2021 Atlanta City Council Candidate Questionnaire Responses

Atlanta City Council Candidate Questionnaire Responses

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Individual candidate responses are listed by district below, alphabetically by first name.

DISTRICT 1

Question 1: What is the main way you get around Atlanta on a daily basis?

Candidate	Response
Clarence Blalock	Drive alone
Jason Winston	My wife and I have a 9 month old daughter and usually use a car to get her around during the week for childcare; however, we primarily walk and bike on the weekends; sometimes never using a vehicle.
Kelly-Jeanne Lee	Drive alone
Nathan Clubb	Bike
Russell Hopson	Drive alone

Question 2: Please share your vision for transportation and mobility in the city of Atlanta. How would you support transportation options for the 16% of Atlantans who don’t have access to a car, have a disability, and/or prefer to get around by sustainable, healthy modes of transportation such as transit, walking, biking, etc?

Candidate	Response
Clarence Blalock	Push for more protected bike lanes and transit options like Beltline rail and bus rapid transit, I would vote for MARTA board members who were behind these goals. Also investing in traffic engineering that leads to better pedestrian safety and safer streets.
Jason Winston	For a city to thrive, it needs to be accessible. Investing in sustainable, healthy transportation means cleaner air, less congestion and more job and educational opportunities for people. I didn’t have a car for two years when I moved to Atlanta, so I know firsthand the importance of accessible, reliable transportation options. I personally relied on MARTA for transportation. That’s why I’m committed to additional investment in MARTA in addition to bike lanes and sidewalks to make our city more walkable and bikeable. With the “More MARTA” program, we have a huge opportunity to expand Atlanta transit and make our city cleaner and more connected. It’s the right thing to do for our economy, for our environment and for the people of Atlanta.
Kelly-Jeanne Lee	I support improvements to pedestrian safety in the city through the installation and maintenance of sidewalks on all streets in the neighborhood as well as through the addition and maintenance of crosswalks at main intersections on arterial roads. We also must Improve ADA accessibility throughout the city through additional curb cuts and crosswalk signaling. Encouraging alternative forms of transit within the city through the addition of bike lanes where streets are wide enough to accommodate them as well as through improvements to existing transit service is vital, but we also must move steadily in the direction of greater rail connectivity within the city.
Nathan Clubb	Atlanta’s streets are congested and unsafe for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. I recognize the need to invest in and redesign our infrastructure, including basics like sidewalks, complete streets designed for all users, and frequent transit in dedicated lanes. My priorities include: Prioritize public transit. We need high frequency transit to truly provide Atlantans an alternative to driving. This includes a better bus network with dedicated right of way, such as the Summerhill BRT line, and rail on the BeltLine. Build and maintain sidewalks. We need to address the $800 million backlog by prioritizing which sidewalks to build and repair and move forward with funding this basic infrastructure. Make cycling safe. We need to build out a connected network of protected bike lanes, trails, and neighborhood greenways. I co-founded the Bill Kennedy Way Working Group which successfully pushed the City to work with the BeltLine and create the safe protected corridor that we have today that connects communities north and south of I-20. Fully support Vision Zero. We have too many deaths on our roadways, impacting all modes of transportation. We need to use engineering, public awareness, and slower speed limits to eliminate these unnecessary deaths. I co-founded the South Moreland Avenue Working Group which brought together community leaders from NPU-W and NPU-Z and is actively working with GDOT to bring safety enhancements along this dangerous corridor.
Russell Hopson	There's no way around it. We need an expansion of our current public transportation infrastructure. Marta's rail lines are clean and efficient and should be expanded to be comparable with other major cities. There should also be far more bike lanes added to highly trafficked streets and thoroughfares. There should be a precedent set towards safe and smooth sidewalks and roads as well. I think these points should be prioritized and companies should continue tele-work options for commuters.

Question 3: The Atlanta Department of Transportation estimates the City has a sidewalk funding gap of close to $1 billion dollars. How would you fund sidewalks and other urgent transportation needs in the city?

Candidate	Response
Clarence Blalock	The current Atlanta City Council does not have an answer to this, I would need the resources of the City of Atlanta to give a realistic answer. A SPLOST vote is an option.
Jason Winston	First, I would support the renewal of the TSPLOST. However, that alone will not be enough to make up the $800 million funding gap. City officials will have to find additional funding opportunities by reimagining the annual budget and expanding the use of participatory budgeting. We must also work with the State and Federal governments to find additional funding sources if available under any future federal infrastructure plans.
Kelly-Jeanne Lee	There is a sales tax already approved that is allocated to this, but sales taxes are regressive in that they are most impactful to people least able to pay them - this is not an equitable funding source. We need to think larger scale about what grant monies there are available that can be specifically allocated to this and where there are opportunities for public/private partnerships. It also may sound small, but with so much development going on both large and small in our communities - holding developers accountable for the sidewalks adjacent to their properties and/or levying impact fees that are specifically allocated to sidewalk funding would be another incremental step toward closing this gap.
Nathan Clubb	We need a number of funding sources to fill a gap of that size. This includes allocating an increased portion of the City's General Fund towards essential transportation projects. We also will need another TSPLOST, but this time we need a Council that will put safeguards in place to ensure $30 million of it doesn't get diverted to an unnecessary bridge. These funding sources can be used to draw down additional federal dollars. I also support increased participatory budgeting so we can get community buy-in and build trust for how our public dollars will be spent.
Russell Hopson	The easiest way would be to create another SPLOST for the city and surrounding counties. A publicly approved and funded option would be the best investment for this type of improvement.

Question 4: The number of people killed while walking in Georgia increased 22% from 2015 to 2019. Half of those killed were Black, a fatality rate more than twice that of white Georgians. In the city of Atlanta, out of the 16 pedestrians killed so far this year, 15 were Black and 13 were men. This mirrors the national trend of pedestrian fatalities increasing fastest among Black men. What will you do to make streets measurably safer for people biking, walking, and using scooters or wheelchairs? What will you do to address the disparities in whose lives are endangered the most by unsafe streets?

Candidate	Response
Clarence Blalock	Traffic engineering on streets and possible enforcement, look at these situations on a case by case basis.
Jason Winston	If elected to city council, I will work with city officials to prioritize the safety of all Atlanta residents and that includes making our streets safer for pedestrians, bikers, and scooters. That also means working to ensure our city streets and sidewalks are 100% ADA compliant and safe for wheelchairs. We must prioritize more “Complete Streets” projects throughout the city to safely accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, public transportation, and vehicle traffic in dedicated transit lanes. It is also extremely important that as a city we rely on all available data to use evidence-based decisions when it comes to addressing equitable solutions to the racial disparities in pedestrian safety. This means committing to the Vision Zero strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities.
Kelly-Jeanne Lee	The streets with the highest injuries and fatalities within the city have already been identified and so must have their infrastructure addressed as soon as possible. We must have clear, passable, present sidewalks; buffered bike lanes; traffic calming measures such as lowered speed limits; and improvements to lighting made. If we follow the pattern of injuries and fatalities, we see the the streets are in our predominantly lower income and predominantly Black neighborhoods (south of I-20) and so addressing these streets immediately will help to address the disparity in whose lives are endangered most. We must also assure that every street that has bus traffic has sidewalks - there should be no bus stop that requires people to walk in the street to access it.
Nathan Clubb	We have too many deaths on our roadways, impacting all modes of transportation. We need to use engineering, public awareness, and slower speed limits to eliminate these unnecessary deaths. We need to be more creative with implementing quick delivery, less expensive traffic calming measures. We need to work with the state on allowing automated traffic enforcement. We need sidewalks that actually comply with ADA regulations. I've been successfully working on these issues as a neighborhood association president. The second part of this is we must do this in an equitable fashion, prioritizing parts of District 1 that have the lowest rates of car ownership, that have historically experienced a lack of infrastructure investment, and that are on or near our high injury network.
Russell Hopson	Enforcement of traffic and pedestrian rules must be prioritized. Speeding and jaywalking run rampant within the city limits. Rental scooter users must also be far more vigilant in their adherence to transportation guidelines. Possibly a user agreement detailing city pedestrian guidelines before one can be rented could help. The greatest way to prevent these disparities is to put greater emphasis on safe and more broad ranging non-vehicular modes of transportation, not as a recreational issue but a basic life necessity.

Question 5: In 2019, the City of Atlanta announced plans to "more than triple its on-street protected bike network" saying, "by the end of 2021, Atlantans will see more than 20 miles of safer streets.” Many of those projects are not on track to be complete by the end of the year, and while the pandemic challenged project implementation everywhere, building bike lanes and Complete Streets in Atlanta has always been slow. If elected, would you seek to speed up the completion of transportation projects intended to provide safe travel options for people who walk, bike, or have a disability?

Candidate	Response
Clarence Blalock	I would like to finish these projects as soon as possible.
Jason Winston	Yes, if elected I will work with my colleagues in the council to help end the stalemate of very important transportation projects. We must work with vigor to help fix our city’s transportation infrastructure. It is imperative that we make this a high priority for our current citizens who have voted for and advocated for safer streets. This is also important if we are going to continue being a world class city that is viewed as attractive to major corporations who want their employees to have a quality life in Atlanta that is not hampered by transportation woes that continue to grip this city.
Kelly-Jeanne Lee	Yes, the safety of our citizens and anything we can do to slow climate change through transit alternatives must always be among our first priorities.
Nathan Clubb	Yes. And as an auditor, I would dig into the root causes of why we are not on track.
Russell Hopson	It is undeniably important. I think that prioritizing methods of transit/transportation for the non-car driving community should be done...hard stop. The environmental, employment and health benefits would be immeasurable for our expanding city. Cars will exist and be prevalent regardless. The only way to ensure measured expansion of our city will be through innovative and expanded public transportation.

Question 6: Communities across the country have found stark racial disparities in enforcement of “jaywalking” and similar laws. In many parts of Atlanta, the nearest crosswalk is over a half-mile away. How would you address the over-policing of walking, biking, and riding transit, including crossing a street outside of a crosswalk?

Candidate	Response
Clarence Blalock	Jaywalking should be decriminalized.
Jason Winston	We must prioritize a “Complete Streets,” strategy throughout the City of Atlanta, and rely on all available resources and data to know how to efficiently prioritize new projects in an equitable manner. I would also work with city officials to look at any available data to analyze and address any issues of over-policing for minor infractions such as jaywalking. However, we must also work with law enforcement officials to ensure safety concerns or violations are addressed in a way that relies more on education than punishment.
Kelly-Jeanne Lee	Laws against pedestrian behavior are subjective at best and don't do what is needed to protect people from getting killed by cars - lowering speeds and increasing automated traffic enforcement (using cameras which function objectively vs people who do not) are shown to dramatically improve driver behavior and have a dramatic impact on pedestrian safety and pedestrian/car accident outcomes. We must decriminalize pedestrian behavior and focus our efforts on enforcement where it will save lives.
Nathan Clubb	I would oppose over policing of these minor laws. At the same time, we need to increase our number of crosswalks, particularly protected crosswalks along our high injury road network, and where we have bus stops and no safe way to cross the street to reach them.
Russell Hopson	The first step is actually caring equivalently for communities with lower median income. Signage, street painting and paving have to be addressed equitably across the city. Some of these issues are derived from systemic problems and are just manifested on our roads and thoroughfares. A panoramic approach to equity in the city is the end goal.

