2022 Governor Candidates

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Mobility/Housing Story

Short Answer Questions

"Do You Support" Questions

Candidates proceeding to the general election on November 8th are indicated with †

Sonia Chang-Diaz
no answers submitted

Geoff Diehl †
no answers submitted

Chris Doughty, a white man with white hair, wearing glasses, a plaid shirt, and a down vest, smiles at the camera. He is sitting at the counter of a diner, with people at tables visible in the background.

Chris Doughty
pdf of answers

Maura Healey †
no answers submitted

Scott Khourie
no answers submitted

Dianna Ploss †
no answers submitted

Kevin Reed †
no answers submitted

Here is the questionnaire we released to candidates, and we created a glossary for some of the terms used in the questionnaire.

Click on a question to read the candidate's answer.

What is your mobility/housing story?

1a. Which of the following modes of transportation do you use regularly in Boston? (Check the top 3.)

Chris Doughty

Car

Subway

Commuter rail

Bus

Bike (bike-share or personal bicycle)

Mobility device

Walking

Rideshare

Moped/motorcycle

Scooter

Carpool

Other

1b. What types of housing have you lived in or owned throughout your life? (Check all that apply.)

Chris Doughty

Duplex/Triple-decker

4-to-6-unit building

Over-six-unit apartment building

As a renter

As a landlord

As a home owner

Housing insecure

Single-family home

Public housing / Section 8

Deed-restricted affordable

Urban

Suburban

Rural

Other

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Short Answer Questions

2. How do you see the issues of housing, climate, and transportation connecting and how would you work to align them??

Chris Doughty

As Governor, I will always start with ensuring our economy has ample good jobs for our citizens throughout the state. With good jobs comes opportunity for stable and reliable housing. In addition, government has a duty to ensure available housing for our more needy citizens. The ideal housing is near the place of employment to maximize the quality of life and to minimize travel time and cost. When this is not possible, easy and accessible transportation is critical.

3. Transportation is the largest emitter of greenhouse gas in Massachusetts. At the same time, congestion rates have quickly returned to pre-pandemic highs. What is your plan to reduce congestion in the state of Massachusetts?

Chris Doughty

I will do the following: 1) Increase staffing of traffic engineers and urban planners to help reduce congestion. This may include a) Smart lighting technology b) road widening and c) road design. 2) Invest in affordable and sustainable mass transit. Please see my recently announced MBTA plan on my website.

4. What is your vision to increase transit service across the state, not just for the MBTA but also for Regional Transportation Authorities (RTAs)?

Chris Doughty

First, I seek to build a strong and robust economy so people can live close to their work. This improves quality of life and reduces congestion. For example, I would like to see a stronger economy in central and western mass so the citizens can work near their homes and not have to travel into Boston. Second, is to address our lack of more affordable housing. I will be publishing my affordable housing plan shortly. Third, allow for more competition with the drive for hire model (uber, lyft, etc). Fourth, implement improved technology for ease of transportation borrowing from cities like London.

5. Infrastructure in Massachusetts needs to be resilient for our climate future—our bridges and roads, as well as bus service are crucial in the event of climate emergencies and in meeting long term climate goals. How will you ensure that transit agencies, departments of transportation, and other agencies like the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), have the resources they need to meet their climate goals?

Chris Doughty

Currently, our state government spends too much time on paperwork and regulation (non value added) and not enough on actually fixing problems (value added). I will reduce our non value added regulations and paperwork to allow for greater investment in actual projects such as bridges, roads and mass transit.

6. Growing evidence shows that police enforcement is not effective at improving traffic safety, and that there are a number of other successful tools and strategies that are more effective than police enforcement (see glossary for more information). What alternatives to policing will you prioritize and how will you shift resources to support those alternatives to meaningfully improve traffic safety in Massachusetts?

Chris Doughty

We will begin to invest more in smart traffic light technology, cameras and road sensors to monitor traffic safety. We will borrow from other cities and states that have moved ahead of us with these technologies.

