1. 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.

   Baltimore needs a transportation system that allows for multiple modes of transportation. Well placed bike lanes, increased rail service, and improved bus service are keys to improving economic mobility across Our City. Additionally, in my district, it can be difficult for many residents, especially seniors, to walk and cross large streets like Belair Road. I would be interested in seeing what a road diet would look like for that road, perhaps coming up with something similar to Harford Road.

2. 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?

   We live in a city that does not provide space to walk or bike. Additionally, our state has defunded major projects that would have increased our mass transit capacity and instead changed up the bus system in a way that was confusing for many residents. In other large cities, mass transit is convenient. In Baltimore, the bus system is anything but convenient. This discourages residents from wanting to bother with the bus and prioritizes cars as the primary mode of transportation for residents. We must address these impediments by deprioritizing cars on certain roadways and advocating for federal funding for mass transit. This will improve the quality of life for residents and connect residents to the rest of the city more easily.

3. 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?

   I do agree with the goals of the plan. It is important that residents are made aware of the changes to come so that they can prepare and adapt to changes in ways that maximize benefit with the least discontent for change. I would work with DOT to see what implementation plans are in place for my district and try to help inform those plans, where appropriate. It is my belief that areas that have been historically disconnected from the rest of the city in East and West Baltimore should be given the priority.

4. 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?

   We have to ensure that the roadscape is built in a way to inform all travelers of road conditions and that it is built in a way that increases safety. This means prioritizing certain modes of transportation on certain roads. This also means ensuring roads are properly lit and adequately marked to ensure travelers are aware of each other's presence and can concede the right of way appropriately and safely. This also requires roads that have speed limits that encourage safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

5. 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?

   I would love to support investment in green technology, increasing the tree canopy under the goals of the Sierra club especially near roadways, advancing the use of electric cars, increases the priority of different modes of travel on roads, and closing the incinerator in downtown which pollutes the air of south Baltimore.

6. Do you walk for transportation? If so, for what purposes, how often, and what was your last trip walking?

   I walk often in my neighborhood. Particularly, I like to walk up to Clifton Park and Herring Run Park to enjoy the greenspaces. I walk to Belair Road to support the local businesses. I also walk often throughout the neighborhood to support my neighbors in community initiatives. Finally, I am spending a lot of time walking for this campaign, knocking on doors to talk with residents. As such, I spend quite a lot of time on foot.

7. Do you use public transportation? If so, for what purposes, how often, and what was your last trip by public transportation?

   Due to the safety concerns of Baltimore, I no longer use the bus system. Previously, I would ride the bus to work but this is not something I feel comfortable doing any longer.

8. Do you ever ride a bicycle? Is it for transportation, recreation, or both? What was your last trip by bicycle?

   No.

9. 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
   2. Walking & devices that aid people with a disability
   3. Bicycles & Scooters
   4. Ride Hailing Services (Taxi, Uber, Lyft)
   5. Personal Automobiles
   6. Parking
   7. Freight and Delivery
   

   
   Agree or disagree?
   

10. I support removing parking on a street if it would improve safety and increase mobility of people using that street.

    Agree

11. 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

12. 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.

    Agree
    Councilman Dorsey is pushing for this in Baltimore. I support this initiative.

13. 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
    I agree, but we must also understand that Baltimore is built fairly densely in black areas with row homes and housing projects. This has not led to improved conditions due to the racial disparities, public safety, and lead paint contamination in these areas. Density alone is not the solution.

14. 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

15. 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.

    Agree
    I agree that we need to increase urban density, but this should be done intelligently. Having single family and multi-family housing in the same neighborhood is theoretically a good idea but may harm racial equity. Historically black neighborhoods in East and West Baltimore should be exempt from these zoning changes.

16. 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.

    Agree
    See comment above. While I am behind this in theory, historically black neighborhoods in East and West Baltimore should be exempt from these zoning changes.

17. 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.

    Agree

18. 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.

    Agree

19. 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
    Yes I agree, as long as the cameras work effectively.

20. 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.

    Agree

21. I would invest in automated enforcement cameras that will issue citations to private automobiles for being stopped or parked in bus lanes.

    Agree

22. 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.

    Agree

23. 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

District Specific Questions: 13th District

1. Baltimore was recently awarded a Maryland Bikeways grant to design an all-ages separated bike lane on Wolfe or Washington Street, part of the 2017 Separated Lane Network Addendum plan connecting Southeast Baltimore to Johns Hopkins Hospital, the all-ages separated lane on Monument Street, and eventual facilities on St. Lo Drive and Harford Road. I support building an all-ages separated bike lane on Wolfe or Washington Street, even if it means relocating or removing some parking.

   Agree
   I agree. Cars fly down these streets. A separated bike lane is the only way to effectively protect cyclists.