Question 7: The More MARTA tax allocates $2.5 B to expand MARTA in the City of Atlanta over the next 40 years. What do you think the relationship between MARTA and the City of Atlanta should be in implementing this program? What considerations should MARTA be expected to provide for on-street facilities for people getting to and from transit?

Candidate	Response
Clarence Blalock	MARTA should implement Beltline Rail as soon as is feasible and pedestrian safety should be a priority.
Jason Winston	There should be a more collaborative relationship between MARTA and the City of Atlanta in implementing the More MARTA plan. However there must also be more engagement with other key stakeholders and agencies in the city and state; including better public community engagement. I also believe there should be adequate on-street facilities and/or accommodations for people using our public transit system; like basic shelter from the sun and rain. These should be minimum requirements for all future MARTA expansions as well as upgrading the existing public transit infrastructure.
Kelly-Jeanne Lee	The City of Atlanta should do whatever possible to facilitate the completion of this program. Marta and the city should be expected to collaborate in providing sidewalks on any street that has transit services. People accessing transit are doing so on foot or by bike from their homes and workplaces, there should be no street that can accommodate a bus, a streetcar, or any other transit conveyance that does not have sidewalks so that people can safely access that service and can safely wait for it to arrive.
Nathan Clubb	The City of Atlanta should take an active oversight role and be a part of MARTA's decisionmaking as it decides which projects to fund and how to sequence the projects. MARTA should be expected to work with the City to ensure we have good sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike infrastructure to connect more Atlantans to transit. This will require coordination.
Russell Hopson	I think the relationship is, and should be, symbiotic. I'm not a transportation expert so I will defer to empirical data as to which methods would be most effective. Bottom line is that MARTA and the city should work together to protect and comfortably facilitate its customers.

DISTRICT 2

Question 1: What is the main way you get around Atlanta on a daily basis?

Candidate	Response
Amir Farokhi – incumbent	Drive alone

Candidate

Response

Amir Farokhi – incumbent

Much of my first term's focus has been on improving the City's commitment to multi-modal streets and finding funding to improve sidewalks. Investment in our transportation infrastructure will continue to be a top focus of mine, as will pushing the City to be more bold in safer streets and street closures. I've spent more time on sidewalks than any other issue.

My district is blessed with strong public transit options, both bus and rail. As we look for equity and access in our connectivity, we will need to prioritize density in development, bus routes where there are access issues, and a lens of accessibility for those who may not be able to walk or see.

Finally, everyone should feel safe on any street no matter how they are moving about. That will require a new mindset at the City. We have seen improvements but we haven't done enough.

Candidate

Response

Amir Farokhi – incumbent

I wrote the legislation calling for a full accounting of sidewalk infrastructure repair and expansion needs. $1B is conservative the number is likely much higher because it did not account for future repair needs or increasing costs. To fund this wok, we will need much more than the City's General Fund: a new TSPLOST, a sidewalk SPLOST, state and federal funding opportunities, and a new parking tax.

Candidate	Response
Amir Farokhi – incumbent	Street design must decrease car speeds, improve line of sight, ensure pedestrian crossings are ample and well designed, have protected bike lanes, and generally influence behaviors through design. Without more detail, the gender and race stats included in this question are not instructive or conclusive on their own.

Candidate	Response
Amir Farokhi – incumbent	Yes. I have criticized ATL DOT for its lack of action on the bike network. I will continue to do so and push for faster and more complete implementation.

Candidate	Response
Amir Farokhi – incumbent	I have not seen Atlanta-specific data on this issue. But wholesale revisioning of the pedestrian experience and street/sidewalk design and maintenance is always top of mind for me. It needs to be for our City, too.

Candidate

Response

Amir Farokhi – incumbent

The City and MARTA are partners in this expansion effort. City residents have provided priorities for the More MARTA funds and MARTA has brought its technical expertise and execution capacity to the table. Going forward, regular communication and community engagement as roadblocks and new priorities emerge will be critical to the best outcomes.

MARTA should spend significant time improving the user experience at bus-stops and street car stops. Accessibility, signage, comfort, and visibility can all be improved.

DISTRICT 3

Question 1: What is the main way you get around Atlanta on a daily basis?

Candidate	Response
Byron Amos	No Response
Erika Estrada	I have a hybrid situation. On a daily basis, I walk to where I need to go about 60% of the time and drive the other 40%.
Brandon Graham	Drive alone
Elijah Porter	No Response
Keona Jones	Drive alone
Ken Wainwright	No Response

Candidate	Response
Byron Amos	No Response
Erika Estrada	I envision the city of Atlanta gaining a reputation for being the most affordable, inclusive and equitable city in the south. Equitable access to quality transportation options is one of the key factors in achieving that reputation. I would support the speedy and transparent implementation of projects already in the pipeline that support this goal. I will also seek additional public-private partnerships and funding that will specifically benefit Atlantans and Atlanta neighborhoods that have traditionally been underserved and barred from equitable access to quality transportation options.
Brandon Graham	My vision for transportation and mobility in the city of Atlanta is for us to have a positive, progressive and inclusive transit ecosystem. I will support Atlantans who don’t have access to a car, have a disability, and/or prefer to get around by public transit by ensuring that we utilize the data on public transportation to redevelop our operational and supply chain focuses as we work to serve all residents and visitors who engage in our transit ecosystem. We can work toward this goal by utilizing a number of strategies and initiatives to aid us in providing better and safer transportation. Community By Community In streamlining our focuses, implementation and completion, I will work alongside community leaders and residents to identify bus stops, bike lanes, sidewalks that need redevelopment, lack the proper wheelchair accessibility, and then create a project management plan and completion date for said community.
Elijah Porter	No Response
Keona Jones	First of all, thanks for the opportunity in reaffirming that all of our neighbors and friends have access to safe sustainable mode(s) of transportation in the City of Atlanta. In the past as NPU Chair & Pre-COVID, I worked on a committee that consisted of City Council Members, Community Leaders, NPU Leaders, Stakeholders, State and Local transportation agencies to promote the safety of our friends and neighbors crossing Donald Lee Hollowell. Public, private partnerships are essential. DLH has been identified as one of the most dangerous US Highways to cross in the city. Since 2016, seven pedestrians have been struck and killed. It is a must to continue to advocate with agencies such as the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition to ensure that our streets are safe in Atlanta. The above listed agencies in conjunction with Center Hill Neighborhood Association were successful, getting 3 new Beacon Lights installed. These type of relationships extended throughout the City will yield success.
Patricia Crayton	No Response

Candidate	Response
Byron Amos	No Response
Erika Estrada	I would first like a transparent and detailed view into the root cause of the funding gap to ensure that there weren’t any mismanagement or waste of available funding sources. We simply can not afford to have mismanagement and waste and it must be identified and remedied, if present. Second, I would advocate for assessing the viability of increasing bond programs and state and/or federal funding from their current levels to support these urgent funding needs.
Brandon Graham	We first have to evaluate the use of the Sales Tax dollars and bond dollars that are allocated to fund sidewalks and urgent transportation needs. Create an integrated plan of action that details proper use, areas of urgency and proactive maintenance. I believe we have to engage with our major corporations within the city and create a vision and mission of shared purpose with a call to action as we need their buying and help to fix our infrastructure.
Elijah Porter	No Response
Keona Jones	As District 3 Council member, I would address the funding gap in a two-pronged approach. My first approach would be to address this issue through equitable budgeting with my other city council colleagues. There is a disparity across the city. My second approach would be to have communities work hand-in-hand with developers to create longstanding sustainable partnerships and direct resources towards sidewalks, streetscapes, lights, cameras, community programs and grassroot organizations. Lastly the CDP (Comprehensive Development Plan) includes the City of Atlanta’s Walkability Plan which includes sidewalks. The philanthropic community and corporation resources should not be "left out" of the equation.
Ken Wainwright	No Response

Candidate	Response
Byron Amos	No Response
Erika Estrada	These tragic and unnecessary deaths and statistics are very likely directly related to failure to be transparent and follow through on capital projects already in the pipeline. If elected, the first step I would take to drive measurable change in this area would be to understand the status of the current capital projects and what it would take to complete implementation of these potentially lifesaving projects at or ahead of schedule. We need a sense of urgency and attention to detail around these projects. Second, I would increase education and community outreach, meeting residents where they are, to discuss these important safety issues and what we can do in the short-term to increase safety and awareness of this issue.
Brandon Graham	In areas within the city where we have a higher percentage of pedestrians, residents who ride public transit and or are disabled we have to ensure more crosswalks and pedestrian beacon lights are installed. This will dramatically change the culture for the pedestrian and the driver, and it will decrease our fatality rate. Educating the residents of Atlanta is vital as it pertains to engaging with pedestrians, scooters and bike riders. Launching a media campaign called “Road Neighbor”, to educate our residents the importance of being neighborly and safe on the road.
Elijah Porter	No Response
Keona Jones	As District 3 Council member, I would look to the experts to identify solutions and push for implementation to curb this tragic situation. For example, you, the Atlanta Bike Coalition, have outlined a very strategic plan in making our streets safer. Rather than reinvent the wheel, this would be a great opportunity to have conversation around these strategies. More importantly, reducing the traffic fatalities to zero, via Vision Zero, prevent speeding, street racing, unauthorized vehicles (ATV’s /Tractor Trailers etc.) reduce the speed limit, ensure that the safe spaces are incorporated with the sidewalk plan. Also, I’d work to have the city impose their existing policy for events. There are some well-stated, inclusive policies that exist, but the city needs to ensure that they are measured and enforced.
Ken Wainwright	No Response

Candidate	Response
Byron Amos	No Response
Erika Estrada	If elected, fighting for world-class, equitable transportation options in the City of Atlanta would be one of my top priorities. Some of our city’s most significant challenges including income inequality, health disparities, public safety and educational disparities are directly impacted by lack of access to quality transportation options. Mismanagement and lack of a sense of urgency around completion of transportation projects in our city has cost lives and valuable resources to be lost. I would advocate for more transparency, accountability and communication regarding the status and completion of critical projects, especially in traditionally underserved communities in our city
Brandon Graham	If elected I definitely would like access and streamline the completion of transportation projects as we have to ensure our operations are efficient, effective and responsive to the people we serve. This means ciphering our projects based upon completion and stages in red, yellow and green, creating or revitalizing an Atlanta Transportation Project Committee that works alongside the city departments in keeping our projects on track and supply chain streamlined.
Elijah Porter	No Response
Keona Jones	Realistically speaking, COVID was a challenge not only for the city, but for the entire country. So, we cannot discount that reality. However, focusing on transportation projects as we move out of COVID needs to become the priority as the city is expected to double the number of residents in a few short years. If elected, transportation would be one of my highest priorities. Transportation is inter-related with many facets of safety, planning and development. And, my friends and neighbors living in the city can count on transportation being a priority of mine.
Ken Wainwright	No Response

