Incumbents are indicated with *
Jump to:
JT Scott
(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? |
|
JT Scott |
I walk. Probably 6 times a year, I bike. If I'm leaving Somerville, I take public transit. If I'm leaving transit served areas, I'll drive. |
Dangerous signalling and crossing patterns at major intersections near schools and day cares in Ward 2 - where concurrent crossing with leading pedestrian interval has been implemented without consultation with the neighborhood - must be rolled back to pedestrian exclusive signal timing to reduce crosswalk conflicts and safety hazards. Implementation of HAWK signals at a crosswalk on Beacon Street instead of a standard red light - again over major protest from residents - has significantly decreased compliance and created a safety risk. There's a lot more than I can fit in 600 characters. |
I have tirelessly and proactively pursued pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements in Ward 2, and worked with residents as well as bike/ped and disability advocates on developing better solutions. Pushing against the inertia and undercapacity of our Transportation department is exhausting but necessary work, and grassroots organizing is the only way to overcome it without strong leadership from the executive (Mayor), which we lack. The residents of Ward 2 need someone who demonstrates leadership, tenacity, and vision on these issues - and I have done that. |
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 Somerville? |
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? |
|
JT Scott |
Again, grassroots organizing seems to be the only way to shift the inertia of our Transportation department and our Mayor. Direct action taken by neighbors implementing Neighborways projects is a good start, but the recent victory at the Washington/Beacon intersection shows that vocal resident advocacy is the only tool that can move this administration. I was happy to bring those issues forward in the Traffic and Parking Committee in my role on the City Council, and will continue to both develop neighborhood organizing capacity and give those advocates a venue to be heard at City Hall. |
This is largely a regional issue that requires state investment, and I'm glad to work with our state delegation to continue to press the Governor for more MBTA funding. However, just within Somerville, prioritizing deployment of bus/bike lanes and temporal bus lanes can improve bus service within city limits. |
I have been advocating for the robust completion of the Community PATH all the way through Lechmere and beyond. Disappointingly, the Green Line Extension plan is falling far short of what should be delivered in terms of connectivity, accessibility, usability, and width - especially on the branch between Washington St Station and Lechmere. I am working with advocate groups and our state delegation and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley's office to continue elevating these issues while the opportunity remains to get the project done right. |
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? click outside popup to close |
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 click outside popup to close |
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? click outside popup to close |
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? click outside popup to close |
(more below) |
|
|
JT Scott |
Strongly Support |
Strongly Support |
Strongly Support |
Strongly Support*
JT ScottA strong emphasis on pedestrian crossing conditions and a de-prioritization of car traffic is necessary to produce conditions that can accommodate seniors, children, and other mobility challenged pedestrians. I support designalization of several major intersections, and street redesigns that emphasize pedestrian accessibility. click outside popup to close |
|
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? click outside popup to close |
6. New revenue sources 6. Do you support exploring new ways of raising revenue to provide Somerville 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. click outside popup to close |
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? click outside popup to close |
8. Raising residential parking permit fee 8. Do you support raising the annual fee for residential parking permits? click outside popup to close |
9. Reducing/ eliminating MBTA fares 9. Do you support reducing or eliminating MBTA fares for people with low income? click outside popup to close |
|
|
JT Scott |
Strongly Support*
JT ScottAs mentioned earlier, creation of temporal bus lanes is a significant measure that we can take locally to improve transit performance and ridership even in the absence of investment at the state level in public transit. click outside popup to close |
Strongly Support*
JT ScottI'm open to every example given and then some. click outside popup to close |
Strongly Support |
Strongly Support*
JT ScottWe are dramatically undercharging for the use of this scarce public resource, relative to the cost to privately store vehicles. click outside popup to close |
Strongly Support |
About the Candidate
Policy Proposals
Additional Questions
A strong emphasis on pedestrian crossing conditions and a de-prioritization of car traffic is necessary to produce conditions that can accommodate seniors, children, and other mobility challenged pedestrians. I support designalization of several major intersections, and street redesigns that emphasize pedestrian accessibility.
As mentioned earlier, creation of temporal bus lanes is a significant measure that we can take locally to improve transit performance and ridership even in the absence of investment at the state level in public transit.
I'm open to every example given and then some.
We are dramatically undercharging for the use of this scarce public resource, relative to the cost to privately store vehicles.