House District 8 is based in Middletown and extends west to the Maryland border. (If you are not 100% sure whether you live in House District 8, 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 the incumbent Representative Sherae’a Moore and her challenger Chris Beronio. 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.
Beronio: “Agree”
Moore: “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.
Beronio: “Agree”
Moore: “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.
Beronio: “Agree”
Moore: “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.
Beronio: “Strongly Agree”
Moore: “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?
Beronio: “I am a life-long biker, and enjoy riding on our roads and paths across the state. I’m excited to see a group passionate about improving. In the Middletown area, I see the ‘green shoots’ of bike paths across the area, but the current infrastructure to support biking is piece-meal and disconnected. I would like to take steps to create more of a master plan for the area (and entire state) to better support and connect these pathways. When I think of traffic safety, I think that the vast majority of the issues are related to drivers in some manner. I want to ensure that Delaware has a robust and effective driver training and licensing process, to ensure drivers are properly trained before getting on our roadways. This cannot be a ‘check the box’ process – when done properly, it will help ensure drivers are safe and aware of their surroundings, thereby leading to better traffic flow, fewer accidents, and reduced injuries and fatalities.”
Moore: “I believe we can do better with safety when it comes to cycling and walking. One thing I will advocate for is making sure that the development plan for the district prioritizes walkable and bikeable community development. Also working with the municipality to prioritize, pedestrian and cyclist accessibility to shorter blocks mid blocks and crosswalks. Also there needs to be more advocacy one the local level to notify government leaders which specific areas are in need of solutions. I would be in support of address how to make the streets of Middletown safer for walkers, bikers and bus users.”
