Safe Streets Scorecard

People Friendly Stamford: 2021 Safe Streets Scorecard

April 2021 — People Friendly Stamford (PFS), Stamford’s safe streets advocacy group, has created the Safe Streets Scorecard for the current members of Stamford’s Board of Representatives. The Scorecard highlights key votes relevant to PFS’s mission that were taken by the Board of Representatives in the current term (2017-2021). These votes were identified as directly supporting or hindering the goals of PFS, which is dedicated to making Stamford’s streets and general cityscape safer and more accessible for walking, running, and biking. People Friendly Stamford is made up of Stamford residents from across the city who are passionate about the cause of making our city a better and safer place for all residents.

Methodology: The 11 Scorecard votes represent three key areas that PFS believes are necessary to advance street safety: Policy, Infrastructure, and Funding. Score percentages are the number of votes, excluding those taken on consent or otherwise were unanimous, for which each representative supported the PFS position compared to the total votes taken by each representative. A ✅ (green check mark) indicates a vote that supports the PFS position and an ❌ (red x) indicates a vote that does not. Blanks represent where a representative did not vote (i.e., was Excused, Absent or in attendance but Abstained). Representatives who have taken three or fewer votes were not scored.

Purpose: People Friendly Stamford hopes this Scorecard will help inform Stamford residents and hold our elected officials accountable. You can look up your local Board of Reps members here. Remember, your representatives represent YOU regardless of your political party, whether you rent or own your home, or whether you have lived in Stamford for two weeks or twenty years.

We thank representatives who have supported our mission and especially applaud those with a score of 80% or above for their exemplary support of safe streets issues. You are Safe Streets Champions. We also recognize our Safe Streets Supporters who scored at least 50%. Looking forward, we are excited to continue working with all members of the Board of Representatives to advance our mission.

13 Safe Streets Champions – 80% to 100%
9 Safe Streets Supporters – 50% to 79%

An explanation for the PFS position on each of these votes can be found under the Scorecard.

Board of Representatives: The Board of Representatives is made up of forty elected volunteers, two for each of the twenty city districts. Each representative is elected for a four-year term. The board typically meets on the first Monday of the month to vote on legislative and budgetary items. Monthly committee meetings are held to address specific issue areas and prepare items for the full board. You can find your representatives here.

If you have comments or suggestions regarding the Scorecard, please contact us at info@peoplestamford.org.

7/6/2020 Action Report
LU30.043 Approval of Director of Administration’s Final Report and Directing that the Washington Blvd/Pulaski St Widening Project be Carried Out – INFRASTRUCTURE
PFS SUPPORTED
BOR SUPPORTED
✅ The Traffic Department proposed the widening of Washington Boulevard, between Henry and Atlantic, and Pulaski Street, between Washington and the Pulaski Street Bridge, to improve traffic operations around the Stamford Transportation Center, the South End, and Waterside in order to advance safety and accommodations for all users, as required by the City’s Complete Streets Ordinance. PFS supported approval of the final report and project implementation to improve safety for all users, specifically because the plans include installing a new bike lane at this critical connection between the South End and Waterside, further supporting multi-modal usage around the Stamford Transportation Center.

3/2/2020 Action Report
SC30.026 In Support of Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities – POLICY
PFS SUPPORTED
BOR SUPPORTED
✅ This resolution supported new mobility services and technologies for moving passengers, potentially including shared or on-demand services, and adopt eleven guiding principles for the evaluation of new mobility technologies. PFS supported this resolution because our mission supports the re-imagination of the transportation system while directly supporting the following principles: 1. Coordinated Planning, 2. People Over Vehicles, 3. Shared Use, 5. Access & Equity, 6. Zero-emission and Renewable, 7. Fair Fees, and 11. Safety & Readiness.

9/3/2019 Action Report
F30.223 Authorizing the Mayor to Enter Into Agreement With The CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection for a Merritt Parkway Trail; amount of grant $160,000 – INFRASTRUCTURE
PFS SUPPORTED
BOR OPPOSED
❌ This resolution would have authorized the Mayor to enter into an agreement with CT DEEP to accept $160,000 for design of the first section of a new trail, the Merritt Parkway Trail. PFS supported this resolution because it would set the groundwork for development of a new multimodal trail system in Stamford along an existing right-of-way, and would allow the City to seek future grants for project implementation.

