Somerville transit committee softly backs T-shaped design for Magoon Square intersection

Finance Committee · Meeting of May 21, 2026

Somerville's Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee took a straw poll favoring a T-shaped intersection redesign at Magoon Square over a roundabout or simplified X configuration. Transportation Planner Lily Wirth presented three concept design options for the Broadway-Magoon complete streets project, which covers Broadway in Winter Hill from Winchester Street to Central Street and will include raised crosswalks, protected bike lanes, bus stop relocations, and sidewalk reconstruction. In a non-binding show of hands, roughly ten members indicated they could support the T design, eight supported the roundabout, and zero supported the X.

The committee's design review subcommittee, led by member Vitor, reported that the X "doesn't look like it solves almost anything," while the T's more complex signal phasing drew the caution that "everything gets into gridlock if they're not" set correctly. The committee also reached informal consensus to draft a June letter backing extended weekend service on MBTA Route 85.

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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of May 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.