2025 At-Large Survey - Runoff Edition
At Bike Hoboken, we believe getting around our city should be safe, fun, and accessible, regardless of how you choose to move.
That’s why, every election year since 2017, we’ve asked Hoboken’s candidates where they stand on key transportation issues that matter to our community. While Bike Hoboken does not endorse any political candidates, we hope their responses will help you make an informed choice when casting your ballot.
This page features responses from all candidates advancing to the December runoff who responded to our survey - Liz Urtecho, Steve Firestone, Caitlyn Layson, and Joe Quintero.
All candidates appearing on this year’s ballot were invited to participate. Responses are listed in random order. Candidates were asked to follow these guidelines:
Yes/No questions: Answers should be direct, although “No” responses may include a brief explanation, limited to 50 words
Open response questions: Responses should be concise, limited to 100 words (approximately the length of these instructions). Answers should emphasize high-level priorities and processes rather than exhaustive policy positions.
Infrastructure and Funding
1. Do you support funding the Vision Zero Safety Improvement Project on Willow Avenue (11th–16th Streets)? (Yes / No)
Liz Urtecho: Yes
Steve Firestone: Yes
Caitlin Layson: Yes
Joe Quintero: Yes
2. Do you support Hoboken reauthorizing funding for Citi Bike? (Yes / No)
Liz Urtecho: Yes
Steve Firestone: Yes
Caitlin Layson: Yes
Joe Quintero: Yes
3. When negotiating new developments, should Hoboken prioritize space for additional parking spaces or prioritize additional housing units? (Parking / Housing)
Liz Urtecho: Depends on the development, its location and plan
Steve Firestone: Housing
Caitlin Layson: Housing
Joe Quintero: Housing
4. What would you do to improve the Hop? (Open Response)
Liz Urtecho: We need to expand the routes around the city, the routes need to be logical and we need to make people more aware of it. I know the seniors are very familiar with the hop and its routes, but most people don’t think it’s available to them.
Steve Firestone: I believe that Councilman Quintero is on the right track with his detailed plan to expand the HOP and simplify routes. I would also advocate more for looking at ways to expand public-private partnerships to encourage increased resident mobility. We have a lot of building shuttle buses that congregate around the PATH for a small number of users. Perhaps there is a better way to do this that engages the private sector and encourages more frequent and reliable service to Hoboken residents.
Caitlin Layson: The HOP is a valuable service, but it could work much better for residents. Instead of several long, winding routes that take 30 minutes or more to make a full loop, we should simplify the system into straightforward north/south and east/west routes that run more frequently and predictably. That way, people could truly “hop” across Hoboken with easy transfers, reliable timing, and better coverage for every neighborhood. Pairing this with evening and weekend service and real-time tracking would make the HOP a convenient, modern option for everyone, from seniors and families to commuters.
Joe Quintero: I would expand HOP and simplify routes. Today we have 4-5 routes that circumnavigate the city every 30 minutes or so. A better system would have a series of routes that run north/south and east/west. For example, a Bloomfield/Garden Street route, a 1st/2nd Street route, and so on. This would enable residents to literally “hop” across the city via a series of buses that run regularly and in predictable routes.
Safety & Vision Zero
5. Traffic injuries in Hoboken have steadily declined over the past eight years, despite an uptick in 2024. What actions would you prioritize in the next phase of Vision Zero to continue this progress? (Open Response)
Liz Urtecho: Vision Zero has been a great initiative for the city, but we need to relook at it. There might be more to consider and priorities might have changed over the past eight years while continuing the work that’s being done.
Steve Firestone: Vision Zero has been a tremendous success in Hoboken. However, we still have too many areas that are dangerous when we bring together bicycles, cars, e-bikes, pedestrians, strollers and others at certain intersections. To me, the next phase involves better planning and coordinating to ensure that public safety officials have a seat at the table in all of our discussions. We need to open up the process more so that residents can share their experiences and recommendations to make Hoboken a safer place for all.