5/1/2019 Action Report
Cut $220,667 OR $167,000 from the Mill River Park Collaborative Budget – FUNDING
PFS OPPOSED
BOR OPPOSED
✅ During the 2019-2020 budget approval process the Board of Representatives twice considered whether to cut the Mill River Park Collaborative Budget; first by $220,667 and then by $167,000. PFS opposed reducing the Collaborative’s budget because they currently maintain over 12 acres of pedestrian nature trails in Stamford’s downtown and when completed will provide multi-use off-road trails connecting mid-city to the waterfront.

Cut $1,000,000 from the Operating Budget – FUNDING
PFS OPPOSED
BOR OPPOSED
✅ During the 2019-2020 budget approval process the Board of Representatives considered whether to cut the City’s Operating Budget by $1,000,000. PFS opposed reducing the City’s Operating Budget because this funding enables the city to maintain services in critical departments supporting parks, transportation, and land use functions which are key for advancing safe streets policy and infrastructure. This type of general cut reduces transparency during the budget approval process since residents and advocates are left blind to what will ultimately be cut by City leadership, as mandated by the Board of Representatives.

Cut $117,448 from Transportation, Traffic and Parking – Supplies – FUNDING
PFS OPPOSED
BOR OPPOSED
✅ During the 2019-2020 budget approval process the Board of Representatives considered whether to cut the $117,448 from the Transportation, Traffic, and Parking Supplies. PFS opposed reducing supply funds that could support improved wayfinding and safety for all road-users through signage, signals, and paint markings.

4/1/2019 Action Report
O30.041 Regarding the Engineering and Design Work for the West Main Street Bridge – INFRASTRUCTURE
PFS SUPPORTED
BOR SUPPORTED
✅ This resolution authorized the City to continue with the next phase of the West Main Street Bridge – Walkway Rehabilitation Project with support from a $2 million grant provided by the Mill River Park Collaborative. PFS supported continued work on rehabilitation or replacement of the West Main Street Bridge, as it is a critical pedestrian connection between the West Side and Downtown that has been neglected for nearly 20 years and continues to be temporarily closed on and off to the public due to increasing safety concerns.

3/4/2019 Action Report
T30.032 Resolution Opposing Tolls in Connecticut – POLICY
PFS OPPOSED
BOR SUPPORTED
❌ This resolution signaled to the State that Stamford’s Board of Representatives opposes tolls in Connecticut. PFS opposed this resolution because implementing tolls in Connecticut would provide critical funding for transportation infrastructure, hold out-of-state drivers accountable for wear and tear on CT roads in the same way CT residents pay tolls out-of-state, and would reduce the financial burden of subsidizing car infrastructure for CT residents who do not own cars or drive frequently.

9/4/2018 Action Report
O30.016 Agreement with Wengell, McDonnell & Costello for West Main Street Bridge – Walkway Rehabilitation Project – INFRASTRUCTURE
PFS SUPPORTED
BOR SUPPORTED
✅ This resolution authorized the City to sign an agreement with Wengell, McDonnell & Costello to rehabilitate the West Main Street Bridge with grant funds provided by the Mill River Collaborative. PFS supported this resolution as the West Main Street Bridge is a critical pedestrian connection between the West Side and Downtown that has been neglected for nearly 20 years and continues to be temporarily closed on and off to the public due to increasing safety concerns.

5/1/2018 Action Report
Cut $1,413,596 from City Operating Budget – FUNDING
PFS OPPOSED
BOR SUPPORTED
❌ During the 2018-2019 budget approval process the Board of Representatives considered whether to cut the City’s Operating Budget by $1,413,596. PFS opposed reducing the City’s Operating Budget because this funding enables the city to maintain services in departments supporting parks, transportation and land use functions which are key for advancing safe streets policy and infrastructure. This type of general cut reduces transparency during the budget approval process since residents and advocates are left blind to what will ultimately be cut by City leadership, as mandated by the Board of Representatives.

Cut $2,827,192 from General Operating Budget – FUNDING
PFS OPPOSED
BOR OPPOSED
✅ During the 2018-2019 budget approval process the Board of Representatives considered whether to cut the City’s Operating Budget by $2,827,192. PFS opposed reducing the City’s Operating Budget because this funding enables the city to maintain services in departments supporting parks, transportation and land use functions which are key for advancing safe streets policy and infrastructure. This type of general cut reduces transparency during the budget approval process since residents and advocates are left blind to what will ultimately be cut by City leadership, as mandated by the Board of Representatives.