Candidate	Response
Byron Amos	No Response
Erika Estrada	I would seek to reevaluate legislation and policies for these instances of over-policing. To properly reevaluate and correct these policies and legislation and their enforcement, there must be a collaborative partnership between law enforcement, legislators and residents of impacted communities. If elected, I would consider it my role to lead those collaborative discussions and partnerships. Out of those discussions and partnerships I would drive solutions and introduce new legislation and policy, as needed, that would reduce over-policing in the short-term and long-term.
Brandon Graham	Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs) can warn and control traffic at unsignalized locations and assist pedestrians in crossing a street or highway at a marked crosswalk. A PHB should be installed in conjunction with the following: Overhead beacons with three sections (circular yellow signal indication centered below two horizontally aligned circular red signals) facing both directions on the major street. Overhead signs labeled “CROSSWALK STOP ON RED” to indicate that the location is associated with a pedestrian crosswalk. A marked crosswalk on the major street. Countdown pedestrian signal heads to control pedestrian crossings at the crosswalk. Pedestrian detectors, such as pushbuttons.
Elijah Porter	No Response
Keona Jones	Crosswalks are in place for the safety of our neighbors and friends. It is possible to revisit current legislation/laws pertaining to punishments for “jaywalking” to ensure equity and to highlight on citizen “safety education” rather than “punishment”. Also, the analysis of “jaywalking” violations should be used as data collection points to determine the need for additional crosswalk locations
Ken Wainwright	No Response

Candidate	Response
Byron Amos	No response
Erika Estrada	The relationship between MARTA and the City of Atlanta must be a collaborative and transparent effort to successfully implement this long-term project. Both organizations should have equal opportunity to provide input, resources and solutions to the implementation plan over time. Both parties should also hold the other accountable for transparency and fulfilling their commitments to the projects as they go through implementation. And, both parties should consider the needs of the people, first, as part of their guiding principles for implementation, which may include solutions such as MARTA providing more for on-street facilities than originally envisioned.
Brandon Graham	The relationship between MARTA and the City of Atlanta should be a true collaborative effort to aid in the program development and implementation for on-street facilities. What we should be looking for is enhancing the public transit experience and brand of MARTA and the city of Atlanta. Re-evaluating our expansion throughout the city is a major priority as our city is changing and certain areas need our direct attention and focus. We have to create real and viable business markets at our train stations, increase lighting, connect marta card opportunities for APS students and all Atlanta based Universities and Colleges.
Elijah Porter	No Response
Keona Jones	This relationship should resemble the ultimate (PPP) relationship Public/Private Partnership. The City of Atlanta Planning, The Beltline, Parks and Rec, Developers, Utility Companies, Community & NPU Leaders, Stakeholders and other Affiliated Grassroot Organizations should be a part of the conversation with MORE Marta. There should be constant updates, dialogue and assurance that MORE Marta’s implementation is a success. Marta should share a percentage of the responsibility in connectivity to ensure the design and integration of safe bike lanes, crosswalks, bus-stops, and sidewalks into the traffic-flow throughout the city.
Ken Wainwright	No Response

DISTRICT 4

Question 1: What is the main way you get around Atlanta on a daily basis?

Candidate	Response
Ahmad Sylvester	No Response
Cleta Winslow - incumbent	Drive alone
DeBorah Williams	No Response
Jason Dozier	Pre-pandemic - multimodal (walk, bike, bus, and train from Mechanicsville to Alpharetta); currently I drive with my family for errands.
Kim Scott	Drive Alone
Larry B. Carter II	Drive alone
Rogelio Arcila	Carpool

Candidate	Response
Ahmad Sylvester	No Response
Cleta Winslow - incumbent	I am very supportive of the MARTA More Program. Which is looking at how to enhance ridership by providing more express buses and better connections around the Atlanta Regional area. I have been the only Councilmember to attend the ATL meetings and I am encouraged that other county's are starting to realize that transit will be a more viable answer for the future. I would be in favor of looking at how the City of Atlanta could work with the State Department of Community Affairs on funding transit coming into the city but also connecting up to MARTA. This could give entrpreneurs job but also increase MARTAS ridership from outlying areas beyond countys like Rockdale, Gwinett and Clayton.
DeBorah Williams	No Response
Jason Dozier	For decades, transportation discourse in Atlanta has centered around highway traffic and how quickly automobiles can move in and out of the city. This framework disproportionately elevates highway expansion and structured parking as solutions to our transportation woes. Thus, for decades, our region’s development patterns have exacerbated our region’s overreliance on cars for our transportation needs. And while Atlanta’s suburbs are notorious for perpetuating this automobile-centric culture, our central city is also culpable here. Except for a few small neighborhoods in the heart of the city, Atlanta’s land use and zoning ordinances encourage car-oriented transportation, even going as far as to mandate that all new office, residential, and retail construction build new parking facilities. However, though our policies encourage (and in some cases practically require) residents to drive to destinations, vehicle ownership is a luxury for many Atlantans. Nearly 20% of households across Atlanta (and almost 40% of households in southwest Atlanta) don’t own or have access to a car as their primary means of transportation and have to rely on alternative forms of transportation to get to work, school, daycare, and everything in between. Atlanta’s job centers are clustered in the northern reaches of the city while many of our working families must spend hours commuting via bus and train in the early hours of each day. There is an imbalance, especially since the communities that need alternative transportation amenities the most have the least access to those amenities. Sidewalks and bicycle lanes are commonly available in communities north of I-20, while in our city’s southwestern communities, children and seniors must walk in the middle of the street dodging unfettered vehicle traffic to get to where they need to go. And if they’re transit riders, that typically means their bus stop is a patch of dirt with a poorly marked pole in the ground. Everyone--no matter their means, race, class, income level, age, or physical ability--should be able to move safely. Investing in transportation means more than just investing in automobile infrastructure, and our policies must reflect that reality. And as a member of City Council, I will advocate, encourage, and promote safe and efficient transportation and mobility in three ways. First, I will ensure that Atlanta prioritizes investment in the diverse transportation options that link neighborhoods with jobs and connects communities to regional resources. That also means ensuring that the city treats sidewalks as shared resources and commits to fixing the backlog of sidewalk repairs while investing in new pedestrian infrastructure. That also means expanding Atlanta’s pedestrian, wheelchair, and bicycle infrastructure in such a way that ensures access and connectivity remain safe and equitable. Second, I will acknowledge the relationship between land use and transportation and work to reverse the damage caused by decades of development that’s been detrimental to pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair users. In Atlanta, low-density communities typically don’t have sufficient sidewalk access, lighting, or general access to safe streets, and I believe that we can only succeed when we support infrastructure with land use and zoning policies that enhance the urban fabric. What use is a streetcar when the route is surrounded by swaths of parking, much of it mandated by public decree? Transportation priorities need complementary land use and zoning policies, and transportation planning can’t happen in a vacuum. I also recognize the role that our abundance of free parking plays in defining the design of our city. Not only do I support updating zoning and land use ordinances to more broadly abolish parking minimums, but I believe that the city should consider enacting parking maximums in transit-rich communities and along the BeltLine. Third, we must normalize the transportation alternatives that exist in our city, encouraging the adoption of alternatives to ensure resilience against climate change and promote positive health outcomes. For instance, bicycle accessibility is too often seen as a luxury for a handful of citizens and is sometimes seen as a tool of gentrification. But I contend that cycling offers low-income residents a cost-effective and healthy way to navigate our city. Atlanta must work to educate and convince citizens of cycling’s place as an equitable mode of transportation. And a good way to do that is to install protected bicycle infrastructure in disinvested communities of color to highlight--especially near schools--to emphasize that this is a resource for everyone, not just those in affluent parts of the city.
Kim Scott	Transportation is a major issue for Atlanta. Atlanta completed its first transportation plan in 2008. It was last updated in 2018 and includes Affordability as one of its three goals. Affordability is outlined as providing affordable and accessible transportation options for all residents. As the transportation plans clearly outline the challenges, the transportation issue is linked to the city’s infrastructure and growth. How I would support transportation options for the 16% of Atlanta is by first looking at the transportation plan and asking if it is creating actual sustainable, healthy modes of transportation for that target demographic. Two I would recommend the creation of measurable outcomes in the transportation for specific vulnerable populations to include youth and children, people with disabilities, the elderly, and those who don’t have an access to a car.
Larry B. Carter II	In my public safety plan I plan to work to have complete streets. We would work to have repair sidewalk, ensure bike lanes are protected as well as advocate for expansion of MARTA and light rail.
Rogelio Arcila	Our campaign's vision for transportation and mobility in the City of Atlanta is a community curated vision. It is one where our communities are in charge of the decision-making process. Historically, Black people, people in low-income communities, immigrant communities, and people of color have been left out of the decision-making process or harmed by the decision making process in relation to transportation projects. We need to expand bike and micro-mobility lanes so that people can safely ride their bikes all the way from West Atlanta to Stone Mountain. We have to create more “complete streets,” which limit or eliminate cars on certain high pedestrian density roads to help bring our communities together. We have to invest in our public transportation system to create an equitable city for all residents whether they walk, stroll, or ride! There have been positive steps, but there’s still more to do!

Candidate	Response
Ahmad Sylvester	No Response
Cleta Winslow - incumbent	I would look at decreasing our impact feels which have not been increased in 25 years. Our impact fees are some of the lowest in the region.
DeBorah Williams	No Response
Jason Dozier	First, I believe that we need a new TSPLOST specifically focused on addressing the sidewalk gap and other pedestrian-oriented street safety improvements. However, I recognize approving any funding stream is politically tenuous. Shortfalls in Renew Atlanta have created a degree of distrust among many Atlantans, and restoration of that trust must be baked into any proposed funding stream that’s presented to voters. Developing a specific project list will help ensure that buy-in. Second, while the people who live and work in Atlanta are most directly impacted by our investments in transportation infrastructure, we must work with interagency and intergovernmental partners to shoulder as much of this load as possible. The Georgia Department of Transportation, Fulton County, and Atlanta Public Schools are all major stakeholders in our policy-making, are all impacted by their constituents’ ability to move safely, and should all invest in pedestrian infrastructure accordingly. Third, a public infrastructure account like a sidewalk fund will help ensure accountability, and mandating an explicit requirement for developers to contribute to this fund as a condition of tax incentives administered through Invest Atlanta will help alleviate many funding gaps and shortfalls. Fourth, now that we’ve modernized our impact fee structure, we need to be more diligent about how those funds are spent and ensure that sidewalks take precedence ahead of competing priorities. And finally, recognizing the need for tourists, convention goers, and travelers to be able to walk safely to our city's premier attractions, we must partner with state elected officials and other stakeholders to allow hotel / motel tax or rental car fees to be dedicated to transportation improvements and infrastructure projects which ultimately improve the safety and mobility of our urban core.
Kim Scott	I would meet with not only the ATL DOT but Public Works as well as work with GDOT to recommend funding for new sidewalks, repair of crumbling infrastructure and implementation of new capital improvement projects. I would also recommend an on call contract with qualified sidewalk and transportation vendors projects to meet community needs.
Larry B. Carter II	I would work with philanthropic partners as well as use federal and state funds to work to fill the gaps.
Rogelio Arcila	We have to pass a new TSPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) which focuses spending on public transit projects including, but not limited to, heavy rail, light rail, and busway/bus rapid transit (BRT). The city needs to be more creative in where it obtains funding, such as developers who are pushing the people who have created the culture of this city out of it and developers who are sitting on blight properties.

