Boston City Council: District 1
Candidates
†Will proceed to the municipal elections on Nov. 7
Sections
About the Candidates
Do you personally walk to destinations in your community? If yes, how often do you do so?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| I am car free, so every day |
I am a runner and frequently—every week—travel along sidewalks of streets near my East Boston residence as well as through East Boston’s beautiful parks. I also walk to restaurants and social functions in my neighborhoods. |
I grew up in the North End – the neighborhood where I live to this day. Before taking a leave of absence for my campaign, I worked at City Hall. I walked to work most days and I walk my daughter to school. Growing up in this community taught me to prioritize walking as my primary mode of transportation. |
Do you personally travel by/ use public transit to get around? If yes, which trains and buses do you routinely use?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| The Blue Line, orangle line, red and green. Buses include the 120, 116, 117, 111, 121 |
Yes, I frequently use the Blue Line to commute to work. |
Campaigning across Charlestown, East Boston, and the North End, I frequently use public transit to travel from neighborhood to neighborhood. I usually walk from the North End to Charlestown and take the Blue Line from the North End/Downtown to East Boston. If I’m traveling from East Boston directly to Charlestown, I will often take the Blue Line to the Orange Line. |
Do you personally bike in your community or commute by bike to other communities? If no, would you be willing to give it a try periodically, e.g. once or twice per month?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
No |
No |
| Absolutely, I would love for Hubway to expand to Chelsea, letting me get to work! |
I do not usually travel by bike. I would be willing to try biking. |
Walking is my primary mode of transit, but I would certainly be open to biking periodically. |
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Policy Proposals
How will you work to establish funding for 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?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| In East Boston I would like to raise the cost of a street cleaning ticket from $40 to $90, and remove towing. This would provide additional funding for infrastructure investment, while lowering the cost to residents. Also, charge a fee (less than $10) for resident parking permits. |
First, I will continue existing city support for Slow Street measures and transportation improvements. Understanding that these issues intersect with transportation, public health and the environment I will work to leverage these departments programmatic activities, grant applications, community benefits funds from new development and additional private capital. I will review proposals by advocates and support raising new revenues through a variety of mechanisms, some of which are detailed later in the questionnaire. |
I support the Fair Share Amendment that would raise and direct necessary funds toward investments in public transit and education. I will use my role on the City Council to ensure that the City of Boston is investing wisely in transportation infrastructure that alleviates traffic congestion and prioritizes safe passage for residents. I supported the speed limit reduction embraced by Mayor Walsh and the City Council, and I believe that the City should be looking to innovative and effective technologies that will make our streets safer for all residents. |
How will you improve the reach, frequency, and quality of public transit in your city/town?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| By creating a “Boston Inner Harbor Ferry” to connect areas of the city that do not easily connect. Imagine living in Charlestown and taking a boat to the Seaport, or living in East Boston and taking a boat to the Red Line, and then Kendall Square. Compared to rail expansion, water expansion is affordable, and could be paid for through public private partnerships. This would enable more linkages and transfers handling more riders in the long run. |
I believe municipal stakeholders can support advocacy and promote the equitable planning of our transit system, and I will do whatever I can in both of these areas. I also believe that, to the extent our universities, hospitals and other institutions can continue or increase discounted passes to students and workers, municipal stakeholders can play a role. Funding our transit system is going to require predominantly state and federal action, although I would support policies that enable local or regional ballot initiatives to fund transportation, or certain measures to price vehicle transportation or carbon emissions as a whole that create new revenues to invest in public transit. |
I would like to see the introduction of a connector between the Red and Blue MBTA Lines and between North and South Station, as well as expanded Silver Line service. I also think that an inner harbor ferry service would serve the city well, improving inter-neighborhood connectivity, reducing commute times, and growing our local, neighborhood economies. |
How will you ensure fast-tracked implementation of a city-/town-wide network of off-street paths and protected bike lanes* on major thoroughfares and connecting streets that are comfortable for people of all ages and abilities?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| I am open to suggestions. I would like to see us use more abandoned rail lines to make bike paths, similar to the minuteman trail. There are a number of abandoned train tracks that could be converted to pedestrian only, moving bikes and walkers away from traffic. |
I will work with the Boston Cyclists Union, neighborhood groups, the BTD as well as state and federal agencies to support planning and funding for bike infrastructure. I will also look at best practices from Portland, Oregon, San Francisco, New York City and other communities identified by advocates or government stakeholders. |
Increasing safe and accessible bicycle lanes/paths will be a priority if elected. As City Councilor, I will work closely with the Boston Transportation Department, cycling advocacy organizations, and other supportive elected officials to ensure that bicycle infrastructure is built quickly and done the right way the first time. |
How will you increase access to biking in every neighborhood equally? What do you see as the major obstacles to encouraging ridership, and how will you address them?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| For East Boston, the issue is being able to take a bike across the harbor, which could be done with “High Occupancy” train cars, similar to the Red Line. Part of encouraging ridership is the offering of classes and safe training spaces. I would encourage non-profits and our network of adult education centers to offer bicycle safety and training classes. |
