Locked or Liberated: East Somerville, a Transit-Oriented Development Opportunity

Abstract

Transportation infrastructure has cut off the Inner Belt District of Somerville, Mass., from the rest of the city and has precluded its full development potential. The implementation of the proposed Green Line Extension to Medford and Phase II of the Urban Ring, as well as the development of North Point, are potential catalysts for change. This article describes a vision for reconnecting the Inner Belt District to the rest of Somerville and the nearby technology centers of Cambridge through additional transportation infrastructure changes that would eliminate one of the major barriers to accessing the area.