Transport - Questions for Council Candidates

Editor's Note - Welcome to the 12th installment of Questions for Council Candidates. Recently, Hyattsville Patch sent a 15 part questionnaire to candidates running in this year's Hyattsville City Council election. The questions, developed with the help of Hyattsville Patch readers, probe the candidates thoughts on city policy, development, and also asked the candidates to do a little self reflection. 

Between now and May 7, Hyattsville Patch will be publishing their responses to each question to help you, the reader, make a more informed decision at the polls on May 7. Here now are the responses to the 12th question. Responses are organized alphabetically by ward.

Question - Describe your vision for the future of transportation in Hyattsville.

Ward 1 Candidates:

Bill Jenne - I would like to see more bikes on the road. Also I would like to see more seniors moving about our streets. Would it be impossible to allow golf carts for seniors within Hyattsville on certain roads or sidewalks?  As far as suburban areas go I think Hyattsville has a good number of alternate transportation possibilities compared to many areas of the state and country. Lets count ‘em: There are two metro stations nearby, county and metro bus services, and an EYA charter bus, the northwest branch trail for bikes, and plenty of sidewalk to get here and there for pedestrians. Let’s see- beyond that it might be too much to dream of the return of the electric street car but I wouldn’t mind seeing such a thing going north and south on Route 1 someday.

Bart Lawrence - We are fortunate in Hyattsville to be so well connected to the region. We have two Metro stations, multiple bus routes and services, a network of bike trails, and a developed road network. With new development and redevelopment, both within Hyattsville and in surrounding communities, we should work to ensure that these existing networks keep pace with demand.

The Council should also endeavor to direct vehicular traffic toward the major county and state roads that cross our City. Some things can only be done in coordination with other local governments, the new Route 1 Ride service, for example. Others, the City should take the lead on, such as making sure we have safe pedestrian and bike routes through the City and following through on the City’s ADA transition plan.  

Ward 2 Candidates:

Robert Croslin - I would like to see a circulator bus transporting visitors from, a newly developed part of West Hyattsville and the two Metro stops to the University Town Center, The Mall at Prince Georges and the restaurants on Baltimore Avenue.

David Hiles (Incumbent)  - As gas gets more expensive, we will all be doing more biking and walking.  Need those bike lanes and sidewalks!

Ward 3 Candidate:

Patrick Paschall - Hyattsville should focus on increasing green transit options for its residents, both through better mass transit options for traveling long distances and bicycle and walking path support inside our city.  

I am a great supporter of increased bicycle transportation in Hyattsville, as well as working with our surrounding communities to ensure that Hyattsville is connected via bicycle paths to the rest of the region.  I think Hyattsville residents should be able to commute to work within ten miles of their home on a bicycle withdedicated bicycle paths the entire way.  

This means working to execute our current bike and pedestrian path plans, and collaborating with neighboring cities, county and state agencies, and the District of Columbia to ensure continuity between our communities. I also believe that we should ensure that our voice is heard in ensuring adequate bus access for our residents, working to make sure that busses have less of a carbon footprint, and making our voice heard in discussions for the Purple Line project, which will have a substantial impact on our city.

Ward 4 Candidates:

Ross Gateretse - This election is about looking to the future to see this city not as it is right now, but as it can be. Economic growth, future social and healthcare needs and upgrading our city’s transportation programs for senior citizens, youth groups and people with disabilities will make our city more livable as will day-to-day maintenance.

Edouard Haba - My vision for transportation in Hyattsville is that of a city well connected and in which it's easy to move around. Some important steps are being taken in this direction with the Anacostia Branch trail and the City's bike lane network. Another important transportation need is for the City to have a circulator bus service that will connect the City's three economic poles: West Hyattsville, Art District and Prince George's Plaza.

Ward 5 Candidates

Pastor Herrera - Editor's Note - Herrera did not submit responses to this questionnaire before the publication deadline.

Joseph Solomon - I don’t think the city should look to regulate or influence an individual’s transportation preferences.  I think gas prices and traffic conditions will determine whether people prefer biking, walking, driving or metro.

Clayton Williams - Hyattsville holds two metro stops and sits inside the beltway. It is likely to become increasingly driven by mass transit commuter traffic. This makes it important to nurture bike and pedestrian traffic within the city. We also must manage automobile traffic coming through Hyattsville on the main arteries. That problem is more complex because the city doesn’t have final say in many important parts of our transportation future.

With all of that ahead of us, my vision is a future where the council and the residents are informed and working together to identify and address these concerns proactively, rather than clinging to an inflexible plan.