Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition

Elizabeth Breadon

Walk, 57 bus and T, driver hybrid vehicle

There are no crosswalks on Washington Street between Oak Square and Langley. This is a disaster in the making. Bike/Bus lanes are needed for all major roads and bikes lanes where there are no buses. Crosswalks on main streets are not shoveled after snow making it impossible or treacherous for people in wheelchair or using crutches or cane. The B Line is so slow that people use uber et al instead. Consolidating some of its many stops will help.

Of all the Allston Brighton candidates I was the only one who worked with AB Health Collaborative on establishing the Brighton Avenue Bus Lane. I have also called Boston Transportation Dept about monitoring/ticketing/towing cars that park in this lane. Having been a physical therapist for people with disabilities for most of my career I am especially sensitive to mobility challenges and potential fixes. I am also an abiding environmentalist and will do all I can to improve public transportation and bicycle safety to take as many cars as possible off our roads.

Craig Cashman

Despite having to young children my wife and I downsized to one car two years ago. Before I began running for this seat, I either walked or biked to Boston Landing and used the commuter rail to get downtown for work.

Oak Square is particularly dangerous place to cross with difficult visibility because of illegally parked cars/trucks and to so many points on entry into the intersection. I would like to see more Crosswalk warning systems in areas around the neighborhood. While work has been done, we need to continue to make ADA accessible improvements to pedestrian ramps on sidewalks in our neighborhood and we need to begin to invest in raised crossings to improve safety but also sow down traffic.

I have first hand experience working on transportation issues in this neighborhood. I took part in the early meetings where the idea of commuter rail service at Boston Landing were discussed and got to see it become a reality. I got to write a letter with my colleagues at the State House advocating for West Station now and not 2040, while also calling for Harvard University to make a significant investment towards construction. I intend to build upon Harvard's investment of $58M by pushing more public-private partnership with other institutions, Kendall Square and the Longwood medical area.

Elizabeth Breadon

The Brighton Ave Bus lane started with a group of dedicated volunteers gathering data. My initial steps would be gathering information by holding town hall meetings on transportation, sending a Survey Monkey questionnaire to residents, asking on Twitter and Facebook, meeting with D9 BPD and BTD, asking school crossing teams and making sure residents know to call my office to report issues. Then I would work with Public Works on a priority list and schedule for short term fixes and capital repairs that need to go into the budget. Allston-Brighton has been out-of-sight and out-of-mind- for too long at City Hall.

First, I will ride every bus and T line I Allston Brighton, although I already have. Then, I'll collaborate with other members of the Council to publicize to problems and request upgrades in service. I will also collaborate with the Boston delegation and communicate specific needs and potential dangers to leadership at the State House and urge constituents to do the same. I believe that many squeaky wheels will get the grease.

I think the most effective way of accomplishing these goals is for members of the Council to work together, rather than negotiating deals for their own areas, and to enlist the mayor and the heads of Parks and Environmental Dept. I would enlist public support by asking that each BPS high school take part in designing and recommending where paths and bike lanes could go. I would use their work as part of a public relations campaign for the project.

Craig Cashman

Boston needs to begin implementing raised crossings to improve safety for pedestrians in the city of Boston but also to slow down traffic on neighborhood streets. A Raised crossing will slow down traffic on Kenrick Street at the entrance to Chandler's pond where there is currently no safe place to cross between the Newton town line and Lake Street. The rampant cut through traffic on Portsmouth St. will be slowed with a raised crossing from Waverly Apartments to the Portsmouth Street Playground. We also need to implement more pedestrian crosswalk warning systems like the one at Hano St. and Cambridge St. near the the Union Square Fire Station. This was put in place after the death of a 12 year-old BPS student and we should not wait for another tragedy to mobilize and realize these improvement. There are feature we need for improved safety for all.

I will always be an advocate for bringing Boston's public transit into the 21st century. We need to invest in electrifying the commuter rail, expand this service to more areas and increasing the frequency on these lines. This will relieve some of the stress put on our dated subway system, our buses and our congested roadways. I will work with state officials and be a vocal supporter of public transit in City Hall. We can no longer turn a blind eye to the MBTAs increasing issues and need to continue to be proactive when coming up with the necessary solutions. Locally we can also continue to push public-private partnership by pushing for increased shuttle service among the development community. If developer is going to promote a project as transit oriented they should be prepared to make significant investment locally in public transit.

I will continue the already on-going collaboration with mobility activists in city hall and always work to champion these improvements across multiple city agencies. As the city, but Allston Brighton in particular, moves through the current wave of development we need to call upon this community to make a significant investment in these types of infrastructure features. We need to build infrastructure for future and that begins with thoughtful and comprehensive planning.