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NEEDHAM ELECTION 2022

Candidate Outreach

As the April 12 election for Needham approaches, Safer Quieter Needham reached out to Select Board, Planning Board, and Town Meeting Member candidates to learn about their position on improving the safety of Needham's railroad crossings and improving the quality of life for thousands of Needham residents.


We asked three questions:

  1. Do you support improving the substandard safety at Needham’s railroad crossings and dramatically improving the quality of life for thousands of Needham residents by installing current safety measures and establishing a Quiet Zone?
  2. Have you signed the Safer Quieter Needham letter of support petition (available at https://SaferQuieterNeedham.com/petition ) ?
  3. Any other comments related to this topic that you wish to add?


Below are the responses we received as of 7:04 AM on Sunday, April 10th.  If we receive additional responses, or edits to previous responses, prior to the election on April 12th, we will publish those as promptly as possible.


It should be noted that multiple candidates did not agree with the form or substance of the candidate questionnaire.  We have created a sidebar discussion on this matter.


In addition, multiple Town Meeting Member candidates raised questions regarding the 2019 MBTA letter to Needham and the information that Safer Quieter Needham is sharing with the Needham community.  Again, we have created a sidebar discussion on these questions.

SELECT BOARD

Heidi Frail (unopposed)

As a candidate for Select Board I support the enhancement of Needham's quality of life via the creation of MBTA Quiet Zones, while maintaining Needham's commitment to safety.

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PLANNING BOARD

Artie Crocker

Justin McCullen

Justin McCullen

The quality of life and safety of the Needham community is paramount in my eyes and has been ever since my father taught about community advocacy growing up in Needham. There is no question that reducing or eliminating the train horns would improve the quality and, though I thought the train crossings were perfectly safe, if there is a way of making them safer we should. I will say that by eliminating the train horns the NTSB may very well require additional safety measures, though I am certainly not an expert.


Yes [I have signed the Safer Quieter Needham letter of support petition (available at https://saferquieterneedham.com/petition )].


I wish nothing ever had to boil down to money, but it does, and I would really need to know what this will ultimately cost.  I know the following may not be a popular stance, I would love to find a way to stop the train at the Junction and then have the existing railroad bed converted into a Biking, Walking and Electric Shuttle Corridor from the Heights to the Junction. It would serve for InterNeedham transportation, be very quiet, and much less pollution.

Justin McCullen

Justin McCullen

Justin McCullen

Yes, I support the town to move forward with establishing an FRA Quiet Zone to improve the safety and quality of life for all Needham residents and businesses. As a member of the Transportation Committee, I helped vet the BETA Engineering feasibility report in 2015 and helped frame and pose some additional clarifying questions, which were answered in September 2016. The Transportation Committee voted to recommend an establishment of a Quiet Zone to the (then) "Board of Selectmen" in 2016.


Yes I have [signed the Safer Quieter Needham letter of support petition (available at https://saferquieterneedham.com/petition )].

Oscar Mertz

Justin McCullen

Oscar Mertz

I understand the need, moving forward, to analyze possible solutions to mitigate the impact of the horns. Removing the discomfort and frustration would be a huge relief. There would also be a positive impact on property values – for the homes close to the train, silencing the horns would level the playing field. The key will be to determine if funding sources are available to supplement the town’s investment, and if this issue will garner support as an important investment for the town.


Yes I have [signed the Safer Quieter Needham letter of support petition (available at https://saferquieterneedham.com/petition )].


I would like to see a community forum on this complex issue and have information about possible remedies and costs so the whole community can get informed and hear all the viewpoints.  Not sure how that gets orchestrated in hybrid or zoom-only format?

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TOWN MEETING MEMBER

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