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City Council Survey (District 23): Bob Friedrich
Political Parties: Democratic Party Republican Party http://bob2009nyc.org Candidate Submitted Biography: Lifetime Resident of Queens. City Council Survey (District 23): Bob FriedrichQuestion 1: What is the most important transportation need in your district? As a Council Member, how would you work to address this need?Lack of full service public transportation available 24/7. Work with MTA and local civics to develop new bus route schedules to coincide with community development patterns. Although we do not have subway service in this area we do have trains. The trains that we have here is called the LIRR and a train by any other name is still a train. I would fight to bring Subway Priced Train service to LIRR stations such as Bayside, Little Neck and Douglaston -- NYC communities that do not have access to subway service. Remember, both the LIRR and Subways are run by the same agency - the MTA. This is a better approach than Congestion Pricing. It would substantially increase ridership and not be a burden like congestion pricing would be to our seniors who often travel to Manhattan for medical care. Question 2: The intersection of Hillside Ave and Francis Lewis Blvd is one of the most dangerous in your district, where 0 people died and 35 people were injured between 1995-2005 (NYS DOT). As a City Council member, what traffic enforcement policies or physical changes to the intersection infrastructure would you support to make this intersection safer for everyone who uses it (pedestrians, cyclists and drivers)?Traffic Signals with a Walking Countdown should be used. Certain other infrastructure improvments should be made to separate pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Question 3: According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles' most currently available data, in 2007 speeding was a contributing factor in over 3,000 motor vehicle crashes in New York City. Furthermore, the same data showed that the top human contributing factor to the 264 fatal crashes in New York City during 2007 was also speeding. Given these figures, what measures, if any, do you support to redress this problem? Finally, do you believe that New York City’s current speed limits are safe?Yes, I think the current speed limits are adequate. There are some areas where speed limits need to be adjusted, but the citywide 30 MPH limit is appropriate. Question 4: The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's website reports: "In New York City, obesity is epidemic: more than half of adult New Yorkers are overweight (34%) or obese (22%). Data show that obesity begins early in life: nearly half of all elementary school children and Head Start children are not a healthy weight. In New York City, 1 in 5 kindergarten students, and 1 in 4 Head Start children, is obese." Do you believe that increasing walking and biking in New York City would improve public health? If yes, how would you work to increase walking and biking in your district?Walking and biking are important components of a physical fitness program. Bike lanes and lockable bike racks would encourage folks to ride. Question 5: Road pricing, including such measures as non-stop tolling, fees based on vehicle miles travelled or entry into a highly congested zone, has been the source of much discussion in New York City and other major metropolitan areas. London famously uses a congestion charge to fund its transit system, Oregon recently piloted a program to replace the gas tax with a fee for miles driven and Seattle recently studied how road pricing could be introduced on a regional basis. Seattle's study, “Traffic Choices Study" (http://psrc.org/projects/trafficchoices/index.htm), found that introducing new tolls on major corridors during peak traffic hours influenced drivers’ behavior and projected that a region-wide road pricing scheme could significantly reduce vehicular traffic congestion. Do you think that introducing a road pricing strategy would change New Yorkers’ travel choices? Do you think that this would be an effective way for the City to reduce backups on high-traffic roadways like the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the Gowanus Expressway or the Long Island Expressway? Finally, do you believe there are additional benefits in the surrounding neighborhoods which could be realized from the reduction of vehicular congestion on these routes?Since different parts of the city have limited transporation alternatives, implementing high priced tolls is unfair to certain areas. In order to increase mass transit ridership, I have been fighting to bring SUBWAY PRICED TRAIN SERVICE TO LIRR STATIONS in communities such as Bayside, Little Neck and Douglaston that do not have access to subways. This approach would get folks out of their cars and on to mass transit. It is an approach that will work and won't cause the problems that unfair high tolls will create in communities like ours. Question 6: Do you believe that reducing residential parking requirements as set forth within NYC zoning regulations would affect neighborhood traffic congestion, and if so, in what way? Residential parking is an important component of suburban living. I will oppose action to limit it or make it costly to those in eastern Queens that currently have available street parking. Restricting street parking will create a dangerous environment to those working late and coming home and being unable to park nearby. Question 7: The NYC Department of Transportation's Public Plaza Program, Pedestrian Street Program and Summer Streets events are intended to diversify the use of public space and provide more places for New Yorkers to recreate and socialize. Do you support the temporary or permanent repurposing of street space for pedestrians and cyclists? Yes, especially in the warmer months when people are more inclined to walk or ride bicycles. Question 8: The City recently released plans for Bus Rapid Transit and expressed interest in bringing a bike share program to New York City. Do you think these new projects would enhance the city's transportation network? Please explain.Depending on where they are located. Development of this program must work closely with local civics and community boards.
Submitted by BobFriedrich on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 23:11.
Submitted by BobFriedrich on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 22:28.
Submitted by BobFriedrich on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 23:11.
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