Carey McDonald

City Council, At-Large

Q1. How do you primarily get around? Where do you walk in Malden? When and where was the last time you biked, traveled with a person with mobility impairments, or took public transit? What is your evaluation of your own experiences traveling in Malden outside of a car?

I most often drive or walk. In the last few weeks I biked to take my kids to school, and took the T into Boston for an event. We often walk around the neighborhood, to friends houses, to the library, to the corner store, and occasionally to downtown Malden. When I need to go into the office for my day job in Boston, I drive or take the Orange Line (bus or walk to the station). Malden is very lucky to have two T stations, and regular bus routes across town. My experience with public transit has been largely positive, now that the Orange Line is mostly functioning again! However, it’s clear that the MBTA system is primarily designed for workday commuting so is less helpful getting around town for errands, weekend and late night usage, etc.

Q2. Name at least one concrete action that you think Malden can and should take within the next two years in order to improve the safety of streets and sidewalks for people not in cars—e.g., pedestrians, bicyclists, people with mobility assistance devices, people with disabilities, and children playing. Limit your answer to interventions which are possible entirely at the municipal level.

I want to see more traffic calming changes to our roads, like speed bumps and bump outs. Pedestrian safety has been a top priority of mine, and I hear concerns all across the city. Families want to be able to let their kids play outside, older folks want to be able to cross the street, our disabled neighbors want to be able to get around safety, and the road noise is disruptive to everyone. Some residential streets are known for speeding, and it’s clear Google Maps is often directing traffic down these roads as a cut through (I know because I live on one of these roads! I’m keeping a running list of streets that should be a high priority here.

While I support traffic enforcement, the only thing that can slow traffic down 24/7 is the road itself, and research shows these changes actually work. I was so excited the City installed its first speed bumps on Bainbridge Street this year, which was a known speeding corridor. I live in that neighborhood and very publicly supported the speed bumps. I’ve also advocated for resources for traffic calming, including securing a $75,000 state earmark in 2023 working with Rep. Ultrino, and urging the City to set aside $300k in 2024 (this funded the speed bumps on Bainbridge). I also would support adding parking back in on some roads where it was taken out 10-15 years ago to make “express” routes through the city - this is exactly the wrong direction! Residential streets with parked cars tend to slow drivers down.

Q3. What, in your view, is the city's role in making Malden a community where more people are encouraged to get around easily and conveniently by foot, on bicycles, and on public transit? Name at least one concrete action you would take to make Malden a leader on this issue. Given that more than 40% of carbon emissions in Massachusetts are from transportation, how will your actions in this area support Malden’s sustainability and green energy goals?

Thanks for asking this question! One of the five areas of Malden’s new Climate Action Plan is “Accelerate Sustainable Transportation,” making it easier to walk, bike and take public transit. The CAP is the City’s strategic roadmap (or trail map!) for protecting our neighborhoods from rising temperatures and worsening storms, as well as doing our part to protect the planet. As a member of the Climate Action Plan’s Steering Committee, I saw how many of our residents care about this. It’s a huge equity and environmental justice issue, since lower-income residents are more likely to not use a car, especially our older and disabled neighbors. The Plan has great recommendations like more bike racks at schools and parks, expanding BlueBikes service, and ensuring all parks are accessible under the ADA, which I fully support.

Malden is not currently a leader on sustainable transportation issues, and cities like Somerville and Boston are way ahead of us. One area where I do think Malden excels is our support for the Northern Strand path, and innovative investments like the Bike Kitchen collaborative with Bike to the Sea. I have always supported the Spot Pond Brook Greenway trail to connect the Northern Strand to downtown Malden and its central neighborhoods, and it’s a priority to do what I can to make sure that gets built.

I also want to see more routes to and from the Northern Strand trail so it’s easier to get to other parts of the city. If we can even establish with mapped, signed and sharrowed on-street routes, that can make it safer and more appealing to use the trail to get to all parts of our city. I regularly hear from residents how they would like to bike more if only it felt safer.

Q4. Malden families don’t have the opportunity of relying on school buses. They also aren’t guaranteed their closest neighborhood school, and school drop-off traffic is one of the most persistent congestion challenges in the city. How will you help families who want to get their kids to and from school without relying on a car?

As a parent of two Malden Public Schools kids, I really appreciate this question. School drop-off may be the biggest single contributor to traffic in Malden - and residents of Maplewood Square know that the charter school is even worse, since families are coming from surrounding cities and towns to drop off.

I know MSS is looking into Malden restarting its “Safe Routes to Schools” collaborative, and I am in 100% support of that. Making sure there are good sidewalks, safe crossings before you get to the areas near the school crossing guards, are essential. I am also supporting looking into the “walking bus” idea where parents walk their kids to school together on a pre-set route.

And going forward, I’d love to see Malden offer school bussing again! If we can stabilize our city budget, this is something we can investigate for the future.

Q5. Many communities in our area are investing in regionally interconnected paths and trails to create opportunities for both recreational and functional trips on foot or bike over larger distances. Where do you see opportunities to work with Malden’s neighbors on such projects?

The Northern Strand trail is a key gateway here, and I’m excited about the state commitment to build a bridge over the Mystic River to Somerville. That will be a much safer crossing than going along Route 16 or through Sullivan Square for biking and walking.

I’d like to see more connection points with Medford for biking and walking. East/West travel in the city outside the Northern Strand is difficult, and it would be great to better be able to access Medford, the Mystic River, the Tufts Area and Somerville from that side of town. That could include better routes through the Fellsway intersections, on Medford Street, or down Pearl Street and through the old railway right of way that goes under the Fellsway. These projects would need state support, but it would be great to coordinate with Medford on these routes.

Q6. What is one way that you think street design could help improve Malden’s business and retail districts? What kinds of access do you think are most needed to make Malden a more attractive place for shopping and doing business?

More attractive sidewalk spaces like the City Council plaza help draw pedestrians, visitors and residents. They can be small, if they are well-designed. For example, I have in the past recommended a curb bump out the size of a few parking spaces in Maplewood Square, on Maplewood St. just to the south of Salem St. The road is extra wide here, and creating a mini sidewalk plaza would give space for benches, bike racks, tables, signs, holiday decorations, etc. I have Davis Square in my mind as a good example.

Making it easier to bike, walk or take transit would also help draw visitors. Clear and attractive paths like the Spot Pond Brook Greenway will create entry points. I do think we need parking access for business; however, our downtown already has far excess parking. Better signage or usage of those garages could allow us to do more creative things with Pleasant street or underused lots.

Q7. Do you support micromobility investments for areas such as Canal and Charles streets and, if so, what sort of infrastructure would you support and recommend?

Micromobility - electric scooters and other small, personal electric vehicles - seem here to stay. I want people to be able to use them safely (how do we distribute more helmets??), and not have to ride on the sidewalk, which is dangerous for pedestrians. The Northern Strand is too crowded for these vehicles, which often go fast, and many are technically prohibited. I would like to see more on-street lanes with basic physical barriers, even if it’s flex-posts, on key cross-town routes. Canal and Charles Streets would be great candidates, and indeed have been considered as part of the SPBG plan. Parallel cross-town routes would relieve pressure on the Northern Strand and allow us to keep speeds lower there. This connects with the idea that we need more paths to connect the Northern Strand to other parts of the city. Many folks use scooters, etc. as a primary way to get around because they can’t afford a car, so I do think that some infrastructure to support their safe use is an equity issue.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my responses in this questionnaire, and to Malden Safe Streets for all you do to make our community more safe, livable, accessible and sustainable.