The traffic and parking committee discussed pedestrian safety improvements on McGrath Highway and the planned installation of flex posts to separate reduced travel lanes.

Director Rawson said MassDOT’s resurfacing project includes lane reductions on McGrath that provide pedestrian safety benefits and that flex posts are in the contractor’s contract and currently scheduled for installation this coming construction season. Rawson said the city prefers spring installation but could accept fall if necessary; staff are advocating for earlier installation.

Councilor Wilson and Councilor Burnley raised concerns that flex posts are less robust than concrete separators and asked about city conversations with MassDOT. Rawson said Somerville officials and the state delegation have advocated for heavier, permanent separators but that MassDOT has treated the current deployment as a pilot using lower‑cost, easier‑to‑install flex posts. He said the longer‑term McGrath reconstruction—cited in the meeting as an approximately $130 million project currently scheduled to start in 2028—would be the likely venue for more durable separators.