Council committee to accept $240,664 in ride‑hail surcharge for Vision Zero street safety projects

The Central City Council Finance Committee on Oct. 7 agreed to recommend acceptance of $240,664.10 from the Transportation Network Company (TNC) special revenue fund to support Vision Zero street‑safety work.

Director Brad Rawson of the mobility division told the committee the Commonwealth collects a per‑trip surcharge on ride‑hail trips and redistributes a portion — typically about 10¢ per trip that begins in the city — to municipalities. Rawson said Somerville has historically received between $200,000 and $300,000 from that special revenue source and that state law requires the funds be used to mitigate negative impacts of ride‑hailing services.

Rawson described three common uses for the funds: design and engineering for Safe Streets projects; planning or data collection to support design work; and project implementation, including purchases such as flex posts and pavement markings. He told the committee the Commonwealth’s disbursement cycle runs about 15 months behind, so the appropriation covered trips that began in calendar year 2024 and arrived to the city in mid‑2025.

Councilor Mabaugh asked whether the TNC money would offset existing capital improvement project (CIP) budgets or serve as an additional, supplemental source. Rawson said the TNC funds should be considered supplemental to the mobility division’s operating budget and that they typically support the city’s quick‑build program, which is not funded through the regular operating budget.

The committee laid the item on the table to recommend approval and included the item in a final batch vote that approved agenda items 1–14.