembly Square. This will be the first new fire station built in Somerville in over a century and is expected to significantly improve response times in the rapidly growing Assembly Square neighborhood. The station is designed with modern features and technology to support firefighters' work and enhance their safety.
"...our Infrastructure and Asset Management and Economic Development teams, along with our Fire Department, are building Somerville’s first new fire station in over 100 years." - Mayor Katjana Ballantyne
Schools and Education
Mayor Katjana Ballantyne has been a champion in support of Somerville Public Schools for decades, both as a councilor and Mayor, and as a parent with two children attending Somerville Public Schools. She has increased the school budget by an historic 34 percent in only four years. In the fiscal year 2025 budget, she added over 35 net full-time equivalent positions to Somerville Public Schools.
For our mayor, investing in youth doesn’t stop at the classroom.
Mayor Katjana is Connecting Students to Local Opportunities
Mayor Katjana understands that we need to connect our youth to the innovation and opportunity right here. She is developing partnerships with area businesses, for classroom visits, site tours, demos, internships, and work-study programs where youth can experience the possibilities all around them.
Recently, on a visit to Ultragenics, a new biotech lab in Brickbottom, Mayor Katjana ran into a Somerville High School graduate now working as a researcher there. Her parents immigrated here, and she has been able to continue to live with her family in Somerville because an exciting local employer hired her. This is the kind of opportunity that Mayor Ballantyne will be sure our kids can see and can reach.
Mayor Katjana is rebuilding our schools
- Winter Hill School Project: Mayor Ballantyne is committed to providing Somerville's students with high-quality learning environments. The Winter Hill School project is a key initiative to modernize and expand the school's facilities. The project has advanced to the feasibility phase in the Massachusetts School Building Authority's state funding program, and there is potential for the Brown School to be included in the project as well.
- HVAC Upgrades and Maintenance: To ensure healthy and comfortable learning environments, the city is investing in HVAC upgrades and enhanced maintenance protocols in schools throughout Somerville.
Parks, Open Space, and Public Realm
- Expansion of Green Spaces: Mayor Ballantyne has prioritized the creation and expansion of public green spaces, recognizing their importance for residents' physical and mental health, as well as for environmental sustainability. During her tenure, the city has opened or expanded four public green spaces.
- Dilboy Athletic Auxiliary Fields: The city broke ground on the Dilboy Athletic Auxiliary Fields, which will provide much-needed space for youth sports and recreation.
- New Pocket Park: A new pocket park is being created at 217 Somerville Avenue, adding green space and enhancing the streetscape in this busy area.
- Big Belly Trash Cans: To improve cleanliness and reduce rodent activity, the city has installed 100 new solar-powered "Big Belly" trash cans in public spaces.
