September's Campaign Question

Campaign season has come to Milton, Georgia once again! As the process moves forward, Accessmilton.com will be asking all candidates one question each month up to election day. In regards to the answers below, all were given the same amount of time and space to submit their answers. For those who did not respond, it will be noted accordingly. Best of luck to all the candidates!

THIS MONTH'S QUESTION:

What would you do in regards to Milton's Traffic / Speeding problems?

DISTRICT 2 CANDIDATES

Julie Zahner Bailey
Milton City Council
Incumbent, District 2

"We are taking steps to improve traffic congestion at key bottleneck areas where federal and/or state funds have already been assigned including Providence/Birmingham Highway, Freemanville Road/Providence, Bethany/Providence and Crabapple. Our Comprehensive Land Use Planning update process will have a component to evaluate options for traffic flow throughout Milton involving Arnold Mill, Cogburn and Bethany, Crabapple, Highway 9 and beyond, but there are no quick fixes. Additional measures to address traffic include: the implementation of our new public safety officers who are enforcing speed limits and saving lives; measures underway to reduce speeds on specific roads; improved signalization and synchronization of existing lights and the use of more rural road designs where appropriate. In the mid to long-term, keeping over-development in check while employing low-cost improvements will positively affect traffic congestion and reduce speeding."

District 2 Candidate Roger Santi did not provide material for this question.

DISTRICT 4 CANDIDATES

Burt Hewitt

"The safety or our drivers, pedestrians and cyclist is of importance to me. Traffic is one of the most frustrating issues in Milton, but one immediate step we can take is to not exacerbate the problem by allowing more development in areas that are already stressed. It concerns me that many accidents in the less congested areas of Milton have been caused by speed, it is imperative that we evaluate traffic calming devices,and I would like to work towards implementing a designated group of our police officers to enforce traffic laws. Both traffic and speed contro problems will require the commitment of our residents and city government to implement multi-faceted solutions, and to recognize that these issues are an ongoing challenge to Milton."

District 4 Candidate Neal O'brien did not provide material for this question.

DISTRICT 6 CANDIDATES

District 6 Candidate Rick Mohrig did not provide material for this question.

Alan Tart

"Our efforts should focus on slowing traffic down, as well as reducing traffic, to improve the safety of drivers and pedestrians and to protect the environment. To reduce traffic to levels that our infrastructure can support, I will work with the council to control density by consistently applying comprehensive land use policies and upholding "no sewer" policies. To slow traffic, I will support traffic calming infrastructure improvements, police enforcement, and community education. Examples of traffic calming improvements that we can utilize immediately include having narrower traffic lanes, installing trees near the street, installing raised crossings, speed tables, or cushions in high pedestrian areas, and where possible, using modern roundabouts in place of stop signs or traffic control signals."