Police seek $60,000 state road‑safety grant; proposal emphasizes crosswalk and bicycle safety

The Somerville Police Department requested council approval to accept a $60,000 municipal road safety grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to support traffic enforcement and community education in FY25.

Sergeant Michael McCary, representing the department, said the grant is flexible and funds may be used for high‑visibility enforcement, targeted safety countermeasures and non‑enforcement community outreach. "The goal of the 2025 municipal road safety grant is to interact with motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians in a positive manner and provide education to the public, focused on protecting vulnerable road users," he said.

Department plans described for the grant include focusing on crosswalk safety with a decoy system, and bicycle‑related infractions such as blocked bike lanes, unsafe passing, dooring and improper merging. McCary said officers will deprioritize enforcement of so‑called "Idaho stop" maneuvers when bicyclists come to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians and cross traffic, and instead focus on behaviors that create risk.

The council approved the grant item on the floor. Councilors pressed department representatives in prior committee meetings to clarify enforcement priorities; Sgt. McCary and Councilor Burnley discussed how the department will report data to distinguish unsafe behavior from lawful cyclist movement.

Why it matters: The grant funds targeted measures to reduce collisions and protect pedestrians and cyclists; the department and councilors signaled a balance of enforcement and non‑enforcement education to protect vulnerable road users.