Candidate	Response
Ahmad Sylvester	No Response
Cleta Winslow - incumbent	I would be in favor of wider sidewalks and road diet on certain roads as long as it doesn't impede emergency vehicles from being able to get down those streets that would be narrowed. Currently there areas some streets that have been road dieted to the point that even if a car pulls over to the right an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance, fire truck or police car, cannot get by. Road diet projects need to make sure that there is enough shoulder room to allow emergency vehicles to pass.
DeBorah Williams	No Response
Jason Dozier	This is a very personal issue for me. Five years ago, I survived a collision while riding my bicycle, and while I’m thankful to be alive, I recognize that too many people in my community haven’t been so fortunate. While I will always continue to advocate for the prioritization of safe streets across the city, county, and state, there are some immediate steps that we can take right here in District 4 to make our streets measurably safer. I will immediately use District 4 discretionary funds to deliver long-promised and badly-needed street calming strategies including speed humps, speed cushions, speed tables, bulbouts, and chicanes. There are currently millions of unspent dollars appropriated specifically for District 4 through Renew Atlanta, and spending down these funds will have an immediate impact on street safety. I will also commit to investing a portion of my staff and discretionary budgets for sustainable solutions that move our communities closer towards the principles of Vision Zero. Beyond infrastructure, I will remove administrative hurdles and red tape that makes it hard for communities to have speed tables, crosswalks, signage, and light signals installed in our neighborhoods. Mandating that 75% of property owners must sign a petition to initiate a multi-year process to get a modicum of street calming is exclusionary (many of our neighbors are renters), and rooted in a history of classism and racism, and I will fight to change this. I also commit to supporting the full resourcing of our city’s Department of Transportation so that it can better prioritize Atlanta’s transportation needs and streamline the planning and implementation of those priorities across the city.
Kim Scott	First we should start by adding more street lighting. A City of Atlanta's Department of Transportation study with GA Tech found that there was a historic underinvestment in certain areas of the city. We should give priority to those areas where there is high injury and high crime. Second, in areas where we are experiencing high injury and fatalities, we should look at sidewalk availability in neighborhoods as well as speed limits, street calming and street design.
Larry B. Carter II	Safety is a concern in District 4 for pedestrians. I would makes sure we have complete streets. Making sure we have traffic calming devices throughout the district. Ensure we have proper crosswalks, signage and bike lanes. I will walk the communities with community leaders in the first 100 days to ensure we address and document all the unsafe streets.
Rogelio Arcila	"There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives." Mobility justice is where our transportation direction should be coming from if we are to create an equitable city. Racial justice should be at the forefront of every project the city undertakes. We have to be bold in making sure that Atlanta's streets are safe and thriving spaces for all. To address some of the disparities in whose lives are endangered the most, we need to champion Vision Zero! In addition to championing Vision Zero, we need to rein in over-policing, provide housing stability, and increase job options. As stated before, we need to create more “complete streets,” which limit or eliminate cars on certain high pedestrian density roads to help bring communities together.

Candidate	Response
Ahmad Sylvester	No Response
Cleta Winslow - incumbent	Yes. As a matter of fact the Cascade Avenue/Road Project in Southwest Atlanta was delayed by at least two years and is a perfect example of a delayed project on major thoroughfare.
DeBorah Williams	No Response
Jason Dozier	Yes I would. Low and reduced vehicle traffic during the pandemic should have been an opportunity for the city to complete its backlog of stalled or delayed construction projects and unfortunately this was a missed opportunity.
Kim Scott	Transportation is a major issue for the City of Atlanta. Citizens of Atlanta who walk, bike or have a disability should have safe travel options. If elected, I would first get a current status of the project. It is important to know what the priorities, if any, were outlined for the projects. If there are not any priorities I would establish those focusing on the need of those who walk, bike or have a disability and/or looking at the areas that have a high number of injuries to those who walk, bike or have a disability. If we as a City have not met the timeline we established, it is important to communicate why, remove any barriers we can control at the City, and communicate an updated timeline to the impacted communities.
Larry B. Carter II	As state before in my first 100 days I will walk the streets of District 4 to ensure we are noting the projects needing completion. I will also working across council to advocate for other districts to do the same. The has place focus on taking over sidewalks. I will advocate and bring transparency with quarterly town halls.
Rogelio Arcila	If elected, I would advocate on behalf of our communities in regards to the effort to speed up the completion of transportation projects intended to provide safe travel options for people who walk, bike, or have a disability. Those in positions of power and/or wealth do not act with the urgency that they understand the need for the transportation projects to be completed as their reliance on them is less than their marginalized counterparts. I would use every available option afforded to the office of the Councilperson to speed up the completing in unity with community members and organizations.

Candidate	Response
Ahmad Sylvester	No Response
Cleta Winslow - incumbent	It needs to be more uniform. Jaywalking can be extremely dangerous because people are darting through cars.
DeBorah Williams	No Response
Jason Dozier	Jaywalking absolutely must be decriminalized. This will remove an unjust burden from low-income residents who are least able to afford to pay fines and who are more likely to live in neighborhoods that lack the infrastructure for safe crossings in the first place. Streets are for people, and I’m determined for that principle to be reflected in the city code. I also recognize that our automobile-centric culture and transportation networks can encourage behaviors that are detrimental to our pursuit of Vision Zero and safe streets. For instance, cars and trucks parked in LIT lanes can be frustrating and dangerous, and laws passed to deter that behavior are infrequently or poorly enforced. However, I don’t believe we always need armed police officers to intervene in situations like this. Smart street design--installing permanent bollards to protect cyclists or building bulbouts to force automobiles to serpentine down straightaways or narrowing turn radii at intersections--not only works to make our roads safer, but it limits the need to involve law enforcement in the first place. Speed cameras would be an effective alternative as well.
Kim Scott	First, the enforcement of jaywalking and similar laws can be changed by modifying city ordinances within control of the city council and working the state legislature on those pedestrian laws within control of the Georgia Legislature. Second, we should work with the City of Atlanta Police Department on the issue of over policing. Third, we should also have a data dashboard to provide greater clarity around enforcement of laws period. Fourth, we should have a coalition that includes the City of Atlanta Department of Transportation, MARTA, the Georgia Department of Transportation (as needed), the Neighborhood Planning Units, and other community organizations and neighborhood groups to discuss the placement of crosswalks and the actual walking and driving patterns of the community.
Larry B. Carter II	I’m the district We will focus on creating more crosswalks and tragic calming devices to give walkers more access for crossing. I will advocate for decriminalizing jaywalking in the City of Atlanta.
Rogelio Arcila	Our streets do not need to be heavily militarized with the threat of persecution and violence from the state. We address the over-policing of walking, biking, and riding transit by removing those responsibilities from the Atlanta Police Department (A.P.D.). We can redirect part of the police budget to community initiatives and programs like the Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative to effectively and safely handle street safety issues.

Candidate	Response
Ahmad Sylvester	No Response
Cleta Winslow - incumbent	With MARTA going to a Bus Rapid Transit Program and or a Light Rail Program, they need to make sure that as people get on and off of MARTA that it is done in a safe manner. So they need to look at whether they should have one or both of these programs in the middles of the street or closer to the curb to make it an easier access for the transit rider.
DeBorah Williams	No Response
Jason Dozier	I responded earlier about the need to acknowledge the relationship between land use and transportation and why we have to reverse the damage caused by development patterns causing harm to Atlanta’s pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair users. This also impacts transit, and I believe that we need to support MARTA through complementary land use for it to be successful. We must work harder to reframe our understanding of land use and development patterns, as we must normalize the implementation of transit access in projects across the city. MARTA might be our region’s chief transit operator, but it isn’t the only stakeholder when it comes to transit and the City of Atlanta must play a stronger role in ensuring MARTA’s success. Prioritizing connectivity and accessibility for all Atlanta residents will strengthen our existing transit systems, making it easier for residents in far-flung corners of the region to utilize amenities in the city and vice versa. Not to mention that ridership suffers when last-mile connectivity doesn’t exist in many places. And while it's true that much of that is the purview of MARTA and other transit planning agencies, they can’t operate in a vacuum. We can only succeed when we support infrastructure with land use and zoning policies that enhance the urban fabric, and that's completely on the City of Atlanta. How truly useful is a bus stop when there's no sidewalk or that sits a few feet from a straightaway where cars routinely travel at speeds of more than 60 mph? And land-use and road design aren’t the only ways that the city can support MARTA. Partnering with MARTA to adjust or deviate from passenger thresholds for bus benches and shelters can make bus ridership much more enjoyable and dignified. I will also work to ensure our traffic signals are upgraded so that buses are given priority. This is something that should have happened years ago with the streetcar, and I recognize that having buses constantly stuck in traffic can deter ridership. Overall, I believe that prioritizing buses on our streets and creating dedicated lanes will create a safe environment that decenters automobiles from our transportation landscape and elevates people.
Kim Scott	The relationship should be a partnership. It is in the best interest of Atlanta to have safe, reliable, accessible and available mass transit. As a city that is a commuter and a city that holds many large events, we should have multiple transportation options for our workers, visitors, and students. The on-street facilities should be handicap accessible, safe, clean and well lit. The facilities should facilitate access to major employment, educational and shopping areas and hubs. The facility should have safe and secure park and ride areas for vehicles and bicycles. Also, the on-street facilities could be zoned as mixed use to provide opportunities for small businesses and retail chains. A priority should be given to businesses in the community where the on-street facility is located and could include a jobs benefits agreement to give those in the community hiring preference.
Larry B. Carter II	As far as MARTA the goal should be to make public transportation more convenient. We need to increase the frequency and consistency of existing route while expanding throughout the highly used routes. Light rail connections through the city would be ideal to make Atlanta a walkable city for all citizens.
Rogelio Arcila	The City of Atlanta needs to ensure it's participation in this process is to meet marginalized and vulnerable communities in the spaces they are comfortable and have power. The city needs to elevate these voices of community knowledge and compensate them accordingly. In the allocation process, the relationship should be co-creating so that communities are able to "design their own futures and direct public spending." Lastly, MARTA should be providing shelters and improved amenities for on-street facilities.

DISTRICT 5

Question 1: What is the main way you get around Atlanta on a daily basis?