7. State owned roads, including parkways managed by DCR, are some of the most dangerous roads in the state. How will you make meaningful improvements on these state roadways that will create safer conditions for vulnerable users, particularly older adults, people with disabilities, and children?

Chris Doughty

The DCR will be included in the annual budgeting process. We will also begin a "risk analysis" for all capital projects. Public safety for our citizens must receive the highest priority for investments in infrastructure.

8. Finding housing in Massachusetts is already challenging for most people, but for older adults and people with disabilities it can be nearly impossible. What policies do you support that strengthen accessible and affordable housing for people of all ages and abilities?

Chris Doughty

In summary we will focus on five pillars: 1) Regional Zoning plans to identify where higher density housing should be placed 2) simplification of building permitting 3) elimination of all builder impact fees and cost increases on building costs 4) simplification of licensures for skilled trades needed to build more housing 5) tax incentives for higher density housing.

9. How would you provide more expansive resources and options for supportive and transitional housing for unhoused folks, as well as comprehensive services and housing options once people are ready to move on from transitional housing?

Chris Doughty

I spent many hours discussing this with the Pine Street Inn and the coalition for homeless shelters. I will rely on the advice of subject experts on this issue. We will simplify the process steps to move from transitional housing to permanent housing. Also, we will reduce the causes of homelessness by using a data driven approach and ensuring that people have access to services needed and most importantly, meaningful employment and service opportunities.

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"Do You Support" Questions

1. Do you support overturning the State’s rent control ban to address rising rents?

Chris Doughty

Strongly Oppose

Rent Control causes landlords to divert investments to other states and investments. This reduces our housing supply and causes rents to increase further. The answer is to increase the supply of housing and to incentive landlords to help add more housing.

2. Do you support a statewide optional transfer fee?

Chris Doughty

Strongly Oppose

We are already one of the most expensive states in America and we have some of the highest taxes. We need to be aggressively reducing the costs and burdens of living here not adding more burdens and taxes on each other.

3. Do you support the Tenant Option to Purchase Act?

Chris Doughty

Strongly Oppose

Washington DC has tried this approach with limited success. It largely causes investors to stop investing in the market which caused rents to escalate further. It also enriches the legal community as every multi- unit transaction is now complicated by legislative mandate.

4. Do you support legalizing the creation of duplexes, triple deckers, and small apartment buildings in all cities and towns across the Commonwealth?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Support

I support any practical idea to increase the supply of housing. We need to allow the local towns to have some input and influence; however, they still need to be active participants in fixing the problem.

5. Do you support Accessory Dwelling Units being allowed by-right, in all 351 cities and towns?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Support

Again, I support increasing the supply of housing, but the local towns need some input into how this is implemented in their respective area.

6. Based on new zoning requirements, all 175 MBTA communities are required to have one multi-family zoning district. Executive Order 215 gives the ability to withhold funds for communities that are unreasonably restrictive of new housing (learn more in glossary). Do you support the use of Executive Order 215 to withhold discretionary development related grants across all state agencies from communities that fail to comply with their legal obligations under the new MBTA communities law?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Support

I like 80% of this legislation but there are cases where this does not make sense. For example, with small towns or towns with limited available land near mass transit. I also believe that the other towns outside of the 175 MBTA communities should also also help increase the housing supply.

7. Do you support allocating funds to retrofit existing housing in order to improve energy efficiency and meet climate goals?

Chris Doughty

Strongly Support

Yes, we should incentive homeowners, landlords and businesses to reduce the demand for energy, which is limited in our State.

8. Do you support studying the feasibility of statewide fare free transit service and allocating resources to expand fare free transit pilots across the state?

Chris Doughty

Neither Support nor Oppose

I am open to this idea. However, as outlined in my MBTA plan, we need to recognize the current financial distress of our existing system. I will need some time as Governor to significantly reduce the debt burdens and underfunded pensions before reducing the income sources even further.