Caitlin Layson: I would focus on expanding community-based enforcement — where officers build relationships with residents and target the behaviors that put people most at risk. We should also use technology smartly, like camera-assisted enforcement in high-injury corridors, to discourage speeding and illegal turns without overburdening our police. Beyond enforcement, I’d prioritize better street design: clearer crosswalks, protected bike lanes, and curb extensions that slow down cars. And finally, education campaigns for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike, so everyone understands how to safely share our streets.
Joe Quintero: We should continue to look for infrastructure improvements such as finally finishing the Green Circuit. However, we should continue to step up enforcement via a combination of adding community policing, code enforcement officers, and camera assisted enforcement.
6. What steps would you take to improve safety for students walking or biking to school in Hoboken? (Open Response)
Liz Urtecho: I would re-evaluate where we place crossing guards to ensure the dangerous intersections are covered. I would prioritize the “most likely” school routes for curb/corner changes. I also believe that the city needs to do more to work with the schools to educate the kids about pedestrian safety. Oftentimes, kids walk into a crosswalk without looking or on their phones.
Steve Firestone: There are certain times of the day when EVERYONE seems to be walking in Hoboken. The school drop-off and pick-up times obviously being the most highly concentrated. Hoboken could establish dedicated “student school routes” during peak student commuting hours. That way, the community could best align resources to the areas where students tend to be walking the most and at what times.
Caitlin Layson: I would prioritize safer, more reliable routes around our schools, with clear crossings, better traffic calming, and consistent enforcement, so parents can feel confident their kids are safe. Building on what has worked, we need to keep investing in infrastructure and community awareness that protects pedestrians of all ages.
Joe Quintero: One thing to consider would be to establish dedicated “student school routes” during peak student commuting hours. The idea being to encourage pedestrians walking to and from schools to these routes and then focus our safety teams (crossing guards, police, etc.) on these routes as well. This could have the effect of separating pedestrian and vehicular traffic as much as possible and focusing public safety teams to points where they are most likely to intersect.
Policy & Planning
7. Do you support the use of automated enforcement (e.g., cameras) to ticket illegally parked vehicles? (Yes / No)
Liz Urtecho: Yes but it needs to be done with all stakeholders considered which might change where those locations are. We need more short term parking locations for drivers to run into a store so we don’t disadvantage our businesses. There needs to be signage and communication to the community. All of which were not done when this was rolled. It was an example of poor leadership.
Steve Firestone: Yes
Caitlin Layson: Yes
Joe Quintero: Yes
8. Do you support building a fully connected network of protected bike lanes through the interior of Hoboken, even if it means repurposing street or curb space? (Yes / No)
Liz Urtecho: Yes but I am not sure it is feasible. The streets need to be safe for everyone and that all needs of the community are considered. For example, we need to get emergency vehicles down streets. We would need to evaluate the parking needs on each street because we can’t eliminate all parking. Parklets are obstructing part of the curbs. It would be easier to have a bike lane around the perimeter.
Steve Firestone: Yes
Caitlin Layson: Yes
Joe Quintero: Yes
9. Based on the findings of the Curb Reimagined Foundations Report (May 2025), what changes to curb space allocation would you advocate for, if any? (Open Response)
Liz Urtecho: We need to consider more short term parking options throughout the city. Washington Street as well as some neighborhoods.
Steve Firestone: The Curb Reimagined Foundations Report represented a real leap forward in terms of our understanding of how these important places in our community are being utilized. This is not a surprise to Hoboken residents, but many of our curbs are not being used properly, with people using intended temporary spaces for parking. Since our curbs are in short supply, we need to take every opportunity to ensure that each curb is a high performing curb, allowing for a mix of uses that activate the space.
Caitlin Layson: I would start by identifying curb areas that show common issues and opportunities based on data reports. From there, I would assess the specific community needs for each space and determine the best strategy from curbside management programs, taking into account safety and how demand changes throughout the day.
