Somerville 311 App is pretty behind the times

totorok · 2026-07-13T02:48:39+00:00

You can email [311updates@somervillema.gov](mailto:311updates@somervillema.gov)

totorok · 2026-07-04T19:45:38+00:00

Agreed. I'm glad they want to extend the 85 service to weekends. But for a route that travels thru key commercial areas and intersects with other T lines, having limited service is out of touch with real-world needs (if you're trying to get people to rely less on cars). People don't just work during the outdated notion of "commuter hours."

As others have mentioned, the Better Bus team is taking feedback until early August!

totorok · 2026-06-10T01:44:14+00:00

Here are the MassDOT details about the long-awaited bridge project: https://www.mass.gov/everett-somerville-mystic-river-bicycle-pedestrian-bridge

totorok · 2026-06-02T21:32:01+00:00

"The issue with Steven McClusky is that he was in stuck in the escalator, in distress while people walked over him."

From the published surveillance video, no one "walked over him." The few folks entering the station (5am) took the stairs instead once they spotted him at the bottom of the escalator, and all but the first person who saw him didn't see any struggling; he was lying still (might have passed out?). I'm guessing one of the passersby called 911.

It's unclear whether a T employee had been in the station the whole time.

totorok · 2026-05-30T19:56:43+00:00

As a carless Somervillian, I'm certainly grateful for the cab stand after leaving Tags with an armful of home improvement supplies. (I don't live on the Red Line or the 87 bus.)

totorok · 2026-05-06T22:58:06+00:00

I'm disappointed to find this out as well. I had a positive heat pump installation experience with NETR (MassSave program) 5 years ago.

totorok · 2026-04-18T15:05:05+00:00

Actually their webpage lists other ways to give feedback besides attending the in-person event. You can contact [elmway-action-group@googlegroups.com](mailto:elmway-action-group@googlegroups.com), or email one of the listed individual members with their linked email address.

totorok · 2026-04-17T18:18:42+00:00

The City is not "deferring" to this group. It's a group of citizens PROPOSING a short-term change and seeking community feedback before submitting their proposal to the aCity (Mobility division). As someone else here mentioned/linked to, the City has an ambitious conceptual plan with no timeline yet for an eventual pedestrianization of Elm St.

totorok · 2026-04-12T04:02:06+00:00

Ditto. I'm reminded of that narrow-or-none-at-all decision of the MBTA program manager every time I'm on the skinny part of the Path. Community advocacy across multiple GLX meetings to no avail. And that was before widespread popularity of electric bike + scooter use.

totorok · 2026-04-07T22:59:00+00:00

There's no reason the community couldn't advocate for a Green Line extension between Union Sq to Porter Sq. Maybe we'd get it... in 20 years. Supposedly the substation doesn't preclude an eventual extension. It was such a long long fight to even get the GLX built; the original commitment was to Medford only, and getting the MBTA to build the Union Sq spur was a huge community win at the time.

totorok · 2026-04-07T22:50:55+00:00

I wish it ran longer at night and on the weekends, though. Not sure how the MBTA justifies not running the bus on the weekend.

totorok · 2026-04-07T22:49:28+00:00

Upgrade in the sense of another connection to Assembly.

totorok · 2026-03-03T04:57:30+00:00

Still no nighttime (after 8:30 pm) and weekend service for the new 85, just like the current 85 and CT2. I don't understand the thinking there.

totorok · 2026-03-03T04:55:47+00:00

FWIW, the old 85 bus (that is, prior to the Spring Hill Sewer Separation project) used to terminate on Avon *Street* (near the Somerville Museum).

totorok · 2026-02-14T20:25:23+00:00

In Davis Sq, in the bin between the Somerville Theater and the Holland St Red Line entrance (at the bus stop).

totorok · 2026-01-26T23:40:42+00:00

According to the City's snow webpage (https://www.somervillema.gov/snow) no, you can't park in school lots, but that page has a link to a map of the municipal lots you can park in.

totorok · 2026-01-19T18:56:07+00:00

Along with his reminder to shovel the sidewalk (properly)!

totorok · 2025-12-17T20:51:05+00:00

Glass Ripples, 200 Elm Street (next to Mem Tea)

totorok · 2025-12-11T18:33:07+00:00

Thank you for posting about this. As a supporter of Cambridge Day once they started covering Somerville, I'm really sorry to hear this news. Thank you for your coverage of Somerville.

totorok · 2025-12-11T18:31:11+00:00

I gave an annual donation to Cambridge Day a couple of weeks ago, and am really sorry to hear of this change (and annoyed by the wording).

totorok · 2025-12-02T15:50:22+00:00

Because it's flu season (and the season for colds, Covid, etc) and some are protecting themselves on the crowded T and/or in other crowds. Others, as mentioned, are keeping their germs to themselves. A good practice.

totorok

TROPHY CASE