Candidates
*incumbent
Sections
About the Candidates
Do you personally walk to destinations in your community? If yes, how often do you do so?
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| Yes |
| Every day, I mostly get around by bike and by foot, although we do own a car |
Do you personally travel by/ use public transit to get around? If yes, which trains and buses do you routinely use?
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| Yes |
| Red Line to get to Cambridge and Boston |
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?
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| Yes |
| I am an avid, long-time (40+ years) urban bicyclist & commuter. Most of my travel in the Boston area is by bicycle |
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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?
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| I have introduced dozens of Board orders to push the City of Somerville and the Administration of Mayor Curtatone to do more in this area. I work closely with key department heads in the Administration and with the Somerville Bicycle Committee to improve safety and promote traffic calming on our streets. |
How will you improve the reach, frequency, and quality of public transit in your city/town?
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| I have been a vocal and active advocate for the GLX and Community Path extension all the way into Boston for 20 years. |
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?
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| Doing all I can to advocate for the CPX extension and more protected bike lanes and other bike infrastructure to making it safer and more secure for the many people who would bike but are too scared (reasonably and understandably so, although I am not too scared to bike on our streets). |
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?
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| Safety, safety, safety. And better infrastructure are the obstacles. |
How will you increase funding for biking infrastructure?
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| Doing what I can; Somerville has limited funds. Pushing the state to do more and I work with our state legislative delegation on transportation issues. |
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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.
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| Yes |
| City of Somerville is adopting Vision Zero; Mayor announcing this Weds Sept 6th 9 AM in Union Sq. |
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).
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| Yes |
| I fought hard to lower speed limits on Somerville streets and we finally accomplished something last year with action by the state legislature which the Board of Aldermen quickly ratified and implemented here. Still more to do – working to exend safety zones with 20 mph to the ENTIRE City, not just areas around parks, hospitals, schools, etc. |
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*?
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| Yes |
| I don’t know much about this but it sounds like it would slow motor vehicles down. I know this has been done successfully in other cities. |
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?
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| Yes |
| We are putting in bump outs and chicanes on Cedar St in my Ward 5, partly as a result of my advocacy. I constantly fight with the Traffic Commission to remove parking spaces to make streets safer, it is a constant struggle. |
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?
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| Yes |
| I have been in contact with and met with a group of seniors to work on this issue in Somerville and Cambridge. |
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.
| Mark Niedergang |
|---|
| Yes |
| I have discussed these possibilities with the Mayor and others. |
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?