Joe Quintero: I would focus on flexibility of curbside space. Our curb space is finite, so in some instances limiting some of its use to one purpose all day and everyday may not be the best choice. We should look to the community needs for the curb space in a particular area, how the needs change throughout the day, and implement policies that can adapt.
10. How should Hoboken update policies and infrastructure to safely support the growing use of low-speed electric bicycles for deliveries? (Open Response)
Liz Urtecho: The city needs to enforce the e-vehicle ordinance to start. We need to determine how many delivery vehicles are needed in the city and work with the apps to limit the number. Right now we are over-saturated with e-delivery vehicles and they have no dedicated place to wait. The city needs to explore options.
Steve Firestone: E-bikes have become a common part of the Hoboken landscape in recent years. Many have issues with how they obey traffic laws, but the fact remains that many residents believe they provide a valuable service to the community. First and foremost, we need to ensure that our traffic laws are followed, regardless of the mode of transportation. E-vehicles must follow the same rules-of-the-road as everyone else, or they should risk losing their ability to do delivery business in Hoboken. Hoboken is not the wild west. We are a progressive city of more than 60,000 residents. We can come together to approve some common-sense regulations to ensure that delivery drivers are not incentivized to run red lights and go the wrong way down one-way streets.
Caitlin Layson: We should focus enforcement on high-crash areas, using cameras to deter unsafe behavior, while ensuring electric vehicles follow the same rules as other road users. Pairing this with education for drivers, cyclists, and e-bike riders will help build a culture of safety and shared responsibility on Hoboken’s streets.
Joe Quintero: First is to continue to focus on enforcement in the highest crash areas, in particular camera assisted enforcement. This will create a safer environment for all in those areas. We should also ensure our e-vehicles are also held to the same traffic laws as those they share the road with to ensure we promote an overall culture of compliance from a safety perspective.
Community & Equity
11. How would you ensure that residents who express concern about bicycle infrastructure or street redesign projects are heard and meaningfully engaged in the decision-making process? (Open Response)
Liz Urtecho: My platform is based upon transparency and a residents first approach. All stakeholders need to be included in the discussion before policies or decisions are made. That’s called good governance and good leadership.
Steve Firestone: Voices from the community are the most important input for all important City Council decisions, including bicycle infrastructure. We hope that members of the community feel compelled to attend City Council meetings or contact their representatives to explain issues that they are seeing. We cannot do better as a community without community input! I would like to see more public engagement on the part of City Hall to ensure that community members can express their opinions about bicycle infrastructure and/or street redesign projects in open forums.
Caitlin Layson: Engagement should start early and continue throughout the project, with accessible community meetings, online feedback options, and targeted outreach to underrepresented neighborhoods. Sharing examples of how similar infrastructure improvements have benefited other cities can help residents understand the potential positive impact. Finally, documenting input and clearly showing how it influences the final plan ensures the community has a meaningful role in creating safer, more functional streets.
Joe Quintero: First we have to communicate to them that we hold all our residents to the same enforcement standards. That is, we expect bikes, ebikes, and scooters to follow the street rules as everyone else. We then need to promote more examples of how such infrastructure improvements have benefitted other cities recently. Finally, we need to try more test cases across the city so people can “feel” what these infrastructure changes could be like and then engage in the process to make them permanent if desired.
12. What role do you believe active transportation (walking, biking, micromobility) should play in Hoboken’s climate and sustainability goals? (Open Response)
Liz Urtecho: I support all active transportation. We are in a mile square town which we should encourage those who are able to participate. Active transportation data should be included in our climate and sustainability goals.
Steve Firestone: Hoboken residents should try to utilize active transportation wherever possible. For me, I find it is often the best way to get from Point A to Point B. For those residents that do not need to rely on an automobile, we should make it as easy as possible to take an active form of travel. Getting out of a car allows us to see our neighbors as they pass by on the street. Taking a Citi-bike instead of a car allows us to reduce our reliance on non-sustainable fuels. We can make Hoboken more environmentally sustainable. It takes small, daily personal transportation decisions that can cumulatively add up to big results for the community.
