Kimberly Gillette

School Committee, Ward 1

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 primarily use my car to get around about five days a week and walk the rest. I push a carriage to Malden Center often, and it highlights just how hard our sidewalks are to utilize for someone with mobility impairments. My small business depends on alternative transportation because of parking restrictions on busy roads. My oldest is an avid bike rider, gets around on a non-motorized trick scooter, and uses the MBTA more than I do these days. I think making the streets safer for people to get around is one of the most important things we can do as a society in big cities. In my opinion, building safer streets increases community and commerce as well as safety. I’m not satisfied with the city of Malden’s progress in making our streets accessible but I'm hopeful the conversation is turning towards solutions.

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.

There are several concrete actions 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. We need a city-wide intensive traffic study that ultimately guides so many of our current issues. This intricate of a study would probably need to come from grant money, and that takes time. We can invest in the traffic light infrastructure to make sure it’s working for our needs today. I would like to see the city plan for tree roots so that our sidewalks last longer once they are made passable, while continuing to grow our tree canopy. The planning department can consolidate construction and decrease traffic interruptions in our most congested areas.

The current bike lanes are important, and I think there's room for improvement in the design. I think we should be planning for neighborhoods to connect to the main bike lanes/path, and to their neighborhood schools. Malden was designed such that the neighborhoods all had their own convenience stores, restaurants, and shops as well as schools. The unique charm each “square” had growing up around here is lost in the parking lot we have created. I know that I contribute to the problem, and I also know that I can’t operate more than a few days a week without a car the way things are.

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?

I think the city plays a major 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. Malden is meant to be accessible, and the city planning should reflect that in every way. At the school committee level, I would push for programming about street safety in our schools, events that promote safe routes, and encourage/work with schools’ PTOs to develop Bike Buses and Walking School Buses within their schools’ communities. Winter conditions are a major factor in any planning we do and creating safe travel after winter storms is hard with a dwindling budget.

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?

I would like to bring back a small budget/grant for buses/vans/transportation for the families that are most affected by not attending their neighborhood schools. Families that must travel across town are isolated from community building experiences like Bike Bus or Walking School Buses. Their individual travel adds to the congestion during peak hours. Designated bus stops that cater to children in one area can drastically decrease how many stops the bus makes on small side roads. Children can walk a similar distance as their peers in the morning and afternoon, contributing to overall health and wellness. Buses can stay on the main roads and utilize bus lanes while dropping 40 cars worth of kids to a couple of schools across the city in several directions in a fraction of the time. It also gives families the opportunity to meet other families in their own neighborhood out walking around. I think this kind of solution is more equitable than no buses for everyone.

Q5. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation provides a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. This program works to increase safe walking, biking, and rolling among elementary, middle, and high school students by using a collaborative, community-focused approach that bridges the gap between health and transportation. Do you support implementing community practices promoted by SRTS such as Bike Buses and Walking School Buses to help children get to school?

I fully support the SRTS program and would be excited to implement community practices promoted by SRTS that help families and children get to school. I think schools are a great place to start to bridge the gap between health and transportation. I look forward to learning more about the specific program ideas for Malden and how I can help.