Candidate for: City Council, 11th District
eric@costelloforbaltimore.com | www.costelloforbaltimore.com
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Describe your vision of a healthy, safe, equitable transportation system for Baltimore City and the roles walking, biking, and public transportation play in that vision.
Complete Streets. The framework lays out a vision so that streets are safe and accessible to all. I voted in support of Complete Streets in 2018. Walking, biking, and public transit are all important pieces to this framework.
The fastest and most economical way to address climate change, improve public health, and create equal access to opportunity is to design a city that reduces dependence on private automobiles. What are the biggest barriers to getting people to choose walking, biking, or public transit instead of personal vehicles, and what would you do to address these impediments?
Walking - cracked sidewalks and and lack of ADA ramps can make walking a challenge, especially for those with mobility impairments. I have been and will continue to work with DOT to prioritize these repairs and upgrades. Biking - we are in need of additional cycle track infrastructure. I continue to support the installation of bike lanes, most recently expansion of the Gwynn Falls Trail along Key Highway, and new tracks on Covington St and Mount Vernon. Public Transit - we have an entirely inadequate public transit network. While not mentioned here, our water transit network services (Harbor Connector and Water Taxi) should be consolidated to reduce duplication. Much of my focus now has been on the water transit network.
In 2017, the Planning Commission approved the Separated Bike Lane Network plan that connects 85% of Baltimore’s neighborhoods by creating safe, protected places to ride a bike. Do you agree with the plan’s recommendations, and if so, what would you do to ensure that we fulfill the plan’s promise to build a minimum of 17 miles of bike lanes per year? Are there specific areas of the city where you would prioritize implementation?
Yes, I am supportive. I believe in building off of strength and connecting to other transit options. Specifically in the 11th District, I would like to see Pennsylvania Ave, Eutaw Pl, and Paca St, to ensure connectivity with existing Metro locations at Upton, State Center, and Lexington Market.
Approximately 50 people are killed on city streets each year while walking, biking, or driving, with another 9,000 people injured. What is your plan to reduce the number of Baltimoreans injured and killed in traffic every year?
Working to improve existing conditions at specific locations and pushing for smarter transportation planning. Frameworks (Complete Streets, Separated Bike Lane Network, etc.) are in place, it is a matter of budgeting to implement them.
Approximately 800 Baltimoreans die early every year from preventable diseases related to carbon emissions, more than double the city’s murder rate. Thousands more are hospitalized each year as these emissions trigger asthma and other respiratory diseases. There is a strong correlation between hospitalization and proximity to major car commuter routes. What is your plan to reduce carbon emissions from automobiles in order to decrease the number of Baltimoreans hurt by and dying from emissions-related diseases?
Implementation of Complete Streets over time will reduce the volume of automobiles in the City. Expansion of our public transit network is likely the largest driver here. Lastly, I have been working with DOT and BGE on ways to get more electronic vehicle chargers installed, both publicly and privately.
Do you walk for transportation? If so, for what purposes, how often, and what was your last trip walking?
While downtown, five days per week, for meetings.
Do you use public transportation? If so, for what purposes, how often, and what was your last trip by public transportation?
Not regularly. Last trip was a Charm City Circulator ride from Federal Hill to Mount Vernon, last month.
Do you ever ride a bicycle? Is it for transportation, recreation, or both? What was your last trip by bicycle?
Rarely, for recreation purposes.
Baltimore’s urban areas have limited space on streets. In order to increase safety and improve mobility, some modes of transportation must be prioritized over others to make the most of this limited space. Please rank how you would prioritize different modes of transportation on city streets, using numbers 1 through 7:
1. Public Transportation
1. Walking & devices that aid people with disability
3. Bicycles & Scooters
3. Freight & Delivery
3. Personal Automobiles
3. Ride Hailing Services (Taxi, Uber, Lyft)
7. Parking
Agree or disagree?I support removing parking on a street if it would improve safety and increase mobility of people using that street.
Neither agree nor disagree
I can't provide a binary answer here, it depends on several factors related to the traffic grid, existing anchor institutions on public meeting spaces in close proximity, small businesses, existing cycle track infrastructure, etc.Minimum parking requirements are shown to increase housing costs while limiting potential density and making neighborhoods less walkable. I support following the lead of other cities that have removed minimum parking requirements from new development.
Agree
I voted in support of relaxed parking requirements as part of the TransForm re-write of Baltimore's Zoning Code in 2016.Some cities require employers that subsidize parking also offer an option for employees to receive that subsidy as a cash payment. I support a mandate that employers offer parking cashout so that employees can choose to pocket that money, use it for alternative transportation, or continue using that cash to pay for parking.
Neither agree nor disagree
I can't answer this without knowing more about what existing employers already provide.Increasing density in areas of opportunity is proven to help individuals escape poverty. I support taller, denser, or larger buildings in areas they are now prohibited by zoning.
Agree
Transit oriented development can expand access to areas of opportunity by locating housing and retail along high frequency transit. Current zoning code only identifies these zones along subway and light rail routes. I support expanded Transit Oriented Development zoning to include areas within a quarter mile of high-frequency bus routes.
Agree
I have been extremely supportive of a number of transit oriented development projects throughout the 11th District.It is now widely accepted that Single Family Residential Zoning was historically created to maintain racial segregation. I support removing Single Family Residential Zoning categories, allowing both single family and multi family residences to be built in all residential zoning areas.
Disagree
Irrespective of why it was created, my support depends on the neighborhood and if the surrounding community supports it.I support allowing existing residences to be split into apartments in all zoning categories without having to pass legislation for each conversion, increasing density in neighborhoods that were traditionally single family homes.
Disagree
Irrespective of why it was created, my support depends on the neighborhood and if the surrounding community supports it.At 20mph, 90% of pedestrians survive being hit by a car. At 40mph, only 10% survive. I support enforcing a maximum speed limit of 25 mph on arterial streets, and 20 mph on local streets.
Disagree
Allowing turns on red is a contributing factor in increased pedestrian injury and death. I support banning turns on red at all intersections that allow pedestrian crossing.
Disagree
Automated Speed and Red Light Enforcement Cameras are widely proven to reduce fatal collisions. I support using these cameras on any street, not just near schools and construction sites.
Agree
The Automated Speed Enforcement Camera current threshold is 12 miles per hour. I support cameras being able to issue citations for those traveling 5 miles per hour or more over the speed limit.
Disagree
I would invest in automated enforcement cameras that will issue citations to private automobiles for being stopped or parked in bus lanes.
Agree
Dedicated bus lanes and bus boarding islands are proven to dramatically improve bus reliability and boarding times. I support removing parking or travel lanes to create bus lanes and boarding islands to improve bus performance.
Neither agree nor disagree
I can't provide a binary answer here, it depends on a number of criteria, such as: volume of traffic, volume of bus transit riders, total lanes of traffic, etc.The city adopted the Greenway Trails Network plan that will connect existing trails such as Gwynns Falls Trail and Herring Run Trail to create a 35-mile trail loop that connects 80% of Baltimore’s neighborhoods to greenspace and recreational trails. I support the construction of these trail connections, even if it requires using grass medians or taking road space or parking space away from private automobiles.
Agree