Candidates urge traffic calming, bus‑stop changes and pedestrian safety measures

Traffic safety and transit improvements were recurring topics at the youth forum as candidates described specific projects and general priorities for pedestrian and transportation safety.

Steven Winslow, speaking about Maplewood Square, said he is "working now to try to consolidate some bus stops so we could open up some curb space, particularly for our restaurants" and said that would help meals tax revenue. Several candidates raised slower speed limits and traffic‑calming measures: one candidate described test projects at the intersection of Bell Rock, Madison and Green Street that began with paint and later expanded into a rebuilt island.

Candidates discussed MBTA service changes as an opportunity and a challenge. Several noted recent MBTA route changes that increased regional connections, including new direct links to Logan Airport and Harvard Square; they urged working with state and regional partners to secure bus shelters and improved service.

Public‑safety themes included the need to protect emergency response times while considering budget choices. Candidates stressed incremental, tactical fixes that can improve safety without major capital spending, alongside longer‑term plans that require grant applications or state cooperation.

No candidate proposed binding timelines or specific funding sources at the forum; instead, speakers described ongoing partnerships with state delegations, city departments and volunteer groups as the typical pathway to implementing transportation projects.