Candidate	Response
Doug Williams	Drive alone
Katie Kissel	Bike
Liliana Bakhtiari	Walk
Mandy Mahoney	I split my time between driving and walking. I was exclusively a transit rider before the pandemic but have teleworked since the start of the pandemic.
Samuel Bacote	Drive/ride with family members

Candidate	Response
Doug Williams	We need a committed funding stream towards non car transportation infrastructure so we have accessible walkways and bikeways and large paths to allow residence to travel throughout the city without a car. Currently the city does not have any significant sidewalk budget and very little in coordinated plans for walking and biking pathways among our neighborhoods and throughout our city. As we finish meeting the requirements of the consent decree and revamping our sewer system, more funding will become available but we need to start now on developing a plan for connectivity amongst our neighborhoods and begin construction using state and federal highways and available funds for projects on those roadways. We should also seek state and federal funding partners for walkways and paths. We don't have the capacity to do everything at once, but we can start with a plan for connectivity among major routes and then work on filling in the gaps.
Katie Kissel	We must have safe, smart, and equitable transportation in this city. As the only candidate in District 5 who uses a bike as their primary mode of transportation, I am committed to making our streets safer and more welcoming to alternative transportation options. The biggest issue I see is our city's crumbling/non-existent sidewalk infrastructure. No one wants to address it because it is such a big undertaking, but we cannot continue to kick this can down the road. While the sidewalk issue will take time, funds, and political capital to tackle, we must address low hanging fruit in the meantime by contributing funds to tactical urbanism projects. These projects are low-barrier, low cost, ways the city can engage neighborhoods to make improvements to their streetscape. Finally we need to fulfill the promise made to the city when the Beltline was conceptualized. We must have rail on the beltline NOW!
Liliana Bakhtiari	If you have ever walked, biked, driven, or taken MARTA in Atlanta, then you know that our city is not the easiest to navigate. With a legacy of institutional racism that has spanned centuries, many of our neighborhoods remain fractured, with little investment in connectivity. We have the opportunity to change that. As our next City Councilmember, I will fight for complete street design, prioritizing sidewalks, bike lanes, and ADA infrastructure in order to create a more bikeable, walkable, and accessible city for everyone. I will leverage federal dollars and private partnerships to invest in both More MARTA and Beltline Rail initiatives to expand inter-neighborhood and multi-modal connectivity, as well as to solve the last mile problem. I will work to reduce parking requirements along transit corridors to encourage alternative transit usage. I will advocate for safer streets through better street design and engineering, and approach all public infrastructure through an equitable lens first, ensuring that our transportation policies are affordable, accessible, and environmentally sound. I will also strengthen partnerships with our regional transit institutions to fight for a Vision Zero Plan across the metro area, and push Atlanta to be the transit hub of the South, which I know we have the potential to be. I believe that if we design our streets with our most vulnerable populations in mind (our children, disabled neighbors, seniors, and low-income communities), then we will inevitably create a better system for everyone.
Mandy Mahoney	I’m deeply committed to making our communities safer and healthier so that residents not only have what they need to survive -- but thrive. I have worked on the leading edge of transportation solutions for Atlanta since 2005. When the Beltline was only an idea, I helped to make it a reality. In my role as Atlanta’s first director of sustainability I launched a comprehensive telework program for city employees and championed alternative commute options in the Sustainability Plan. As president of the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, I led national efforts to advance the transition from gasoline-powered light, medium and heavy duty vehicles to electric vehicles. I have been a cycle and MARTA commuter since law school and my family has been an all-electric, one car household since 2009. In 2020, I revived APS’s Drew Charter School’s Safe Routes to School PTA Committee to address the urgent transportation needs for elementary students. Today, Atlanta’s infrastructure is failing residents without access to a car, are disabled, or prefer sustainable transportation options. My vision for Atlanta’s transportation system is that it is “AAA,” serving All Ages and Abilities. Many residents live in a transit desert, and where transit options exist, routes are long and inefficient. As a city council member, I would be a staunch advocate for improving pedestrian, public transit, and cycle infrastructure by repairing existing sidewalks, adding new sidewalk mileage, building new bike lanes and multi-use paths, enforcing existing bike lane regulations, and improving connections between public transit stops. The future prosperity and health of our city depends on a robust and diverse set of transportation options for all residents. The creation of the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) was a fundamental step towards more thoughtful and focused action on the city’s transportation issues. ATLDOT must now ensure the development of an integrated plan that supports all transportation modes and all residents. The plan should explore innovative transit solutions, tap into community-based ideas to solve local problems and fully integrate a vision of future land use and development that incorporates sustainable design standards for all public investments.
Samuel Bacote	We need to reimagine how we get around our city so that all transit options are equal and not just guided by personal preferences of convenience. As a vibrant, healthy city, we should not want anyone facing limited mobility options on a regular basis because of socio-economic conditions. We also need to better address transit accommodations for those facing limited choices because of physical disabilities. Our construct for a system that reduces barriers to mobility options while ensuring these are sustainable, comprehensive, equally safe and healthy modes of transportation, will require our collective support for deeper public subsidies. Public transit will represent the largest investment of our modes, especially if MARTA is to become a truly regional, comprehensive transit system that facilitates connections to jobs and resources across the metro-area. With little change in more than 30 years, significant investment is required if transit is to reach deep into the metro area’s wealthiest white suburbs while improving how it serves historically Black neighborhoods of our city. A more robust funding apparatus is needed especially since MARTA does not have taxing authority like other transit agencies serving large metropolitan areas. In the meantime, we should immediately find complementary means with possible help from private sector partners to permanently establish creative and supportive programs like transit fare differentials aimed at achieving equity on MARTA.

Candidate	Response
Doug Williams	I would like to explore the options for city of Atlanta gas tax to pay for non auto transportation options such as sidewalks, paths, and bike lanes. We need to work with our neighborhoods and NPUs to develop a comprehensive network of transportation so one can walk or wheel safely among our different communities.
Katie Kissel	I support Amir Farokhi’s resolution introduced in September, Resolution 20-R-4264, which asks for further research to be completed on how we could use a combination of general fund, TSPLOST, and Renew Atlanta Infrastructure Bond funds to pay for our sidewalks. I would be willing to look at all options including a miniscule millage rate increase to cover the cost of maintenance.
Liliana Bakhtiari	One of my top priorities as our next City Councilmember is transparency in the investment of city funding. The City of Atlanta is obliged to set aside 3.5% of the general fund each year for public infrastructure maintenance and improvement, however, City Council has no system for reporting how this funding is utilized. As our next Councilmember, I will fight for transparency in general fund spending and ensure that public infrastructure, like sidewalks, does not go unaddressed. That should get us roughly $25M right off the bat. Next, I will leverage my relationships with state officials to push for updates to state code that would designate sidewalk repairs and ADA infrastructure into the standard of roadway maintenance. In effect, major corridors like Moreland Avenue could address pedestrian infrastructure updates through GDOT and state funding. Additionally, with community input first, we must advocate for voters to approve a new TSPLOST, which would specifically cover sidewalk construction, repairs, and street safety improvements, starting in our most at-risk communities. This cannot work without transparency and financial reporting. We have seen the funding for too many major transportation projects disappear without proper reporting. If we are asking taxpayers to invest more, they deserve to see where their money is going. And finally, I will make it a priority to draft an ordinance that relieves homeowners of the responsibility of maintaining their own sidewalks. If we want a network of sidewalks that work for everyone, the city must take over ALL sidewalk installation and maintenance. Through partnerships with our unions, I will push for workforce training and placement programs that will allow us to train and staff our public works department, providing jobs and better infrastructure at the same time.
Mandy Mahoney	Prior to the pandemic, I walked my son to school every day. During these walks, I was inspired to run for Atlanta City Council. I watched our neighbors, young and old, struggle to navigate broken sidewalks and inadequate transit stops. I knew I wanted to serve the residents of Atlanta by ensuring they receive essential benefits supported by tax dollars, and sidewalks were at the top of the list. First and foremost, I believe ATLDOT should move forward with implementing their sidewalk improvement plan. Additionally, they should apply the equity criteria included in the plan to ensure the neighborhoods and residents that need it most receive new and improved sidewalks. Sadly, we know that the $1 billion funding gap for sidewalks represents only a portion of the city’s infrastructure budget needs. A comprehensive update of our infrastructure requirements should be a top priority in developing funding solutions. The Renew Atlanta and TSPLOST programs must move forward with careful, comprehensive, and transparent processes that identify projects, ensure accurate cost estimates, and define achievable implementation schedules. Future TSPLOST funds must prioritize pedestrian infrastructure. The public is likely to support extensions of these funding mechanisms if it has confidence in the city to effectively execute the plan on schedule. Engaging other agencies in joint funding strategies is crucial for achieving our goals. Most metro urban governments have similar implementation and funding issues and a joint lobbying strategy for increased state and federal funding should be developed. We should deeply research innovative funding strategies being used by other cities around the country and even around the world. Within existing city-level resources, we should examine how Community Improvement Districts (CID) are able to complete sidewalk projects at a fraction of the cost and time of the City of Atlanta. CIDs are effectively and efficiently addressing local needs; we must learn from them and apply their learnings across the city to prevent further disrepair. I would propose legislation to establish a parking tax and split the proceeds between an affordable housing fund and a subsidy for transit trips inside the city. I would engage the community to identify local priorities and solutions. I would institute participatory budgeting, like District 2 City Council member Amir Farokhi has done, to directly respond to the needs of District 5. I would also replicate the "Sidewalkapalooza" used in Washington DC to help residents identify where there are sidewalk issues in District. In DC, Council member Tiffani Johnson and her constituents take a week where they walk their districts with residents, identify problems, and report them to 311.
Samuel Bacote	We certainly need to identify how to fund our transportation needs, including the estimated gap for sidewalks. The amount of $1 billion seems staggering, but the investment and need will only grow over time. It will only accelerate especially from future commercial and housing developments, each bringing new people into our city. I would propose exploring two dedicated funding options, separately or in combination. The first is a transportation impact fee (with perhaps as much as 50% of it dedicated to sidewalks) that is assessed on new, larger commercial developments in lieu of a general tax payment. It could be paid as a one-time fee or a series of payments over time. As possibilities, the exchange for a tax payment could be predicated on the City receiving a payment for sidewalk installation around a new development during construction or on payments for other priority areas identified by the Atlanta DOT. Another is that the developer doesn't make any payments but performs the work, e.g., installs the sidewalks, if it can be accomplished more efficiently in the private sector. The exchange ratio could depend on the size of the project and could be negotiable because there could be community benefits and other public improvements derived from the development that could justify a higher tax incentive. The second is a continuation of the TSPLOST, which is a familiar option used by the City to help fund transportation projects.