I believe the primary barriers to safe bike transit access have to do with street and path design, and incorporating bike-friendly measures during every street improvement or redesign project. Some neighborhoods are later to the game and may deserve extra attention to ensure basic bike infrastructure is in place. Creativity is needed for areas of the city with narrower roads or parking needs that can’t be alleviated in the short-term, and I look forward to working with advocates on that. I generally believe that the city is on a good trajectory for improvement and we should continue to add bike lanes, sharrows, bike boxes, curb cuts, etc. on the streets and secure funding for additional parks and pathways. I also support the installation of protected bike lanes by separating the lane from traffic with greenspace or parking between moving cars and cyclists. |
I will work to expand bike lanes throughout and between neighborhoods. One problem is that East Boston is not connected to the rest of the city by bikeable routes. An inner harbor ferry might alleviate this problem, assuming passengers can bring their bikes aboard. Appropriate bicycle infrastructure (bike paths, cycle tracks, bicycle storage facilities at public transit hubs, etc.) is critical to encouraging the increased use of cycling as a primary mode of transit. |
How will you increase funding for biking infrastructure?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| See above, charge for resident parking permits. You CHOOSE to drive, you choose to support people who do not. |
- |
One of the greatest responsibilities of the City Council is to oversee the City of Boston’s budget process. Through this annual process, I will be a vocal advocate for investments in biking infrastructure and connectivity. As previously mentioned, I will also work with biking advocates, other supportive elected officials, and community stakeholders to make Boston more cycle-able. |
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Yes/No Questions
Do you support the adoption of Vision Zero and funding for its rapid implementation? Vision Zero is an approach which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030 and has been adopted by several communities, including Boston and Cambridge.
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| - |
No one should die because of failures in the design or funding of our transit system. I strongly support Vision Zero’s goals |
As a pedestrian commuter and parent of two school-age children, one of my main priorities is ensuring that our streets are safe. Boston is a walking city, and it’s our responsibility to make sure it becomes even safer for walkers and cyclists. |
Do you support lowering design speeds through traffic calming measures on downtown and neighborhood streets as a means of enhancing the safety of people walking, using mobility assistive devices, biking, and driving? This may involve the expansion and enhancement of programs like Neighborhood Slow Streets (Boston) and Neighborways (Somerville).
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| I actually submitted an application to slow streets for my community and was turned down, I see the adoption of these measures as an investment in safety. |
I absolutely think Neighborhood Slow Streets measures are important steps to improve quality of life and safety for Boston streets. |
Traffic calming measures will make our streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers alike. |
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 state legislation that authorizes the use of automated enforcement in Massachusetts, per the July 2017 recommendation of the National Transportation Safety Board?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Only if it is city wide! Automated enforcement in one area, and not in others ensures uneven enforcement. |
Although I am as a rule cautious about additional surveillance of our communities, I would consider supporting automated systems that can improve fair administration of traffic rules and increase compliance. |
No. Our communities are made safer when police officers are out on the streets and in our communities. |
Do you support redesigning space on the street in order to improve safety for people biking by creating protected bike lanes?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Where possible, and reasonable. Some streets are simply too narrow. |
I support measure that enhance safety of bicyclists by creating protected lanes, sited opposite parking or greenspace from motor vehicle traffic. |
Protected bike lanes on major transit corridors will make our streets safer and encourage more non-motor vehicle transit. Just as important as creating these protected bike lanes is ensuring that there is a comprehensive plan to allow cyclists to freely move from community to community on protected lanes. |
Do you support the increased use of curb extensions to improve safety and visibility at intersections, even if it requires the removal of one to two parking spaces?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Where possible and reasonable, in some streets and intersections, it is not a good choice. |
I support modifications that enable safer turns for cyclists and reduced anxiety and liabilities for drivers. |
Curb extensions make it much safer for pedestrians to cross the street and can be valuable tools in improving the safety of our streets. |
Do you support implementation of all of the Better Bike Corridors and other bike projects in the Go Boston 2030 Plan, and commit to making sure all short-term projects are planned and implemented within three years, and long-term projects are implemented by or before 2030?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| No |
Yes |
Yes |
| I am not familiar with ALL of the Better Bike Corridors* and other bike projects in the Go Boston 2030 Plan, so I cannot give an unequivocal yes. Of the ones I have read, I support them. |
Yes, I support comprehensive bike corridor planning as described above. |
- |
Will you address age-friendly walking in your community — an issue raised by many seniors as critical to their ability to “age in community”? If yes, how?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| As baby boomers age, higher and higher numbers of them wish to “age in place” remaining at home, this is something we should promote and encourage. In the longer term, it is a cost savings and investment to make communities safer for walking, for everyone. |
