Michelle Luong

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 primarily get around via car, I have mobility issues so I cannot bike or walk for long distances. I also travel frequently with a family member that uses a walker and have taken the train into Boston for pleasure on multiple occasions.

My own experiences walking around this city when I am able to, has to be planned according to the conditions of the sidewalks or pathways and the time of day. There are parts of our city that do have access to public transportation on a convenient or equitable schedule.

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.

One concrete action the City of Malden can do within the next two years to improve street and sidewalk safety for non-drivers is to remove parking spaces closest to crosswalks and corners to improve visibility for both pedestrians and drivers. There are still several areas in Malden that need to be adjusted. I.e, Daniels and Willow, and Linwood Street corner just to name two.

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?

Malden’s role is to make our community a place for all to enjoy, whether they travel by foot, on bicycles, on public transit or by motor vehicle.

We can reduce impervious surfaces. Increase permeable pavements in playgrounds, sidewalks, where possible as they have recently done at Forestdale Cemetery. Examining the data will allow us to see if our current efforts are working.

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?

The bussing or no bussing issue is handled by the school committee and not at the city council. I will say as we are a school system with a neighborhood school policy, families should be afforded the opportunity to have their child attend the school closest to their home where applicable.

Where the City of Malden can make a difference is to improve sidewalk conditions, crosswalk safety, and pedestrian signals, especially for underserved populations, including seniors, people with disabilities, families with small children or pets.

My goal is to bring everyone together as a community so that all people are safe as they travel through and around Malden. Every Person Counts!

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?

Malden is fortunate enough to have the Northern Strands pathways throughout Malden that connect Malden to other communities. The broader goal, as with any opportunity for collaboration between cities to create more interconnected pathways, is to ensure a comprehensive community plan. Each project plan must be developed with input from all stakeholders and should thoughtfully consider how the project will impact every aspect of Malden — from residential neighborhoods to commercial properties.

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?

• Partner with the MBTA and our state delegation to improve service frequency, and reliability, – adding later times to some schedules to ensure transportation equity.
• Make transportation planning inclusive through outreach and multilingual engagement.

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?

Each new project should be reviewed individually and judged by similar criteria with the constant factor being input from all stakeholders. We should consider how the project will impact every aspect of Malden — from residential neighborhoods to commercial properties.