Candidate	Response
Doug Williams	I would start by looking at where there is the greatest need and addressing those needs first. When I was the East Lake neighborhood president our deadliest roads were Glenwood and Memorial, so we focused on adding sidewalks and road diets to both of those major streets. We worked with the city planning department, Georgia Department of Transportation and federal resources to make streetscape improvements as well as partnering with the path program to develop a walking plan for our community. Unfortunately, these plans were not followed up with subsequent neighborhood leadership. As city council representative I would work to facilitate a common plan among our communities to build out and network within District 5, even as volunteer leadership may change.
Katie Kissel	Our current sidewalk system is extremely inequitable. The best sidewalks are found in the wealthiest parts of the city where most people can afford to drive a car to get where they need to go. We should be prioritizing fixing and creating sidewalks where we have the most foot traffic.
Liliana Bakhtiari	In order to make Atlanta’s streets safer for everyone, we need to adopt a Vision Zero Plan alongside our Metro-area neighbors, regional partners, and other stakeholders. People are going to make mistakes behind the wheel, but with better planning and street design, we can course correct for some of those mistakes preemptively. To ensure that the action plan addresses inequity, we must take a look at root causes. The reason for the disproportionate number of traffic deaths and injuries for people of color is because BIPOC are less likely to own cars and more likely to walk or use public transit compared to white people; with a legacy of institutional racism that has spanned centuries, our city was designed for white people and their cars. As our next Councilmember, I will aim to solve these disproportionate deaths by aggressively investing in alternative transit infrastructure, and prioritizing low-income and BIPOC neighborhoods, especially routes to schools and to employment hubs. Additionally, I will push for better data collection and collaboration with GDOT to ensure that bike and pedestrian casualties are properly tracked and reported. On a macro scale, we must address the root issue of car dependency in Atlanta. As our next Councilmember, I will fight to unbundle parking requirements for new development and to expand BRT with designated bus lanes, particularly along transit corridors. On a micro scale, I will focus on traffic calming measures like rumble strips, chicanes, chokers, refuge islands, speed cushions for ambulance routes, and HAWK signals, starting with arteries and main streets that fall into the High Injury Network.
Mandy Mahoney	The pedestrian fatality data has only gotten worse since 2019. We have seen a steep increase in fatalities this year and like the data cited in the question, about 80% of the fatalities since 2019 have been Black. As of May 2021, 93% (13 of 14) pedestrian fatalities this year have been Black. I believe we must raise public awareness of pedestrian fatalities, highlight the sharp uptick in fatalities this year, and discuss the disparate impact on the Black community. As a council member, I would fight to fully investigate pedestrian fatalities and identify new solutions. Our current policies simply aren't working. How can the city ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists? Data on pedestrian fatalities is difficult to obtain and it prevents us from keeping our streets safe. This information should be made readily available and updated regularly on an open data platform. I believe the City should immediately create and launch an open data platform that shows total fatalities in an updated manner. This is standard in Seattle, New York City, Washington DC, and many other cities that adopted Vision Zero policies. Additionally, it is critical that Atlanta DOT report on this data regularly to the City Council so that it is understood by City leadership, the advocacy community, and the public. In May 2020, Atlanta adopted a Vision Zero Policy that was unanimously supported by the Atlanta City Council. Since then, the city has not developed the Vision Zero Action Plan called for in the enacting legislation nor formally launched a formal advisory taskforce. The ATLDOT should produce an annual report on progress toward Vision Zero that highlights completed policy and project implementation as well as statistics on injuries and fatalities. We must also change our fundamental philosophy so that every transportation project is a Vision Zero project. Any transportation facility should be seen as - and designed as - a multi-modal facility in which the movement of people is the objective - not the efficient flow of automobiles. This doctrine must be present in how we approach our roads, how we design them, and how we value citizens.
Samuel Bacote	Viewing any statistic that is so skewed racially is disheartening. I know that it could clearly have been me as well at one time in my life. Before starting my family, I didn't own a car, lived a block away from a MARTA station and relied exclusively on public transit, walking and cycling to get around Atlanta. I was clearly more vulnerable in my environment then. I will advocate and champion safer streets especially in our more marginalized communities where residents tend to be older and poorer. There's a wrongful perception that poor black people don't need or want these kinds of public amenities to enhance safety. As a result, these communities are more prone to not having safe streets with sidewalks, bike lanes and wheelchair curbs. Let's follow the data and make the needed street improvements.

Candidate	Response
Doug Williams	Again, we need a committed funding stream with a comprehensive plan developed with the neighborhoods so that we can execute that plan starting with a major roadway network and then building it out. For example, in NPU-O, we identified Glenwood, Memorial and Hosea Williams as major East-West thoroughfares and East Lake, 2nd Ave., Clifton Road, Maynard Terrace and Moreland for north-south.
Katie Kissel	While we often recognize the cost of speed and efficiency of implementation, we must also recognize the cost of dangerous streets. Not only can they cost our citizens pain, hardship or even their life, but they can also cost the city millions of dollars in lawsuits. We must fully fund our streets and fulfill our promise to voters by meeting our initial deadlines.
Liliana Bahktiari	Yes. As our next City Councilmember, I will seek to reduce the timelines for alternative transit projects by advocating for a NEPA Categorical Exclusion for bike, pedestrian, and ADA projects. The use of categorical exclusions can reduce paperwork and save time and resources, especially for projects that will benefit our city’s carbon footprint.
Mandy Mahoney	I will answer this question with a resounding, “Yes!” Development of all transportation projects must begin with complete and sound design considering all modes and users within a corridor. Equally important is the development of sound and believable cost estimates and realistic schedules. The public has a right to a thorough and correct understanding of projects funded by taxpayer dollars. The implementing agency can then be provided the resources to execute and be held accountable for the work. ATLDOT should also work to develop more in-house expertise. There are many great young engineers and planners that want to work on walking and cycling projects. Unfortunately, the City has traditionally contracted these services out at a higher cost, increasing the time to complete projects. By completing projects in-house, they will be cheaper and completed faster. Further, ATLDOT engineers and planners are likely to be familiar with Atlanta in ways that contractors might not be.
Samuel Bacote	If we are to truly live up to our aspirational goal of being an international city, welcoming to all forms of mobility, we have to press hard with these plans. The benefits of Complete Streets are expected by many longtime and recent groups of people who call Atlanta home. In the late 1990s, I was hit by a truck while cycling from the Stone Mountain PATH to a public street. That unfortunate accident left me with a shattered femur supported by an inserted rod. I later became a Director on the PATH Foundation board and support projects to bring safer streets to Atlanta to prevent countless accidents like mine from happening and reduce the numbers of injuries and fatalities. Of course, the pandemic causes us to pause and reassess our priorities and resources to prepare for a different world, but I don't think safer streets should be any less of a priority than before the pandemic.

Candidate	Response
Doug Williams	We need our police to focus on major crimes and less focused on minor issues such as the ones described. We also need to build community buy-in so that the neighborhood organizations are not aggressively pushing for enforcement of minor issues. It is important to rebuild the relationship between the community and the police so that the police are seen as valued members of our community, rather than an occupying force. If we're going to be honest about this, we need to address the fact that we really want the police to be less involved in traffic enforcement. One of the later questions that asks about enforcing a 25 mph speed limit kind of misses this point: the city and the citizens need a break, and asking for more police engagement for a 25 mile per hour speed limit is not going to do a lot to help that situation.
Katie Kissel	We can address this as a city legislature by introducing a bill that would decriminalize all jaywalking and biking infractures.
Liliana Bakhtiari	As we aim to address equity across the board, it is important to acknowledge that communities of color are often the last to receive amenities like crosswalks and bicycle infrastructure, but often need that infrastructure the most. Outdated pedestrian and bicycle “safety” laws are often used to target black and brown pedestrians, burdening them with fines when they are generally walking or biking as a means to avoid the financial burdens of car ownership. We need to focus our resources on engineering instead of enforcement. As our next City Councilperson, I will push to decriminalize jaywalking and “darting into traffic” within the City of Atlanta; I will keep pushing to expand the 25 mph default speed limit; I will advocate for alternative forms of enforcement such as safety cameras and alternative forms of traffic calming such as bulb-outs, curb extensions, and speed cameras ; and I will prioritize pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure within low-income communities to decrease potential safety hazards for our neighbors who walk and bike the most. Above all else, I will fight for community oversight, and make sure that our neighbors of color and low-income Atlantans have a seat at the table.
Mandy Mahoney	As a council member, I would be a staunch advocate to end over-policing of walking, biking, and riding transit. We need to work with the Mayor’s office and the Atlanta Police Department to formally change their policy, provide new training to officers, and end the aggressive enforcement of these regulations. Additionally, we must develop better facilities that provide safer and more effective access to those walking, biking, and riding transit such as building more signalized "mid-block" crossings.
Samuel Bacote	I would start with conversations of concern with city and transit police leadership, i.e., Police Chiefs Bryant and Kreher. The disparities suggest enforcement has been racialized. Unfortunately, this is yet another example of treatment based on biases in the City of Atlanta. A significant factor amongst officers (who mirror public perceptions) seems to be a belief that poor black people are the only ones jaywalking and riding MARTA. I would agree that enhanced ridership numbers should make MARTA safer. However, we can't get there the historical "Atlanta Way" through a strategy of policing aggressively to encourage diversity at the expense of unfairly penalizing a significant number of riders. Our systems of policing public transit and street mobility should not be centered around non-compliance to poor design. We need to first ensure we have good designs (including well placed and enough crosswalks, hybrid beacons, bike lanes, etc.) for passenger, biking and walking "safety" and not criminalize acts of our vulnerable groups when we have not taken into account their mobility needs.

Candidate	Response
Doug Williams	At the root of this question is the problem of the silo system of Atlanta governments and the power structure of all of its entities. The city of Atlanta having a more transparent and accountable government will help with building trust, but we also have to deal with the egos and power base of the people working with Marta. As a city council representative I'll be happy to help build relationships but I can't make any promises that this is something I can fix. Frankly, we have to take care of our own business first.
Katie Kissel	The city must hold MARTA accountable to equitably improving transportation throughout the city. This includes making stations and stops accessible for those with disabilities as well as expanding where services are needed the most.
Liliana Bakhtiari	As the governing body for the City of Atlanta, it is the responsibility of Atlanta City Council to hold MARTA accountable. A significant part of President Joe Biden’s $1.9-trillion coronavirus aid package earmarked $30.5 billion for public transit. According to MARTA, that will provide them with roughly $284 million in emergency funding for the Atlanta system. On top of their annual funding from the 1.5 cent sales tax in the City of Atlanta, MARTA can easily meet the $62.5M per year needed to complete their proposed More MARTA plan over the next 40 years. But we need to be sure that federal dollars are not left on the table, and that we stay on track with our progress. As our next Councilmember, I will require annual reporting from all city funded entities, including MARTA, and will advocate for participatory budgeting, and designated milestones to help keep projects on track. In order for MARTA to be a truly effective transit solution, we need multi-modal connectivity to help us solve the first and last mile problem. As our next City Councilmember, I will push the Atlanta Department of Transportation to relaunch the city bike share program (especially in communities with low rates of car ownership), expand rideshare infrastructure around transit stops, create a city contract bid for scooter rental services at MARTA stops, and advocate for MARTA heavy-rail, light-rail, and bus expansion to begin with the routes that expand the multi-modal network.
Mandy Mahoney	Our City needs a highly effective partnership between the City of Atlanta and MARTA from both a design and funding perspective. MARTA and its board of directors representing the city should work very closely with the City of Atlanta to allocate funds for city projects. Likewise, the city needs to vigorously engage MARTA on its requirements. On a related matter - the Atlanta-RegionTransit Link Authority (ATL) should be seen as a resource and the City should vigorously advocate its needs and be seen as a leader. Preference should be given to projects that will qualify for federal funding needed to support their completion. A deep analysis of the roster of projects is needed to evaluate qualifications for federal funding. Currently, the MARTA system lacks sufficient, quality on-street facilities. First and foremost, to the extent that on-street bike facilities interact with bus routes and/or BRT facilities, MARTA should be expected to design their stops and other infrastructure in a way that harmonizes the bus and transit uses of the street. These two modes should not conflict or have to compete for space. Second, we need more on-street facilities that are well-maintained, inviting, and accessible. Third, these facilities should have improved bicycle parking. Cities where cycling is great tend to have seamless connections between bicycles and transit. Finally, I want to expand the use of Atlanta’s artists in building beautiful and inspiring on-street facilities.
Samuel Bacote	MARTA has not expanded in the City of Atlanta in quite some time so there may be few (if any) leaders who remember what the partnership was like in the past and how it worked including lessons from the experience. We should want this program for MARTA to mature through collaboration and alignment with the City’s Planning and Transportation Departments at every major milestone. Both the City and MARTA need to inform each other on relevant assumptions about population and commerce growth and any subsequent impact on transportation. At the City level, there are thoughts and plans about where we want growth to occur to ensure there’s good balance on services including public safety, water and sewer, sanitation and, though separate, schools. Further, where this program takes MARTA should be supported by policies and zoning that provide the kind of supportive housing that MARTA needs to increase ridership. This program requires a strong, working relationship that offers a seat at MARTA’s table for the City. It represents an opportunity for inclusion, so it should be executed as a truly integrated effort of City and MARTA leadership to ensure an ultimate plan that meets the needs of both. Further, forty years of planning and implementation is a long time for a relationship to stay the same. I would support a new seat at the table that represents a dedicated liaison from the City imbedded on the MARTA team. This position would address transparency of assumptions and objectives, help ensure broad design support, and keep program documents to make them available for review by all officials.