Caitlin Layson: Active transportation should be at the heart of Hoboken’s climate and sustainability goals. People often point to our city’s walkability as one of its greatest assets, and building on that means making it easy and safe for everyone — whether walking, biking, or using micromobility options. That includes designing streets and pathways that are accessible for people of all abilities, from seniors to families with strollers. Encouraging more people to choose active transportation reduces emissions, improves public health, and strengthens the sense of community that makes Hoboken such a special place.
Joe Quintero: It is definitely a contributing factor, e.g., more walking means less driving means fewer emissions, but it is likely a nominal factor when looking at the overall impact. Rather we should promote active transportation as a way to improve our individual and collective qualities of life SIGNIFICANTLY. It has been shown that the more people get out of their cars and move about town on foot or bike, then happier communities are generally.
13. How would you ensure that transportation improvements support accessibility for people with disabilities and mobility challenges? (Open Response)
Liz Urtecho: People with disabilities are often overlooked when thinking about transportation and get around town. Bring back the benches! All sidewalks and curbs need to be ADA compliant. Streets and sidewalks need to be maintained. We need to make sure that traffic and e-delivery vehicles abide by laws.
Steve Firestone: Hoboken is a very compassionate community, and we believe that all residents should be able to take advantage of our mobility resources. Our HOPS need to be ADA accessible, and routes should be expanded. We should ensure that residents that need ADA accessible parking spaces are granted them in a very timely manner.
Caitlin Layson: To ensure transportation improvements truly support people with disabilities and mobility challenges, accessibility must be considered at every stage of planning and design. Regular audits of these accommodations are essential to ensure they are working properly and meeting community needs. The HOP system should also become fully ADA accessible and user-friendly, allowing all residents to travel safely and independently. By combining thoughtful design, ongoing monitoring, and input from the community, we can build a transportation system that works for everyone, regardless of ability.
Joe Quintero: Our HOPS all need to be ADA accessible, should be expanded, and should be simplified. We should continue to ensure our curbs, not only at the corners, but in mid blocks, are built so that people with mobility issues can get over them. We should also seek to add more ADA spaces (e.g., one every few blocks) across town.
Personal Experience & Vision
14. How often do you walk or bike for transportation in Hoboken? What have your experiences been like? (Open Response)
Liz Urtecho: I always walk and only drive on rare occasions. In fact, I can go weeks without driving. I don’t bike in town although my kids do.
Steve Firestone: I typically walk everywhere that I need to get to in Hoboken. Hoboken is the most walkable city in America, in my opinion. On occasions where I have to get somewhere more quickly, I utilize the Washington Street NJT bus. My experiences walking have always been extremely positive. Hoboken has amazing architecture, and I often find myself catching something unique about buildings and places that I never noticed before. My experiences taking the bus have been a little more frustrating. People often double park on Washington Street and some motorists disobey the rules. This slows down the buses and delays riders. This is one of the reasons why I think it is vital that we utilize technology to better police this area of Hoboken. No one deserves to have to wait for a person parking illegally on Washington Street to return to their car when they are trying to get home from work.
Caitlin Layson: My primary mode of transportation in Hoboken is walking.
Joe Quintero: My primary mode of transportation around town is by walking, followed by my bike, and then my car. On occasion I’ll take my e-scooter out for a ride.
15. (Optional) Is there anything else you’d like to share about your vision for walking, biking, and active transportation in Hoboken? (Open Response)
Liz Urtecho: [No additional response provided]
Steve Firestone: Hoboken attracts people of all ages because it is mobility-accessible to a large population. However, we should never slow the process of improvement. Residents should reach out to their elected officials to provide input. We grow together as a community and we can continue the public safety success of Vision Zero into the future.
Caitlin Layson: [No additional response provided]
Joe Quintero: [No additional response provided]