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Mark Niedergang
(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? |
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Mark Niedergang |
Mostly I bicycle. We also have a car, a Honda Fit, which I use very occasionally. I also walk and take the subway and bus. |
I would need 60,000 words to describe all the dangerous locations in Somerville for pedestrians and bicyclists and at least 6,000 just in my ward, Ward 5. My biggest safety concerns in my ward at this time are Lowell St and Albion and Lowell and Hudson, and Morrison Avenue between Willow and Cedar. But Cedar Street is also dangerous, especially with all the traffic being diverted onto it due to the Ball Square Bridge closure. |
Well, for one thing, I am the only one on the ballot -- I do not have an opponent. But seriously, I have been championing traffic calming and pedestrian and bicyclist safety and working closely and intensely with colleagues on the Council and scores of Somerville residents who care deeply about this. Traffic calming is the #1 issue in Ward 5, and I have pushed hard for more of it. The Administration has added staff and budget, and it's now one of the City's top concerns. I am also the Chair of the Council Traffic and Parking Cmte. |
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? |
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Mark Niedergang |
I have been advocating for these changes for years. Both general, citywide, and in specific locations in my ward. I can't ensure this, unfortunately. Somerville has a strong Mayor form of government and we Councilors simply have limited power. But I use every resource at my disposal to advocate for safer streets for peds and cyclists -- resolutions, op-ed articles in the local paper, speeches, and I speak directly, face-to-face and forcefully with the Mayor and the Director of Mobility about these issues frequently. We are making progress in Somerville, but way too slowly. I work with activists and advocates to make as much noise as possible and focus on as much improvement as possible. I served as the City Council rep on the Somerville Bicycle Cmte for two years and worked with Councilor Stephanie Hirsch to create an extemely active Pedestrian and Transit Advocacy Cmte, and to get the City to establish formally such a Committee as part of the City government. |
I've been a supporter of the Green Line Extension for 20 years and it is finally happening. I have been very involved with the GLX Community Working Group which meets with GLX project leaders monthly. I have supported initiatives by the Administration to improve bus service in Somerville by developing exclusive bus/bike lanes, which is happening this summer on Broadway, and in their efforts to work with the MBTA to improve bus routes and service here. |
The Administration just asked for funds in the FY 2020 budget to creat such a plan and I supported that and will help with development of the plan in any way I can. |
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.
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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) |
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Mark Niedergang |
Strongly Support*
Mark NiedergangI have been involved in the Vision Zero process here and been to many meetings about it. click outside popup to close |
Strongly Support*
Mark NiedergangI was the lead sponsor of a Somerville City Council resolution in support of this bill. The resolution passed unanimously. click outside popup to close |
Strongly Support |
Strongly Support*
Mark NiedergangI have participated in and helped to sustain a volunteer Somerville Pedestrian and Transit Advocacy Group, and advpcated successfully to get the Administration to create such a Committee as part of the City government and to staff that Committee. click outside popup to close |
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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 |
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Mark Niedergang |
Strongly Support |
Strongly Support*
Mark NiedergangI would support all of these. Unfortunately, Somerville does not have the power to implement any of them on our own, but I have and will continue to advocate for them at the state level. click outside popup to close |
Strongly Support |
Strongly Support*
Mark NiedergangAs the Chair of the City Council Traffic and Parking Committee, one of my top goals for the next two years is to bring the parking revolution to Somerville. I have been advocating for more progressive parking policies -- policies that would incentivize residents to NOT own cars -- for years. The Administration put funds in the budget for a parking study, which I supported, and I am looking forward to shaping that study and to implementing the findings. This stuff is not rocket science but politically parking is the third rail of politics in Somerville so it is hard to make changes. click outside popup to close |
Strongly Support |
About the Candidate
Policy Proposals
Additional Questions
I have been involved in the Vision Zero process here and been to many meetings about it.
I was the lead sponsor of a Somerville City Council resolution in support of this bill. The resolution passed unanimously.
I have participated in and helped to sustain a volunteer Somerville Pedestrian and Transit Advocacy Group, and advpcated successfully to get the Administration to create such a Committee as part of the City government and to staff that Committee.
I would support all of these. Unfortunately, Somerville does not have the power to implement any of them on our own, but I have and will continue to advocate for them at the state level.
As the Chair of the City Council Traffic and Parking Committee, one of my top goals for the next two years is to bring the parking revolution to Somerville. I have been advocating for more progressive parking policies -- policies that would incentivize residents to NOT own cars -- for years. The Administration put funds in the budget for a parking study, which I supported, and I am looking forward to shaping that study and to implementing the findings. This stuff is not rocket science but politically parking is the third rail of politics in Somerville so it is hard to make changes.