DISTRICT 6

Question 1: What is the main way you get around Atlanta on a daily basis?

Candidate	Response
Justin A. Critz Courtney Jenee DeDi Kathryn Voelpel Alex Wan	Awaiting responses

Candidate	Response
Justin A. Critz Courtney Jenee DeDi Kathryn Voelpel Alex Wan	Awaiting responses

Candidate	Response
Justin A. Critz Courtney Jenee DeDi Kathryn Voelpel Alex Wan	Awaiting responses

Candidate	Response
Justin A. Critz Courtney Jenee DeDi Kathryn Voelpel Alex Wan	Awaiting responses

Candidate	Response
Justin A. Critz Courtney Jenee DeDi Kathryn Voelpel Alex Wan	Awaiting responses

Candidate	Response
Justin A. Critz Courtney Jenee DeDi Kathryn Voelpel Alex Wan	Awaiting responses

Candidate	Response
Justin A. Critz Courtney Jenee DeDi Kathryn Voelpel Alex Wan	Awaiting responses

DISTRICT 7

Candidate	Response
Howard Shook – incumbent	No Response

DISTRICT 8

Candidate	Response
Mary Norwood	No Response

DISTRICT 9

Question 1: What is the main way you get around Atlanta on a daily basis?

Candidate	Response
Devin Barrington-Ward	Carpool
Dustin Hillis – incumbent	Drive alone

Candidate	Response
Devin Barrington-Ward	My vision for transportation and mobility in the city of Atlanta is supported and inspired by justice-oriented advocates at ""The Untokening: A Convening for Just Streets & Communities" held in Atlanta, GA on November 13, 2016." Their recommendations have provided us with tools and a roadmap. Unfettered access to mobility and public space must be guaranteed in the Atlanta we are creating. We must address the barriers to mobility; the range of barriers placed on the community as a whole and as well as each individual body.
Dustin Hillis – incumbent	We have much to improve upon when it comes to alternatives to car travel. To improve transit, MARTA must improve access to transit with more routes and stops where they are needed most. Additionally, TODs need to be invested in and incentivized, so we have more people living close to transit. Walking must be made more accommodating and safe. This starts with a repair plan for our existing sidewalk infrastructure, then a plan to fill sidewalks gaps that are highly travelled, and finally new sidewalks along stretches they're needed most. One of the things I have been very vocal about on Council is the metric Parks likes to use about people being "within a 10 minute walk to a park". I correct them in saying that people need to be "within a SAFE 10 minute walk to a park", using my example of living within a mile of three city parks, none of which I can walk to safely due to missing sidewalks. For biking, we must continue a roll out of multi-use trails - such as the BeltLine, Silver Comet, and Proctor Creek Trails in District 9, in addition to providing more shared and dedicated bike lanes on our city streets. I would also like to see a bike share program rolled out to more city parks.

Candidate	Response
Devin Barrington-Ward	With money from the federal government infrastructure package and the hopeful renewal of TSPLOSH, we can close the funding gap to fund sidewalks and other urgent transportation needs in the city. We must financially prioritize our infrastructure as a city, especially with the awareness of the climate crisis at our front door.
Dustin Hillis – incumbent	Step one is simply increasing the dedicated amount in our annual budget dedicated to infrastructure, which we have done over the past year. I was also one of the lead advocates on Council for modifying our Impact Fee program, something that has been on my radar long before I was a Councilmember. The new program not only increases the amount of impact fees the city will receive, but also is more inclusive of being able to use those funds for sidewalks and other non-car alternatives. I am also a supporter for another Renew & TSPLOST 2.0 as long as Council sets a dedicated project list that is properly prioritized, with safety improvements that support our Vision Zero plan coming first (and no grandiose bridges).

Candidate	Response
Devin Barrington-Ward	Our goal as a city is to make Atlanta's streets safer for everyone regardless of their choice of travel modes. The "Vision Zero " strategy is a requirement to ensuring that we are making the streets measurably safer for people biking, walking and using scooters or wheelchairs. As it has been adopted by City Council, we must enhance its protections. The following recommendation from the coalition is one that campaign will champion and implement. I will immediately create a Vision Zero Task Force to create and oversee the implementation of an Action Plan. The Action Plan will need to address inequity concerns that disproportionately affect people of color and low-income communities. This task force will draw stakeholders from city departments, transportation-related fields, community organizations, and residents. We need to prohibit racial profiling, stop over-policing, prevent speeding, and prioritize racial equity to make our streets safer. We address the disparities by placing focus on racial equity and pursuing paths that allows us to co-create a city that decenters enforcement.
Dustin Hillis – incumbent	My record speaks for itself on this, as I led the only veto override of the current Mayor due to her opposing a deal with GDOT that would make the deadly Hollowell Parkway (SR8), where over 20 pedestrians have been killed since 2010, a much safer street with a 4-to-3-lane conversion. While she directed her staff not to act on the legislation, I continued my talks with GDOT, who agreed to advance the project. Separate from that, but still regarding Hollowell, I also led efforts (with help from ABC, the neighborhoods, and others!) to get GDOT to agree to install three new mid-block crossings on Hollowell - including two on a one mile stretch that previously had zero crosswalks. I have also performed street light audits often. Once after a pedestrian death on Jackson Parkway (SR280), I found the City/GA Power had allowed over 25 street lights to become non-functional on a 2.5 mile stretch of road, including multiple lights where the senior was hit and killed.

Candidate	Response
Devin Barrington-Ward	Yes! I would CHAMPION the efforts to speed up the completion of transportation projects intended to provide safe travel options for people who walk, bike, or have a disability!
Dustin Hillis – incumbent	I believe one of the biggest steps we have taken to improve the process is to make ATLDOT its own department and staff it with top-notch leadership. To make further improvements to the egregious project timelines, they City needs to do a complete overhaul of its Department of Procurement. This is echoed throughout city departments, not just ATLDOT, as typical times for procurement are 6-12+ months in some instances.

Candidate	Response
Devin Barrington-Ward	Mobility justice acknowledges that safety is different for different people and it should be defined by those most economically and legally vulnerable. We must decenter policing in our public safety strategies and prioritize policing alternatives and initiatives. We must explore every option to combat the blatant racism of selective enforcement like decriminalizing the municipal code and removing APD authority. We must reject policing as a street safety solution with the awareness that policing has long acted as a partner to segregate and disenfranchise communities of color. This has led to making public space unwelcoming , unsafe, and deadly.
Dustin Hillis – incumbent	Jaywalking is a rational behavior to get from point A to point B, so I do not support issuing jaywalking citations. To make our streets safer for pedestrian, we need to focus on improving sidewalks, crossings, ADA ramps, lighting, and traffic calming in support of Vision Zero. The City should also collect data on observed "jaywalking" so it is documented as to where more crossings and other safety measures are needed.

Candidate	Response
Devin Barrington-Ward	The relationship between MARTA and the City of Atlanta should be to ensure that the neglected communities are valued in implementing this program. The City of Atlanta needs to ensure it values the local knowledge as it seeks to co-create new decision-making processes that prioritizes marginalized and neglected groups. We should be prioritizing appointments to the MARTA board that first have experience of using MARTA as their premier form of transportation but additional backgrounds in urban planning, transportation, finance, non-profit, and community organizing should also be strong candidates for the board. At least 1 of the Atlanta representatives on the MARTA board should be from working-class or low-income communities. Retired MARTA employees should also gain strong consideration for city appointments to the MARTA board. The City of Atlanta needs to build on-street facilities for a diverse range of persons.
Dustin Hillis – incumbent	MARTA and they City should work together on the rollout of More MARTA. The City should look to dedicate funds (such as impact fees, bonds, and TSPLOST dollars) to furthering transit accessibility and safety where it is needed most. For MARTA facilities, much more should be required than currently is. We have many bus stops in District 9 that have nothing other than a sign stuck in the ground - sometimes in 6 feet tall weeds. At a minimum, bus stops should have a sidewalk with a concrete pad that is ADA compliant. Additionally, more stops need to be assessed for shelters.

DISTRICT 10

Question 1: What is the main way you get around Atlanta on a daily basis?

Candidate	Response
Andrea Boone	Drive alone
Jason Hudgins	Drive alone

Candidate	Response
Andrea Boone	One of the first things I would do, would be to support ADOT in securing the appropriate resources necessary to address this specific sub-group of stakeholders, and others. Additional support is needed to research current transportation and mobility trends in urban environments. Newly allotted resources would assist in identifying options that the city could present to the public with confidence because of verified success in other cities.
Jason Hudgins	An integrated transportation system that promotes mobility, safety and equity will be a solid foundation on which the future growth and development of Atlanta is built. In order to build a stronger Atlanta we must fully commit to building diverse transportation options to meet the needs of every citizen and eliminate historic inequities. This begins with ensuring that the city makes a stronger commitment to building a sidewalk and walkable streets network. More walkable designs make our neighborhoods more vibrant and safer. Walkable communities see neighbors who are more connected to each other because of more direct interaction, you are more likely to connect socially by walking your community than by driving through it. Walkable communities are also safer! Walkable streets are active streets and that activity in many cases can drive a reduction of crime. Also by promoting safer and more walkable design we promote equity for our neighbors with disabilities or alternative mobility devices. As Councilman I would promote policy that included multiple transit options in all future street design in Atlanta. Bike lanes should be as prevalent on Atlanta's West Side as they are in Midtown. Streets must be designed to promote the sense of shared space between cars, bikes, pedestrians, buses and trains. By integrating our transit systems with smart design we will see increased usage as more citizens are exposed to alternative transit options in their daily commutes and movements. As a city we must also build for future growth and density. It is vital that we commit expanded options such as more heavy rail, beltline rail, BRT and an expanded street car. Failing to do so will not just doom the city to a higher number of traffic tragedies but it will also serve as an economic road block to future growth and development.

Candidate	Response
Andrea Boone	I am hopeful that our ADOT Team is preparing for the anticipated Federal Infrastructure Dollars expected to be released once it has been approved and signed by the President of the United States. Whatever allocation the city receives should begin to close the $1 billion dollar gap, but we know it cannot cover it all. I would also initiate a benchmarking study related to non-traditional public funding options for Transportation Projects. Closing the funding gap for transportation projects is an ongoing process.
Jason Hudgins	At current funding levels it would take the City of Atlanta over 20 years to deal with the current backlog. The city should begin by partnering with the State and Federal Governments to procure additional funds focused on sidewalks, rail and safe streets projects. The Biden Administration has shown a willingness to fund these types of initiatives. The city of Atlanta should also re-baseline the Renew Atlanta Program. The re-baselining process should prioritize city data regarding injuries and fatalities on city streets to prioritize projects. It should also re-engage original promises to include steps like sidewalk maintenance in all road projects. The steps mentioned above would move the needle on our urgent transportation needs but they will not solve them. Atlanta must make the tough decision to create a new revenue stream dedicated to road and sidewalk projects. This revenue stream must also include a new level of transparency to give the citizens of Atlanta confidence in the process to differentiate it from previous initiatives and proposals. I would be open to issuing additional bonds to close the funding gap. We must also look at taxing options to either renew or reapportion current T-SPLOST money.

