September 2025

The goal is to implement both near-term quick-build improvements and longer-term design options along the path, at key intersections and at the two Green Line station entrances on the path.

As part of this project, we intend to:

Analyze community member inquiries related to issues on the community path, understand traffic patterns and uses of the path, and study the existing conditions

Collect public feedback about safety issues, solicit comments and ideas about possible safety interventions for the path.

Work with City departments – including Department of Public Works, Engineering Department, Parking Department, Public Space and Urban Forestry and the Fire department – to identify quick-build solutions such as new pavement markings and new street signage as well as possible permanent improvements to increase safety while still enabling maintenance and providing emergency access.

This work will help the City to continue to meet our Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

2016

2015

In 2013, construction began on a 0.3-mile extension of the Somerville Community Path from Cedar Street to Lowell Street. The official dedication ceremony occurs August 19, 2015.

2000

Design of the Belmont-Cambridge-Somerville Path Project begins. This project will accomplish improvements for multiple paths:

* Fitchburg Cutoff Path: Formalize the path, complete the missing Bridge

* Minuteman/Linear Park Connector: Cantilever bridge / path widening along Yates Pond, new paving to delineate the path

* Linear Park: Improve safety of Mass Ave crossing

* Somerville Community Path: Improved connections from Linear Park

1994

The Somerville Community Path opened 0.6 miles from Davis Square to Cedar Street in 1994.

1990

November 15, 1989

Fall 1986

Fall 1986

The Linear Park Extension from Harvey Street, Cambridge to Alewife Station, Cambridge opens. Linear Park is now sometimes formerly known as the Davis Square to Alewife Linear Park.

Over time, Cambridge will begin to refer to the Cambridge section as simply "Linear Park", and Somerville will refer to the Somervile section, along with the Somerville extensions, as the "Somerville Community Path".

December 20, 1985

This Easement relates to surface land above MBTA Red Line train tracks in Somerville, from the Cambridge Border to Holland Street. Like the previous Easement Agreement in Cambridge, the Grant of Easement to Somerville established that the Somerville property be used as “public open space by pedestrians and bicyclists.” This Somerville Grant of Easement was recorded with the Registry of Deeds on September 11, 1987.

October 17, 1985

Linear Park opens, from Davis Square, Somerville to Harvey Street, North Cambridge.

Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Frederick Salvucci, General Manager of the MBTA James O’Leary, Mayor of Cambridge Francis Duehay, and Mayor of Somerville Eugene Brune dedicate the brand new Linear Park to Cambridge and Somerville for the enjoyment of bicyclists and pedestrians. A bronze plaque was erected in Linear Park memorializing the dedication.

April 2, 1984

The MBTA and Cambridge enter into an Agreement (Easement Agreement) pertaining to the Property. The Easement Agreement granted Cambridge a permanent surface easement on the Property to be used as “a walkway for pedestrians and bicyclists.” The surface land subject to the Easement Agreement between Davis Square and Alewife MBTA stations was named Linear Park.

1982

In the 1980s, the MBTA extends the Red Line. This expansion ran the subway from Harvard Square in Cambridge, through Porter Square, Davis Square in Somerville, ending at Alewife Station in Cambridge. The tracks are placed underground, so MBTA investigates making the surface right-of-way available for passive uses by Cambridge and Somerville. In 1982-1983, plans calling for a pedestrian and bicycle pathway emerge.