As a board member of the Boston Center for Independent Living, I am committed to ensuring Boston is accessible for all ages, all abilities and all people. Distance between home and transit, funding to make accessible home modifications, street design that provides ample sidewalk space, safe crosswalks and clear signals are all critical. |
The North End and Charlestown are already highly walkable communities, and I’d like to see them remain that way. Through investments in East Boston’s parks and open spaces, we have seen important improvements in walkability, but there is still much work to be done to connect public transit with walkable corridors. |
Boston has many traffic signals that do not work well for pedestrians. Will you work to make signal timing safer, easier, and more convenient for people walking and using mobility assistive devices at all paces?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| We need to have a better idea of how traffic signals can be used to help us coordinate traffic and pedestrians. For instance, many lights are on an automated timer, and the walk light interrupts that timer. What if the light was activated by a sensor, and the walk signal was integrated into the timing of the sensor, skipping a light change and going directly to a walk signal? |
Yes – Boston’s abundant defunct walk signals are confusing. The system should be streamlined to enhance pedestrian safety and optimized to ensure that traffic can flow while pedestrians of all mobility levels have sufficient time to cross the street. |
I think this is great opportunity to introduce a “smart traffic signal” pilot program. I believe that smart traffic signals that can read road conditions and adjust accordingly will do wonders in making intersections safer for pedestrians and improving traffic flow. |
Do you support the restriction of on-street parking during rush hour on major thoroughfares in order to provide lanes for the exclusive use of buses?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
No |
| We need to focus on moving people not cars. These would become de facto HOV lanes, and encourage bus usage. |
YES––I believe that using existing or lanes to establish dedicated bus service will reduce congestion, get people to and from work faster and improve productivity. |
Most roadways and intersections in District 1 that could use bus-only lanes are already “no parking zones” for cars during rush hour or generally. It is important to develop creative solutions to give buses priority passage through some of our most congested areas. |
Do you support the creation of a staff position within the Transportation Department solely devoted to managing transit in the City of Boston?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| I’m appalled there isn’t one there already. |
YES–The need for efficient management of our transit system(s) is self-apparent and I would support dedicating a staff position to serve as a manager and in a coordinating role. |
Boston has a sufficiently high population density that merits someone dedicated to managing transit. Navigating traffic congestion is one of the greatest quality of life challenges facing Bostonians, and the City must dedicate adequate resources to make Boston more navigable. |
Do you support exploring new ways of raising revenue to provide the City of Boston with more tools to improve conditions for people walking, using mobility assistive devices, and biking (e.g. congestion pricing)? If yes, please give examples that interest you.
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| OK, well the parking sticker, raising the ticket cost for street cleaning and taxing the hell out of Air BNB. |
EXAMPLES OF REVENUE – congestion pricing, VMT pilots, millionaire’s tax, and carbon pricing if it is structured equitably for lower-income residents |
I look forward to being a vocal advocate for increased transit funding in the City of Boston’s budget. I will work with the Administration and stakeholders to evaluate different approaches to increasing that budget. |
Do you support charging an annual fee for residential parking permits?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
No |
No |
| - |
No––I am concerned with placing additional financial burdens that do not have a clear link to improvements to transportation system or transit equity. However, I would be willing review the estimated cost burden and potential revenue from vehicle permits to revisit this decision. |
I would support charging a fee after the second car per household, but I worry that an automatic fee on every car would put an undue burden on seniors and those living on fixed incomes. |
Do you support the rollout of dynamic parking meter pricing (i.e. increasing meter rates during periods of increased demand) in business districts to free up on-street parking and reduce cars “cruising”� for open spaces?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| No |
Yes |
Yes |
| A majority of Bostonians make $35K or less a year, we need to maintain flat rate pricing so they don’t have to skip food just to pay for parking at work. |
I would be supportive of dynamic meter pricing so long as critical facilities and important public buildings retain sufficient, affordable parking. In many cases, these facilities (schools, health centers, etc.) will have their own parking lots already. |
I am open to dynamic parking meter pricing in Boston’s largest business and commercial districts (Downtown, Back Bay, LMA). I would work with residents, small business owners, and community stakeholders to determine if this program would be beneficial in our neighborhoods. |
Will you help the community of Charlestown work with the City to develop a consensus design for Rutherford Ave and Sullivan Square that balances the community’s desire for walkability, connectivity, open space and resiliency with vehicular traffic?
| Margaret Farmer |
Lydia Edwards |
Stephen Passacantilli |
| Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| I have MULTIPLE suggestions and ideas for this! I would push for this process to be fast tracked as the Wynn casino is scheduled to open in 2 years, before Sullivan Square construction will even start!!! |
Absolutely––this is a high priority for District 1. |
As past president of my local neighborhood council, I understand why it is so important for residents to have significant influence in decisions that will alter or impact their neighborhood. As City Councilor, I will always strongly advocate for residents to have a loud and influential voice in any major decision impacting one’s community. |
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