The Cochrane Eagle is asking candidates an issue-based question each week leading up to the election that they will answer in their own words. If a candidate does not answer a question, we will include a bio box with a disclaimer saying the candidate did not respond. All candidates were given a limit of 185 words and questions will be edited to fit that length. Our third question is:
How do you plan to address the town’s growing traffic congestion?
I will work with the mayor and other members of council to address the town’s traffic congestion problems as our top and No. 1 priority by lobbying the provincial government (including the official opposition) as a town delegation, create a citizens petition, and citizen lobbying task force, attend and lobby through the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, work to create a regional lobbying approach, examining more localized solutions such as potentially rerouting traffic through Retreat Road, Ranche Road, or Range Road 40 to the Sunset community, in addition to more creative solutions for the traffic in town, like lane reversals, changing patterns of the traffic lights during peak hours, etc. as well as look for other entrance/exit options for the residents of Fireside and Sunset communities.
Approved or new communities must have proper infrastructure in place driven by the needs of the town and not for the profit of developers. Likewise, approved and new community density targets need to carefully reviewed to create communities that reflect the type, character, and size we want for our town in order to reduce traffic congestion.