Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition

Candidates

• Ben Ewen-Campen
• Robert McWatters*

*incumbent

Sections

• About the Candidates
• Policy Proposals
• Yes/No Questions

About the Candidates

Do you personally walk to destinations in your community? If yes, how often do you do so?

Do you personally travel by/ use public transit to get around? If yes, which trains and buses do you routinely use?

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?

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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?

How will you improve the reach, frequency, and quality of public transit in your city/town?

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?

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?

How will you increase funding for biking infrastructure?

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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.

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).

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*?

Do you support redesigning space on the street in order to improve safety for people biking by creating protected bike 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?

Do you commit to implementation of improved bike facilities identified in your community’s Bike Network Plan or do you commit to the creation of a Bike Network Plan if none already exists?

Do you support the creation of the joint biking-pedestrian Grand Junction Path and Somerville Community Path through mandates, resolutions or zoning ordinances targeted at adjacent property owners?

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?

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?

Do you support exploring new ways of raising revenue to provide the City of Somerville 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.

Do you support raising the annual fee for residential parking permits?

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?