House District 10 covers a far north section of Delaware bordering Pennsylvania. From Concord Pike in the west, the district extends east to Arden. (If you are not 100% sure whether you live in House District 10, you can search here using your address.) If you live in this district your choice on November 5 to represent you in the Delaware House of Representatives is between Brent Burdge and Melanie Ross Levin. We asked these two candidates to share their views on four questions related to traffic safety in Delaware. Here’s how they answered:
1)I voted for, or agree with, the Everyone Gets Home resolution (SCR 94 in the 151st Delaware General Assembly), which called for reducing traffic fatalities in Delaware to no more than 100 people each year by 2025 and also affirmed support for the Delaware Strategic Highway Safety Plan goal of no more 60 annual traffic fatalities by 2035.
Burdge: “Agree”
Levin: “Strongly Agree”
2) I voted for, or agree with, the Everyone Gets Home Act (HS 1 for HB 247 in the 152nd Delaware General Assembly) – Delaware’s first-ever anti-“stroad” law – which authorized DelDOT to acquire property rights along busy, high-speed, multi-lane highways to consolidate commercial entrances or to create new commercial interconnections if DelDOT determines such consolidation or interconnection would likely reduce serious and fatal crashes.
Burdge: “Agree”
Levin: “Strongly Agree”
3) support Delaware establishing a clear public policy that requires that every street, road and highway in the state be assigned to a specific functional category with clear design requirements to either facilitate safe and smooth traffic flow or safe direct access to properties (but not both) in order to help Delaware meet its goal of no more than 60 annual traffic fatalities by 2035.
Burdge: “Agree”
Levin: “Strongly Agree”
4) I support the construction of multimodal roundabouts that are safer than signal- or stop sign-controlled intersections for people driving, cycling and walking in order to help Delaware meet its goal of no more than 60 annual traffic fatalities by 2035.
Burdge: “Agree”
Levin: “Strongly Agree”
5) Is there anything else about your record as an elected official, your experience or your views that is relevant to improving traffic safety for the people you wish to represent in the 153rd General Assembly?
Burdge: “I am a lifelong bicyclist and runner and value the importance of traffic safety. I believe in strong enforcement of traffic laws, especially in instances of impaired driving, aggressive driving and school zone enforcement. Design of roads and access is an important aspect of traffic management. I am skeptical of some of the proposals that have come from DELDOT, however, notably their design proposal to change Foulk Road to a 2-lane with center turn lane configuration, augmented by bike & walking paths. The was proposed and overwhelmingly rejected by residents just two years ago, yet lingers in the background. I issued a FOIA request to make the public comments visible, where I confirmed 90% opposition to this proposal. We need transparent processes and strong community input into changes of this nature. Citizens want to be engaged in these choices, not have change “inflicted” upon them.”
Levin: “I am interested in learning more about Bike Delaware and how I can be an ally for this community.”
