July 18, 2010
Newton mayor to launch transportation panelStephanie Pollack of Northeastern's Dukakis Center to serve as chair
By Sarah Thomas, Town Correspondent
The Boston Globe
After a summer littered with tragic traffic accidents, Mayor Setti Warren announced today that one of the key promises of his administration is about to be fulfilled -- the appointment of a transportation advisory committee.
The Transportation Advisory Committee, will advise the mayor's office on issues relating to cars, bicycles, public transportation, and pedestrian safety. The panel will be introduced to the city at a press conference Tuesday.
The committee will be chaired by Stephanie Pollack, associate director of the Dukakis Center for Urban and Environmental Policy at Northeastern University.
"We need to be proactive on the issue of transportation and road safety, and I strongly believe Stephanie Pollack's broad and diverse experiences in urban policy will be extremely helpful," Warren said in an interview.
Pollack said she wants to solicit community input with a series of public forums, citizen working groups, and a website where visitors can contact the committee, as well as make recommendations for quick measures that can be done to improve safety conditions.
"My hope is that we can take a broad look at how transportation issues in Newton can be improved in a way that encourages quality of life, promotes biking and walking for health, and reduces greenhouse gases," Pollack said. "We have a real opportunity to think proactively about ways to do things differently and better."
It's an opportunity that many say comes not a moment too soon. Andrew Von Guerard, a Newton barista, was killed in a traffic accident in May, while another cyclist was hurt a few weeks later. There have been many other accidents on Newton streets, including a fatal crash between a car and a Vespa just over a week ago.
"It seems to a lot of people that there have been more accidents and near misses on the roads lately, which could be attributable to an uptick nationally in the number of people walking and biking," Pollack said. "But given recent traffic fatalities, we want to leverage heightened awareness to see if there are things we can do different. There will be a subcommittee that will look at transportation safety issues, and we hope to make some recommendations by fall."
Other members of the committee and a meeting agenda will be announced at tomorrow's press conference, which will take place at noon.
Sarah Thomas can be reached at newton@boston.com.
For the original article at boston.com and to add comments, click here.Transportation Advisory Committee forms in Newton
Stephanie Pollack of Northeastern's Dukakis Center to serve as chair
By Staff Reporters, Newton Tab
Wicked Local Newton, July 20, 2010
Newton -- Mayor Setti Warren announced on Tuesday the formation of a Transportation Advisory Committee, which will advise the city on a variety of transportation issues. The committee, which will be chaired by Newton resident Stephanie Pollack, will begin working immediately on issues such as traffic flow, bicycle lanes and developing a long-term plan to improve pedestrian safety.
"We will be looking proactively at critical issues facing the city, including ways that we can encourage more pedestrian traffic, cycling, and promoting healthier and more environmentally friendly lifestyles," Warren said in a press release.
"We will be taking a broad look at how transportation can be improved in Newton in a way that also encourages quality of life. This is a terrific opportunity to be proactive and think five to 10 years down the road about how we can do things better," Pollack said in the same release.
The committee is expected to meet regularly beginning next week, and will be soliciting input from residents via the city website. Public forums will also be held giving residents an opportunity to share their thoughts on various transportation issues.
For the original article at wickedlocal.com and to add comments, click here.