9. Do you support a low-income fare option for the MBTA?

Chris Doughty

Strongly Support

Yes, we should offer lower fares for low income riders.

10. Do you support statewide free bus service on the MBTA and RTAs?

Chris Doughty

Neither Support nor Oppose

Again, I like this idea after we address the looming debt problems.

11. Though RTAs cover 55% of Massachusetts residents, the RTAs collectively receive less than 7% of state transit funding. Due to lack of stable funding, many RTAs are unable to offer service 7 days per week. Do you support increasing funding for the RTAs to expand and enhance transit service across the state?

Chris Doughty

Strongly Support

The RTA's offer a valuable service and should be funded adequately.

12. Do you support restructuring and potentially replacing the MBTA Board to ensure proper accountability and increase public engagement?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Support

Please see my MBTA plan posted on my website for me[sic] details of my MBTA plan.

13. Do you support banning pretextual traffic stops?

Chris Doughty

Strongly Oppose

Our police need as many tools as possible to keep our citizens safe. At the same time, we need well trained and experienced police officers.

14. Do you support ending the practice of debt-based driver’s license suspensions and incarceration in Massachusetts?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Support

I believe any meaningful reform will need to distinguish between those who "can not pay" vs those who are "unwilling to pay." I believe those who are unwilling to pay should still have consequences.

15. Do you support rebates and other policies that make it more affordable and accessible to purchase and/or ride electric bikes?

Chris Doughty

Strongly Oppose

I do not believe this is a good use of taxpayer funds as bikes are easily transferable and sold.

16. Subsidies for Electric Vehicles (EVs) have gone disproportionately to higher income earners in Inner Core communities. Do you support providing subsidies for low and moderate income drivers, as well as benefits for those who can't/don't drive or own vehicles?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Oppose

I do not believe this is a good use of taxpayer funding at this time. Since electric vehicles are very expensive to purchase and operate, this is largely a subsidize only for the wealthy.

17. Do you support the construction of an electrified rail tunnel (known as North-South Rail Link) that would connect North Station and South Station and allow commuter rail trains to run through?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Support

I like this idea, however, we must first address the debt and pension crises in the T before we tackle more expansions.

18. Do you support a new state supported service connecting Boston to Springfield and the Berkshires (known as East-West or West-East Rail)?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Support

I like the idea but we need to address our current safety and fiscal situation first.

19. Do you support electrifying the MBTA Commuter Rail with a goal of completing electrification by 2040 and running "regional rail" style service with frequent trains running all day?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Support

Again, good idea but we need to address our safety and fiscal issues. We also need to increase our supply of electricity on our grid before we add more demand.

20. People who use the commuter rail often rely on personal bicycles to complete the first and last miles of their commute, and most trains have significant limitations on timing and capacity to accommodate bicycles. Do you support expanding opportunities for people to bring personal bicycles on commuter rail trains?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Oppose

Many times there is not enough room on the T for Bikes. At the same time, there may be certain times of days and routes where there is room for bikes. Worth additional study.

21. A number of states use Regional Ballot Initiatives (RBIs) to create local funding opportunities for transportation improvement projects. Do you support allowing cities and towns in Massachusetts to utilize Regional Ballot Initiatives?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Support

I support this, however, some towns already carry a high debt load and would need to meet certain liquidity ratios before spending more on RBI's.

22. Do you support congestion pricing?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Oppose

MA is already one of the most expensive states in America. This is causing economic hardship on so many. My preference is to reduce the cost of living here and the congestion. Although, I am willing to review this idea if all other ideas are impossible.

23. Do you support user fees for Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), like Uber and Lyft, to help fund transportation projects?

Chris Doughty

Somewhat Oppose

I would like to make MA more affordable. These costs will be transferred to riders, some of whom are lower income riders to and from night shifts.

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