Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition

Kim Janey

I do not own a car so I rely on public transportation to get around our City. Fortunately, the bus stop closest to my home has 4 different bus routes. I live within a 12 minute walk to Dudley Station, the largest bus depot in the Commonwealth, and a 25 minute walk to the nearest train station.

Generally speaking I would like for the culture of our city to be much more people friendly, less car-centric. It is important that we embrace alternative methods of transportation and build infrastructure that supports multimodal transit. The plans for Melnea Cass Blvd and Dudley Square are worth noting, as they incorporate multiple modes of transportation. I am also proud of my work to help residents with their concerns, whether getting a handicapped parking sign in front of a neighbor’s home, or getting a crosswalk installed for senior citizens in Roxbury, or getting a sidewalks repaired, that previously was causing injury to senior citizens and disabled residents.

As someone dependent on the MBTA, I have firsthand knowledge of its shortcomings. I have been a strong advocate and ally on transportation equity issues. We need to do more to improve the speed and efficiency of our public transit system. We also need to increase dedicated bus lanes and expand protected bike lanes. This requires resources and a commitment to equity. As the City Councilor of a district who is heavily dependent on public transportation, I will continue to prioritize bringing together neighborhood residents and city transportation officials to tackle street-level problems, from traffic enforcement to improving our infrastructure investment.

Kim Janey

I see transportation equity as an economic justice issue and I’m proud of the work that I’ve done. In my first term, in responding to constituent concerns, I’ve had sidewalks repaired, crosswalks and handicap parking signs installed. I’ve also advocated for systemic improvements, including investments in our streets, sidewalks, and bicycle infrastructure. Additionally, I successfully advocated for expanding Dudley Square Complete Streets to include Melnea Cass Boulevard. In my next term, I look forward to continuing to work with advocates and residents to push for improvements.

While public transportation is largely viewed as a state issue, there is a lot we can do at the local level to improve our transportation system, beginning with improving our infrastructure. Our transportation system gets hundreds of thousands of riders everyday who use it to get to work, events or home. There is no reason why our transit system does not have the resources to be reliable, efficient and green. On the council, I have advocated for the 28 MBTA Bus to be fare free alongside my colleague, Michelle Wu. This hearing order aims to remove barriers and increase access on this key economic corridor. We also need to explore dedicated bus lanes for this corridor.

I will continue to advocate for improving sidewalks, curb-cuts, and crosswalks for greater ease and accessibility for all who use our roads and sidewalks. I will continue to work with residents, advocates, and city officials to ensure that new safety infrastructure is added equitably. I will also monitor the implementation of infrastructure improvements to Melnea Cass Blvd and work with residents and neighborhood groups to explore the Blue Hill Avenue Corridor. It is also important to note that I push developers to make investments in the public realm and I supported the advocacy of residents pushing for improvements to intersection of Washington Street and Mass Ave on the Roxbury/South End border, as the developer shared plans to rehab the Alexandra Hotel.