Boston City Councilor District 6

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About the Candidate

Policy Proposals

Additional Questions

Matt O'Malley*
(pdf of answers)

About the Candidate

1. How do you move around your community and get to where you need to go?

2. What is a particularly dangerous problem or location in your community for people walking, biking, taking transit, or for people with disabilities that you'd like to see addressed?

3. Why do you think people who care about walking, biking, transit, and mobility issues should vote for you?

Matt O'Malley

I travel throughout my district and the city through a variety of modes of transportation. Typically, I commute to work to City Hall and throughout the district via my electric car. Other days, I hold office hours with constituents on MBTA trains, buses, and/or commuter rail. I also enjoy using BlueBikes and walking throughout my community. One of the many benefits of living and working in the country’s third most walkable city is having numerous options beyond just a private vehicle, which allows me to be more connected to my community while reducing my carbon footprint.

D6 is fortunate to contain a sizable portion of the SW Corridor, which includes 5 mi of bike/walking trails. However, some areas in the district benefit less from this & similar resources due to a lack of infrastructural connectivity. Wash & Centre Sts in WR have been particularly dangerous to non-motorists, & I am committed to implementing traffic calming measures to ensure non-motorists of all modes/abilities are safe. After a horrific crash which resulted in the death of a pedestrian, I've been working w/the community, BTD, & businesses in making Centre St. safer through a redesign process.

I've earned the vote of those concerned about mobility & walkability issues based on my record of smart advocacy, from neighborhood slow streets to expanding micromobility. On top of this, I pride myself on my constituent service & accessibility w/in the n'hood. I've been an outspoken advocate in expanding BlueBikes, lead sponsor of bringing e-scooters to Boston (with responsible oversight), called on the state/MBTA to increase funding & provide service upgrades, & made pedestrian safety my top priority. I am currently working on a proposed major redesign of Centre which includes a road diet.

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Policy Proposals

1. How will you ensure implementation of the infrastructure changes needed to slow traffic on your community's streets, and improve crosswalks and intersections to make them safer for people who are walking and using mobility assistive devices?

2. How will you improve the reach, frequency, and quality of public transit in Boston?

3. How will you ensure fast-tracked implementation of a city-wide network of off-street paths and protected bike lanes on major thoroughfares and connecting streets that are safe and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities?

Matt O'Malley

I've been a tireless advocate for slower & safer neighborhood streets. As your Councilor, I have provided 350 lawn signs to residents that say “Please Slow Down Boston” to complement city speed signage. As a Councilor, I have advocated on behalf of residents to ensure that the essentials of good street design are in good repair, from repainting crosswalks to installing new stop signs. I am an ardent supporter of both the city’s Slow Streets and the Complete Streets programs. I look forward to seeing Jamaica Plain’s Centre/South area as a true Main Street through its Complete Streets redesign. I believe Boston needs to strive to meet the ideal standards set out by the National Association of City Transportation Officials when designing streets; whether it be 10-foot wide lanes, 5-foot wide cycle track lanes with a 3-foot buffer, or 12-foot wide, ADA compliant sidewalks with a 6-foot wide pedestrian zone, we need to right-size our city to reinforce the message that our streets are open to everyone. I have also urged the city plant a greater number of street trees, which have been shown to protect sidewalks, reduce crashes, and reduce heat islands, as well as numerous other benefits.

I have been a long-time advocate for expanding the scope and types of mobility options throughout the city of Boston. I have voiced my support for the proposal put forth by the Arborway Committee for Public Transit to expand the MBTA Green Line from its terminus at Heath Street station to Hyde Square. This would provide increased service and ridership to a vital branch of the Green Line. Expanding train service to the city’s designated Latin Quarter would also be an important act of transit and environmental justice, creating direct connectivity between this vital cultural district and downtown. I have also introduced a policy proposal to the City Council to permit dockless scooter companies to operate within the city of Boston. While separate from public transit in itself, expanding micromobility is essential to decreasing private vehicle usage and tackling the first mile/last mile problem that prevents many residents from being able to access key transit hubs. This is felt acutely in Southwest Boston. Finally, I hold monthly office hours on the T, riding a different bus line/train line/commuter rail while meeting with constituents.

My district is fortunate to include a sizable portion of the Southwest Corridor and its dedicated cycle path. The main goal now is to ensure connectivity throughout the neighborhood for all who desire to access this key corridor to the Central Business District, and to allow those outside the neighborhood to access the great local businesses that thrive in the West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill, Roslindale, and Roxbury Main Streets districts. We can achieve this by aggressively pursuing the goals laid out in the Go Boston 2030 plan, as well as making sure that any street redesigns reflect the Complete Streets model. I know that sharrows and bike lanes do not present our streets as inviting to cyclists, and it is therefore essential to create bicycle boulevards and cycle tracks that signal to tentative cyclists that they are welcome and safe. Boston cannot be a true 8 80 City until our cycling population mirrors our greater population as a whole.

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Additional Questions

Click on the categories below for the complete question asked. Click on any answer with a * for further explanation of the candidate's stance.

