On The Issues | Transportation

A Leader on Transportation Issues

As a member of the Transportation and Parking Commission since its creation in 2003, and Chair from 2005-2009, I led the city's efforts to improve traffic safety, modernize our parking system, and create a more sustainable transportation infrastructure that promotes walking, biking, and public transit.

I also authored the City's first "Traffic Calming Manual," designing a citizen-driven process for evaluating and engineering solutions to traffic safety and speeding in Northampton neighborhoods. This included advocating for the hiring of a traffic engineer who has begun designing, testing, and deploying traffic calming around the city with measurable results. It has also meant a shift in city policies to include traffic calming in street reconstruction and intersection design, resulting in transportation innovations like our city's successful modern roundabout at Look Park.

I've worked to promote expanded public transportation in Northampton, working with PVTA to extend bus routes for Hospital Hill and Florence and overseeing the creation of a public transit committee to improve and expand access to public transportation.

I helped create a priority sidewalk system for identifying areas where additional sidewalks were needed for safety and quality of life, particularly for children walking to school. I lobbied to get first-ever funding for these projects in the Capital Improvements Program that resulted in new sidewalks serving JFK Middle School and Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School.

I've led efforts to promote bicycling as a healthy and sustainable transportation alternative, including expanding city bike lanes and Northampton's rail trail network. In 2007, I was proud to receive MassBike Pioneer Valley's "Bicycle Advocate of the Year" for my work in promoting safety and access for cyclists.

As Mayor, I will use all of my transportation experience and expertise to address the many challenges and opportunities facing Northampton's transportation system. As I walk around the city and talk with residents, one of the top issues I hear about is the condition of our streets and sidewalks, including the problems created by last winter's potholes. Streets and sidewalks are showing the effects of deferred maintenance, and the challenge for the next mayor will be to tackle the backlog of repairs. This is a major priority for city residents, and I will make it one of my top priorities as Mayor.

Rail service will return to Northampton during the next two years as part of the federal Connecticut River "Knowledge Corridor" project. This presents an exciting transportation and economic development opportunity. We need to begin planning now, including where we locate a train station in both the short- and long-term, and how we can best integrate rail into our overall multi-modal transportation system. This planning must be sensitive to a range of issues, including those of the neighborhoods and businesses located near the tracks. I will appoint a Rail Advisory Committee comprised of these and other key stakeholders to help guide our local decision-making.

Back to main