Newburyport Livable Streets Candidate Questionnaire
If elected, what would be your top priorities for improving safety and comfort for people walking and biking in Newburyport? Are there specific locations that you would like the City to focus on in the next few years? Are there specific initiatives or policies you would support?
I’m very interested in finding a solution for the Three Roads intersection, which is dangerous for everyone who passes through it. Certainly any redesign there would need to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians to make it safer to cross that wide expanse. I would also like to see the City focus on Low St, as development at Port Plaza and the Rec Center will likely increase the number of cyclists and pedestrians — particularly children and teens.
What do you think the City is doing well in terms of bike and pedestrian facilities and infrastructure? What could be improved?
Our rail trails are an incredible asset to the City, and I’m very excited to see the bike share program in action to help people get even more out of our trails. I think there’s quite a bit we could do for short money with paint and signage to remind drivers about pedestrians and cyclists: for example, painting bikes lanes and boxing out parking around crosswalks. These ideas don’t replace the need for full design reviews during street and sidewalk repair cycles, but they are something we can do right now to make incremental improvements.
One final note: we could definitely use more bike racks at public buildings and retail hubs.
Snow and ice can block sidewalks, curb ramps, bus stops, and bike lanes for days, making it diicult for people who walk, roll, bike, or rely on transit to travel safely. Clearing these areas quickly is essential for maintaining year-round accessibility. How do you envision improving accessibility for walkers and bikers during winter weather events?
As a committed wintertime walker, I am often very frustrated by sidewalks that haven’t been cleared. I will admit that I am not totally clear on how the City approaches enforcement of the rules around shoveling, so this is an area I would like to learn more about to see if we can put a little more muscle behind enforcement. I also understand that many older people have trouble clearing their sidewalks, so this could be an issue ripe for some targeted services for those in need. Like any issue, I think it’s important to get a full understanding of the problem before suggesting solutions, so I look forward to digging into this.
Safe walking and biking routes to school help children have the freedom and independence to move around the community and reduce car trips for parents and guardians. Is there anything the City should do to promote safe options for kids walking and biking to school?
The biggest obstacles my kids faced on their daily walks to school were the piles of snow at corners that blocked crosswalks. If I had one wish for our admittedly very busy DPS department, it would be that they could strategically cut through the mountains at the streets around the schools and some of the most common routes to get there.
In good weather, I think a main key to safety is actually to increase the number of walkers and bikers, so their presence is a common and accepted part of everyone’s morning commute routine. To that end, we could consider more programs like the bike bus to get kids and families out there as a matter of habit — there truly is more safety in numbers.
Newburyport Livable Streets, October 19, 2025