Do you support:

1. Vision Zero

1. Vision Zero is an approach which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries and has been adopted by Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville, and many other cities across the country. Do you support the principles of Vision Zero policies and funding for their rapid implementation?

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2. State law allowing automated enforcement

2. One key strategy that has been proven to effectively reduce speeding, improve safety, and remove racial bias in traffic enforcement in other states and countries is automated enforcement (i.e. speed cameras and red light cameras). Do you support S.1376, An Act relative to automated enforcement, which if passed would authorize cities and towns in Massachusetts to opt into the use of automated enforcement? To see the full text of the bill, visit malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S1376

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3. Bike Network Plan

3. Do you support the implementation of improved bike facilities identified in your community’s Bike Network Plan or do you support the creation of a Bike Network Plan if none already exists?

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4. Age-friendly walking conditions

4. Do you support creating age-friendly walking conditions in your community -- an issue raised by many seniors as critical to their ability to 'age in community'? If yes, how?

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(more below)

Matt O'Malley

Strongly Support

Strongly Support

Strongly Support

Strongly Support

   

Do you support:

5. Restriction of parking for bus-only lanes

5. Do you support the restriction of on-street parking during rush hour in order to create dedicated bus lanes on certain major thoroughfares where bus riders experience significant delays due to traffic congestion?

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6. New revenue sources

6. Do you support exploring new ways of raising revenue to provide Boston with more tools to improve conditions for people walking, using mobility assistive devices, biking, and using public transit (e.g. increasing the gas tax, implementing congestion pricing, increasing fees on Uber/Lyft)? If yes, please give examples that interest you.

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7. Dynamic parking meter pricing

7. Do you support the rollout of dynamic parking meter pricing in business districts, which would increase meter rates during periods of increased demand, to free up on-street parking and reduce cars "cruising" for open spaces?

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8. Traffic signal timing that prioritizes people walking

8. Boston has many traffic signals that do not work well for pedestrians. Do you support making signal timing safer, easier, and more convenient for people walking and using mobility assistive devices at all paces?

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(more below)

Matt O'Malley

Strongly Support

Strongly Support

Strongly Support

Strongly Support

 

Do you support:

9. Charging for residential parking permits

9. Do you support charging an annual fee for residential parking permits?

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10. Reducing/ eliminating MBTA fares

10. Do you support reducing or eliminating MBTA fares for people with low income?

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11. Ensuring large-scale developments are walkable, resilient, green, and connected

11. Do you support ensuring large-scale developments (including Sullivan Square, the Allston I-90 Interchange, and Suffolk Downs) incorporate the community's desire for walkability, connectivity, open space, and resiliency?

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Matt O'Malley

Strongly Support*

Matt O'Malley

I would support a fee on each second (and subsequent) resident parking permit.

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Strongly Support

Strongly Support

   

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About the Candidate

1. How do you move around your community and get to where you need to go?
Matt O'Malley
I travel throughout my district and the city through a variety of modes of transportation. Typically, I commute to work to City Hall and throughout the district via my electric car. Other days, I hold office hours with constituents on MBTA trains, buses, and/or commuter rail. I also enjoy using BlueBikes and walking throughout my community. One of the many benefits of living and working in the country’s third most walkable city is having numerous options beyond just a private vehicle, which allows me to be more connected to my community while reducing my carbon footprint.
2. What is a particularly dangerous problem or location in your community for people walking, biking, taking transit, or for people with disabilities that you’d like to see addressed?
Matt O'Malley
D6 is fortunate to contain a sizable portion of the SW Corridor, which includes 5 mi of bike/walking trails. However, some areas in the district benefit less from this & similar resources due to a lack of infrastructural connectivity. Wash & Centre Sts in WR have been particularly dangerous to non-motorists, & I am committed to implementing traffic calming measures to ensure non-motorists of all modes/abilities are safe. After a horrific crash which resulted in the death of a pedestrian, I've been working w/the community, BTD, & businesses in making Centre St. safer through a redesign process.
3. Why do you think people who care about walking, biking, transit, and mobility issues should vote for you?
Matt O'Malley
I've earned the vote of those concerned about mobility & walkability issues based on my record of smart advocacy, from neighborhood slow streets to expanding micromobility. On top of this, I pride myself on my constituent service & accessibility w/in the n'hood. I've been an outspoken advocate in expanding BlueBikes, lead sponsor of bringing e-scooters to Boston (with responsible oversight), called on the state/MBTA to increase funding & provide service upgrades, & made pedestrian safety my top priority. I am currently working on a proposed major redesign of Centre which includes a road diet.

