The Milton Peoples Forum...Online: Question 2 / District 2.

Courtesy Accessmilton.com & The Milton Herald

As referenced this past week on Accessmilton.com, the Milton Herald and Accessmilton.com are continuing the Milton Peoples Forum online. The focus
is to ask questions that time did not allow us to address at this past week's event.

In order to insure equal visibility for both districts, District 2 candidates answers will be posted on Tuesday and Thursday evenings while District 6 candidates answers will be listed on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Candidates are limited to a maximum of 200 words per answer and are listed alphabetically.

Our second question is:

Many of Milton's roads are very narrow and many have no shoulder whatsoever. In addition, Milton is a popular area for cyclists. Until Milton’s trail plan has been implemented, what can be done to make the roads safer for all travelers?

District 2 Candidate Matt Kunz=>

"Milton has 203 miles of road with 406 miles of shoulders. Not all roads are safe enough to accommodate both vehicles and cyclists. Our Public Works Department has done an excellent job assessing the quality of our roads. Now we need to do a further study to identify those roads where we can reasonably provide for cyclists within our budget, while paying attention to the legal liability issues that inevitably arise. Common sense should prevail until we can put a more comprehensive plan into place, which of course, will require additional sources of revenue. I have previously proposed that additional funding should come from a reinvigorated private sector operating out of our existing commercial areas.

Going forward all repaving should include bike/running lanes. Revenues should be set aside for that purpose. In this way, we can balance the absolute need for safety with the desire to provide healthy recreational resources for our citizens. In the meantime, a range of well-known traffic calming measures can be implemented.

I should note that competitive cycling is big business these days. If cyclists from other areas feel safe on our roads, they will bring in additional resources, revenue and recognition to our city."

District 2 Candidate Julie Zahner Bailey=>

"Numerous initiatives are underway creating short/long-term improvements to road safety. These include:
• Milton’s Transportation Master Plan has been approved, setting in motion citywide improvements including corridor, intersection and bridge, equestrian and cyclist, disabled access, and pedestrian improvements.
• Corridor improvements are being coordinated with adjacent municipalities and the Atlanta Region Commission including Arnold Mill (140) and Highway 9.
• Intersection improvements are funded/underway: Birmingham Highway/New Providence, Arnold Mill/New Providence, Francis/Cogburn/Hopewell and Bethany/ Cogburn.
• We’re evaluating approaches for Crabapple and Birmingham Highway and Crabapple Road.
• Roundabouts, funded by the Georgia Department of Transportation, will be utilized as they successfully calm traffic and reduce speeds.
• Speed reduction for our roadways is evaluated annually – some speed limits have already been reduced.
• Paving of roadways continues based on prioritization based on road condition. Our $7.8MM surplus fund balance will allow all needed annual paving at which time bicycle lanes should be marked for correct widths.
• I have proposed the City initiate a proactive driver and cyclist education campaign to communicate “rules of the road,” to improve safety.
• Sidewalks and other alternative pathways are being implemented through a variety of means including the Safer Routes to School program."