Valerie+Cunningham.jpg
 

Valerie Cunningham

Candidate for: Mayor

valerie@cunninghamformayor.com
cunninghamformayor.com
Facebook: Cunningham for Mayor of Baltimore

 
  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.

    I see roads and sidewalks in good repair throughout the city that allow safe passage and use by our citizens whether traveling by bus, car or rail.

  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?

    Violence in our communities and on city streets is the biggest barrier. We have to improve the safety of our city streets, I would begin recruiting/hiring police officers and begin to have a greater patrol presence on the streets.

  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?

    The cost implementation of this program is 2 to 6 million dollars over the five years. I would need to review city audit results to determine this plan’s feasibility.

  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?

    I would utilize a sign campaign to alert motorists and pedestrians about safe street crossing. I would also place traffic enforcement officers in areas that have been heavily impacted by the deaths and injuries.

  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 ask state and federal partners to enact legislation to create a healthy environment for our residents. I would stand with them as an advocate.

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

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

    Travel, once a month, train to BWI.

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


    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

  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.

    Disagree

  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

  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.

    Disagree

  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.

    Disagree

  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

  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.

    Disagree

  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.

    Disagree

  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.

    Disagree