Shannon Sneed
Candidate for: City Council President
shannonsneed4baltimore.com
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Describe your vision of a healthy, safe, and equitable transportation system for Baltimore city and what roles walking, biking, and public transportation play in that vision.
Over 33% of Baltimore residents lack access to a car. I envision a Baltimore City where all people can safely get around in the city in a decent amount of time no matter what mode of transportation one uses. Residents rely on their cars, public transit, biking, walking, and ride sharing to move around the city. Nearly 80% of Baltimore are in historically disenfranchised neighborhoods for public transportation. The design of Baltimore City’s streets causes crashes, increased congestion, and deters biking,walking, and transit use. Currently, if you don’t have a car you can’t get to places easily by bus, light rail and subway in Baltimore.
To meet Baltimore City’s adopted climate goals, we must shift at least 10% of current automobile vehicle miles traveled to active transportation and public transit. What is your plan to achieve this goal?
Since Baltimore’s public transportation system is run by the Maryland Transit Administration, I would work with the state, elected officials, and advocates. My strength is not to be the expert, be it in transportation matters rather it is to be a facilitator of interested stakeholders to find workable solutions and win-win scenarios. I will support and back the plan that is equitable and sustainable and user oriented.
What is your plan to continue to reduce the number of injuries and deaths on Baltimore City roadways each year?
It would be nice if the city could work on the plans that were already approved. We know that there is a plan that was approved and has been proven to decrease the number injuries and deaths. The city has to incorporate community engagement for the plan to work and have support from Baltimore City residents.
How often do you walk, bike or use public transit to reach daily destinations? If not often (or at all), what would make you more likely to use non-personal vehicle modes of transportation?
I was on the local Baltimore train today. I am a one car family, so I often walk, ride public transportation or use ride share. Because there is only one car between my husband and I, sometimes we have to decline invitations because we just can't get there.
In 2017, Baltimore City adopted the Separated Bike Lane Network Plan Addendum to the Bike Master Plan. This called for connecting 85% of Baltimore’s neighborhoods to safe, all-ages bike infrastructure by 2022. Less than 20% of this network has been built. What would you do to accelerate implementation?
I would first make sure Baltimore City residents in every community are aware of the plan. I would especially target older adults and people who feel like their voices are not being heard. Once residents in every part of the city have been engaged and educated, I know we could get the program moving and maybe accomplish new goals with the input of residents.
In 2018, Baltimore City received national recognition for passing the first equity driven Complete Streets ordinance in the country. This legislation contains a modal hierarchy prioritizing vulnerable road users and mandates best practices in roadway configuration and design. Are you committed to retaining this ordinance and the current practices and modal hierarchy it mandates?
Yes, but Baltimore City failed to incorporate engaging and educating neighbors. Once community engagement and education has been a focal point I could support.
What is your position on The Red Line alternatives? If a surface route is selected, are you committed to ensuring the route has 100% dedicated right-of-way, even if it may require significant parking removal? Are you committed to a parallel separated bike facility, even if it may require significant parking removal as well?
On the surface I think it is a great idea, but each community and all residents have to be fully engaged in the process. There has to be engagement with our older adults and handicapped residents, and just the residents of Baltimore City.
What is your position on the MTA’s North/South Corridor alternatives? If a surface route is selected, are you committed to ensuring the route has 100% dedicated right-of-way, even if it may require significant parking removal? Are you committed to a parallel separated bike facility, even if it may require significant parking removal as well?
Again, on the surface I think it is a great idea, but each community and all residents have to be fully engaged in the process. There has to be engagement with our older adults and handicapped residents, and Baltimore City residents.
The Baltimore Greenway Trails Network is an adopted city plan to create a 35 mile multi-use trail loop through Baltimore, connecting the vast majority of city neighborhoods and institutions to parks, greenspace, and existing trails. Are you supportive of this effort, and if so how will you ensure portions of the project in your district are constructed?
On the surface I think it is a great idea, but each community and all residents have to be fully engaged in the process. There has to be overly engagement with our older adults and handicapped residents, and Baltimore City residents.
Agree or disagree?Do you support maintaining the city’s micro-mobility program that provides dockless bikes and scooters?
Yes
Would you support creation of a government subsidized bike share system?
Yes
Would you support local legislation to subsidize the purchase of e-bikes and membership for micro-mobility or bike share systems?
Yes
Are you committed to retaining every piece of separated bike infrastructure in the city that’s been built?
Yes
Cars are often longer than a single rowhome is wide. Households with multiple vehicles compete for parking in front of other neighbors’ homes. Do you support scaling residential permit parking fees to either the size of or number of vehicles in a household so those with more vehicles parked on city streets pay their fair share?
Maybe, would need more information
Do you support a citywide speed limit of 25mph on arterials and 20mph on neighborhood streets?
Yes
Do you support banning turns on red at all intersections that permit pedestrian crossing?
Yes
Do you support expanding automated enforcement to all roads that have high rates of crashes and speeding, not just near school zones?
Yes
Do you support legislation to create income-based traffic enforcement fine reductions or waivers locally?
Yes
Do you support allowing increased density adjacent to high-quality transit, grocery stores, Main Street districts, and in other high-amenity neighborhoods?
What city has done this well?
Do you support increasing Transit Oriented Development zoning to include all areas within a quarter mile of high-frequency bus routes and a half-mile of light rail and metro stations?
Yes
Minimum parking requirements are shown to increase housing costs while limiting potential density and making neighborhoods less walkable. Do you support removing parking minimums from new development?
Yes
Do you support removing single family residential zoning categories, so that people can choose to build and live in a variety of housing options citywide?
No