Policy Proposals

1. How will you ensure implementation of the infrastructure changes needed to slow traffic on your community’s streets, and improve crosswalks and intersections to make them safer for people who are walking and using mobility assistive devices?
Matt O'Malley
I've been a tireless advocate for slower & safer neighborhood streets. As your Councilor, I have provided 350 lawn signs to residents that say “Please Slow Down Boston” to complement city speed signage. As a Councilor, I have advocated on behalf of residents to ensure that the essentials of good street design are in good repair, from repainting crosswalks to installing new stop signs. I am an ardent supporter of both the city’s Slow Streets and the Complete Streets programs. I look forward to seeing Jamaica Plain’s Centre/South area as a true Main Street through its Complete Streets redesign. I believe Boston needs to strive to meet the ideal standards set out by the National Association of City Transportation Officials when designing streets; whether it be 10-foot wide lanes, 5-foot wide cycle track lanes with a 3-foot buffer, or 12-foot wide, ADA compliant sidewalks with a 6-foot wide pedestrian zone, we need to right-size our city to reinforce the message that our streets are open to everyone. I have also urged the city plant a greater number of street trees, which have been shown to protect sidewalks, reduce crashes, and reduce heat islands, as well as numerous other benefits.
2. How will you improve the reach, frequency, and quality of public transit in Boston?
Matt O'Malley
I have been a long-time advocate for expanding the scope and types of mobility options throughout the city of Boston. I have voiced my support for the proposal put forth by the Arborway Committee for Public Transit to expand the MBTA Green Line from its terminus at Heath Street station to Hyde Square. This would provide increased service and ridership to a vital branch of the Green Line. Expanding train service to the city’s designated Latin Quarter would also be an important act of transit and environmental justice, creating direct connectivity between this vital cultural district and downtown. I have also introduced a policy proposal to the City Council to permit dockless scooter companies to operate within the city of Boston. While separate from public transit in itself, expanding micromobility is essential to decreasing private vehicle usage and tackling the first mile/last mile problem that prevents many residents from being able to access key transit hubs. This is felt acutely in Southwest Boston. Finally, I hold monthly office hours on the T, riding a different bus line/train line/commuter rail while meeting with constituents.
3. How will you ensure fast-tracked implementation of a city-wide network of off-street paths and protected bike lanes on major thoroughfares and connecting streets that are safe and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities?
Matt O'Malley
My district is fortunate to include a sizable portion of the Southwest Corridor and its dedicated cycle path. The main goal now is to ensure connectivity throughout the neighborhood for all who desire to access this key corridor to the Central Business District, and to allow those outside the neighborhood to access the great local businesses that thrive in the West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill, Roslindale, and Roxbury Main Streets districts. We can achieve this by aggressively pursuing the goals laid out in the Go Boston 2030 plan, as well as making sure that any street redesigns reflect the Complete Streets model. I know that sharrows and bike lanes do not present our streets as inviting to cyclists, and it is therefore essential to create bicycle boulevards and cycle tracks that signal to tentative cyclists that they are welcome and safe. Boston cannot be a true 8 80 City until our cycling population mirrors our greater population as a whole.

Additional Questions

1. Vision Zero is an approach which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries and has been adopted by Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville, and many other cities across the country. Do you support the principles of Vision Zero policies and funding for their rapid implementation?
Matt O'Malley
Strongly Support
2. One key strategy that has been proven to effectively reduce speeding, improve safety, and remove racial bias in traffic enforcement in other states and countries is automated enforcement (i.e. speed cameras and red light cameras). Do you support S.1376, An Act relative to automated enforcement, which if passed would authorize cities and towns in Massachusetts to opt into the use of automated enforcement? To see the full text of the bill, go here.
Matt O'Malley
Strongly Support
3. Do you support implementation of all of the Better Bike Corridors and other bike projects in the Go Boston 2030 Plan, and making sure all short-term projects are planned and implemented within three years, and long-term projects are implemented by or before 2030?
Matt O'Malley
Strongly Support
4. Do you support creating age-friendly walking conditions in your community -- an issue raised by many seniors as critical to their ability to “age in community”? If yes, how?
Matt O'Malley
Strongly Support
5. Do you support the restriction of on-street parking during rush hour in order to create dedicated bus lanes on certain major thoroughfares where bus riders experience significant delays due to traffic congestion?
Matt O'Malley
Strongly Support
6. Do you support exploring new ways of raising revenue to provide Boston with more tools to improve conditions for people walking, using mobility assistive devices, biking, and using public transit (e.g. increasing the gas tax, implementing congestion pricing, increasing fees on Uber/Lyft)? If yes, please give examples that interest you.
Matt O'Malley
Strongly Support
7. Do you support the rollout of dynamic parking meter pricing in business districts, which would increase meter rates during periods of increased demand, to free up on-street parking and reduce cars “cruising” for open spaces?
Matt O'Malley
Strongly Support
8. Boston has many traffic signals that do not work well for pedestrians. Do you support making signal timing safer, easier, and more convenient for people walking and using mobility assistive devices at all paces?
Matt O'Malley
Strongly Support
9. Do you support charging an annual fee for residential parking permits?
Matt O'Malley
Somewhat Support
I would support a fee on each second (and subsequent) resident parking permit.
10. Do you support reducing or eliminating MBTA fares for people with low income?
Matt O'Malley
Strongly Support
11. Do you support ensuring large-scale developments (including Sullivan Square, the Allston I-90 Interchange, and Suffolk Downs) incorporate the community's desire for walkability, connectivity, open space, and resiliency?
Matt O'Malley
Strongly Support