Candidate	Response
Andrea Boone	First, I am saddened by any pedestrian, transportation and/or mobility fatality, because I believe they could have been prevented. As it relates to disparities, I am careful to suggest that a disparity is the sole reason for these fatalities. I am concerned with the potential unsafe conditions of Atlanta Streets. I want to commit to initiating conversations between the City and APS regarding a partnership to establish a course focused on early intervention and awareness for pedestrians. This will equip students/individuals with data and transportation/mobility safety guidelines.
Jason Hudgins	I will begin by demanding that ADOT utilize data regarding Atlanta's High Injury Network to prioritize safety improvements. The same data should be used to re-baseline the Renew Atlanta Program. As Councilman I would also push to fully fund Vision Zero. Funding Vision Zero will not be enough, there is a need to reimagine speed and traffic enforcement in Atlanta. As a former Community President I know from my own interaction that APD does not have the bandwidth to enforce our speed limits. I would support creating a separate non police traffic unit that could exclusively focus on enforcement. As stated earlier we should prioritize walkability, especially around our schools and retail centers. Crosswalks, including beacon crosswalks, should be used on major corridors. Speed enforcement must become a greater priority. Also there must be dedicated mobility lanes for bikes and scooters not just on major thoroughfares but on connection streets also. The increase in traffic fatalities that impact black men is itself a symptom of larger equity issues that plague the communities where these men live. The black communities on Atlanta's West Side are less likely to have protected bike lines, many crosswalks are not properly striped, they do not see proper speed enforcement or signage and they saw their safe street projected defunded and de-prioritized in the Renew Atlanta program. Solving the larger equity issues regarding these communities will create safer streets.

Candidate	Response
Andrea Boone	Absolutely
Jason Hudgins	Yes I would. The creation of ADOT and streamlining resources has helped to move projects forward. As Councilman I would work support additional auditing of projects to identify additional steps that can be taken to reduce red tape around projects and streamline processes to proactively keep future projects from getting stuck in the mud. The city must increase advocacy and cooperation with GDOT to speed completion of projects along roads like Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. As a community President and NPU Chair I worked with our state representatives to shepherd the RDA Complete Streets Project through Westview from design to an expected ground break in November. This was a five year long process because the community was at the mercy of GDOT with little advocacy from city officials. City Hall must push advocacy around these projects.

Candidate	Response
Andrea Boone	Creating an atmosphere for dialogue between the enforcement officials and the community of interest that is being impacted by this level of enforcement. I would include ADOT Leadership to address any changes or adjustments for the purpose of increasing safety.
Jason Hudgins	It should begin by removing traffic enforcement from under the umbrella of APD. As stated before we should not expect armed police to complete traffic enforcement. I would support a stand alone enforcement unit. We must also utilize data to identify and call out this over-policing. Based on the data we should rescind laws that show racial disparity in enforcement. The real way that you address this issue is to build proper infrastructure in black and brown communities. As stated in the question above if infrastructure in not present then it creates the violations that are then policed. The city of Atlanta should committ to design best practices to increase usage of safe infrastructure like crosswalks. We should also utilize tools like beacon crosswalks, all way cross walks, ect. to promote safe travel along our streets.

Candidate	Response
Andrea Boone	MARTA has been a reliable and responsive partner with the City of Atlanta for several decades. I’m sure MARTA has or will provide recommendations specifically related to on-street facilities that the city and its stakeholders can review, comment, and suggest changes where appropriate; if not, I would initiate legislation to address the concerns.
Jason Hudgins	City Hall must increase every tool available to hold MARTA accountable for the transit experience of the citizens of Atlanta that it has oversight of. In the 10th District 90% of bus stops do not have shelters, benches or trans receptacles. MARTA should be held accountable for the end to end experience of system users. This will be achieved only through proper advocacy from the City of Atlanta. The City must prioritize collaboration and communication to guide MARTA to reassess the transportation needs of citizens for the future.

DISTRICT 11

Question 1: What is the main way you get around Atlanta on a daily basis?

Candidate	Response
Ron Shakir	Awaiting Response
Marci Collier Overstreet – incumbent	Drive alone

Candidate	Response
Ron Shakir	Awaiting Response
Marci Collier Overstreet – incumbent	I know that my leadership voice in the City of Atlanta should be not only concise but persistent. For this reason, I’ve been an advocate for Atlanta to have safe streets for everyone regardless of which mode of transportation constituents and visitors use. I envision that Vision Zero should be a reality in our city as we should all strive to achieve zero deaths due to transportation. I envision that streets in high transportation nodes should never be on the High Injury Network list, ever. I authored the Sidewalk Study Plan legislation that passed unanimously through city council because I envision that sidewalks will be installed equitably throughout the city not just for safety purposes but for health purposes as well. We must continue to stay committed to safe modes of transportation for everyone traveling about Atlanta whether it be wheelchair users, baby stroller usage, joggers, bikers, bus riders, car drivers, walkers and everyone in between. We all deserve to arrive alive and safe as we navigate our great city.

Candidate	Response
Ron Shakir	Awaiting Response
Marci Collier Overstreet – incumbent	I authored the Sidewalk Study Plan legislation that passed unanimously through city council because I envision that sidewalks will be installed equitably throughout the city . Identifying the cost and structure of implementing an actual plan was the sole purpose of the legislation. Now that we know the cost we must create a funding plan. I foresee a combination of funding sources which range from the city actively pursuing federal funding, allocating a portion of our general budget annually, TSPLOST, using in-house trained City of Atlanta employees and Atlanta WorkSource trainees for sidewalk maintenance and installation to cut the cost of expensive and time-heavy sidewalks.

Candidate	Response
Ron Shakir	Awaiting Response
Marci Collier Overstreet – incumbent	I pledge to continue to implement instrumental policy that highlight the disparities and offer solutions and action items. I’ve done this since the first month on city council and will continue throughout my council career. The district that I represent is 98+ percent Black with many walking in the streets out of necessity to the bus stops dangerously. As Vice Chair of the city’s Transportation committee for 3 1/2 years now, my voice of advocacy for this population has been clear and loud. For this reason, I’m the recipient of a Blinkie Award that is only awarded to advocates of safe, equitable modes of transportation.

Candidate	Response
Ron Shakir	Awaiting Response
Marci Collier Overstreet – incumbent	I strongly believe that COVID-19 derailed the timeline of many transportation projects. I’ve been paying close attention and hosted several meetings to get us back on track! If re-elected I would continue to work to speed up the completion of transportation projects intended to provide safe travel options for people who walk, bike, or have a disability.

Candidate	Response
Ron Shakir	Awaiting Response
Marci Collier Overstreet – incumbent	I believe that safe streets are the answer to correcting over policing of walkers, bikers and joggers. I will continue to advocate for more crosswalks, maintenance of faint striping for existing crosswalks and more signage for all to understand where and when to cross the street. In addition to these safety measures, I would remind the Atlanta police department of our priorities and advocate for them being our community partners and helping those that need us the most.

Candidate	Response
Ron Shakir	Awaiting Response
Marci Collier Overstreet – incumbent	It is paramount that MARTA and The City of Atlanta continue to work hand and hand implementing the vetted and board approved More MARTA program and projects. MARTA is expected communicate and interact with each community and City Council every step of the process. I’ve been engaged and communicative the entire time and commit to continue this same level of engagement throughout the entire process. On-site facilities should be monitored and enhances regularly and continuously. The customer experience on MARTA should remain important to MARTA. I will continue to remind them of this as I have numerous times throughout these years.

DISTRICT 12

Question 1: What is the main way you get around Atlanta on a daily basis?

Candidate	Response
Antonio Lewis	Carpool
Jenne Shepherd	Drive alone
Joyce Sheperd – incumbent	No Response

Candidate	Response
Antonio Lewis	I think Atlanta needs to become more walker friendly. I'd work to ensure that bike lanes are maintained in all parts of the city in a more equitable manner.
Jenne Shepherd	I am a strong advocate for transportation in our city, especially when it comes to the South side. The majority of our citizens who use buses and trains are people of Color. My support would be to put more money into our infrastructure (side walks, streets, street lights, cross walks, transit etc) by bringing in outside resources of money. Our present Administration is giving away billions of dollars on infrastructure. We the citizens of Atlanta have been paying extra taxes for transit on the beltline since 2016, I would want to see a break down of money spent dedicated to beltline transit and a true timeline of when this expected to happen. It is important that we hold the state, city and MARTA accountable for completing what they are taxing us on and plans that have been presented the people of our city.
Joyce Sheperd – incumbent	No Response

Candidate	Response
Antonio Lewis	I'd actually have to look more into the federal infrastructure bill and look at wasteful spending to ensure all Atlantans have access to safe finished sidewalks.
Jenne Shepherd	There is money! there is money out there to fix our infrastructure. I cannot express enough how our government has released money to States and Cities to fix its infrastructure and we want to know why are we not tapping into those funds. I would figure out ways to tap into the resources that are presented to us.
Joyce Sheperd – incumbent	No Response

Candidate	Response
Antonio Lewis	We have to slow traffic to protect more people. Also, look at more turnarounds and speed bumps in areas where travelers frequent speed.
Jenne Shepherd	We need more street lights and sidewalks. Especially sidewalks accessible to those with disabilities riding on scooters/wheelchairs etc. We also need better and completed cross walks. Every council member is given a budget for their district. I want to put forth a participatory budget. This would allow residents to vote on where they want their money to go. We would create a list of needs for our district and infrastructure would be a part of that list. I would also tap into grants and donations from corporations enlarge our budget so we can do more to create safe streets.
Joyce Sheperd – incumbent	No Response

Candidate	Response
Antonio Lewis	My goal would be to ensure that the protected bike network was finished as efficient as possible.
Jenne Shepherd	I would advocate to speed up completions of these projects and ask for REAL timeline of how and when these things will be done. We need checkpoints and quarterly meetings on the progress of these projects. This is really about accountability. Making sure that we are holding these organizations/city offices are held accountable for completing these projects and if they are behind we need to know how they plan to make up the time that they have lost.
Joyce Sheperd – incumbent	No Response

Candidate	Response
Antonio Lewis	NA
Jenne Shepherd	We need more crosswalks. Having a crosswalk a half mile away is unacceptable.
Joyce Sheperd – incumbent	No Response

Candidate	Response
Antonio Lewis	I think MARTA needs to work with the community on study that add train stations and make them more walker friendly.
Jenne Shepherd	Holding both parties accountable is mandatory. MARTA has failed citizens over the years and so has the city of Atlanta. Both parties need to be able to work together and hold each other accountable for the expansion of our transit and the lack of equitability when it comes to transit in our city. MARTA should take into consideration the need for on street facilities by looking at the demand of transit in certain areas. If the demand is greater in South Atlanta because that is where the most people use MARTA, then that is where the first on street facilities should be.
Joyce Sheperd – incumbent	No Response

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