Letter to the editor on Question 1
October 22 ,2008
Question 1 threatens traffic-calming efforts
Daily Hampshire Gazette
Daily Hampshire Gazette
To the editor,
Northampton's new program aimed at making our streets and neighborhoods safer through traffic calming has received an overwhelmingly positive response in recent weeks, but this program would be severely threatened if ballot Question 1 passes on Nov. 4.
Successful traffic calming requires a concerted investment of dollars in engineering, enforcement, and education to implement safer street designs that can slow speeds and save lives. Adoption of Question 1 by the voters of Massachusetts would be a triple-threat to traffic calming efforts in Northampton by (1) cutting our Department of Public Works and Police Department, (2) shrinking the city's capital improvement budget for transportation projects and (3) decimating the state's Chapter 90 Local Roads Program that sends significant funding to cities and towns each year for local road construction and improvement projects.
I urge all citizens of Northampton who share my passion for making our City streets safer for walkers, bikers, and drivers alike to join me in voting NO on Question 1.
David Narkewicz
City Councilor, Ward 4
Northampton
Northampton's new program aimed at making our streets and neighborhoods safer through traffic calming has received an overwhelmingly positive response in recent weeks, but this program would be severely threatened if ballot Question 1 passes on Nov. 4.
Successful traffic calming requires a concerted investment of dollars in engineering, enforcement, and education to implement safer street designs that can slow speeds and save lives. Adoption of Question 1 by the voters of Massachusetts would be a triple-threat to traffic calming efforts in Northampton by (1) cutting our Department of Public Works and Police Department, (2) shrinking the city's capital improvement budget for transportation projects and (3) decimating the state's Chapter 90 Local Roads Program that sends significant funding to cities and towns each year for local road construction and improvement projects.
I urge all citizens of Northampton who share my passion for making our City streets safer for walkers, bikers, and drivers alike to join me in voting NO on Question 1.
David Narkewicz
City Councilor, Ward 4
Northampton