Office: 6th District (At-Large)
Candidate: Cathy Jolly

1. Bicycling and walking account for less than 4% of all trips made in Kansas City. This is less than half the national average.

Question: How would you increase this rate up to the national average?

We should continue support for development of the regional metro green planning efforts
towards a linked bike and trail system throughout the greater metropolitan area that will support
both leisure activities and basic transportation.

I am an advocate for trails. As State Representative for parts of South Kansas City, I have been
very supportive in the effort to build our trails system. I have attended several meetings for this
effort.

2. Since 2002 Kansas City has had a Council-approved plan called BikeKC to create a network of on-street bikeways throughout all parts of the city. To date very little of that plan has been implemented, due to funding and organizational problems.

Question: How would you work to implement the existing plan?

I would support review and update of the plan in coordination with other newly elected council
members and the key city staff and community leaders to ensure that it meets required standards
for public safety and use of alternative forms of transportation. I would advocate for funding.

3. Since 2003 Kansas City has had a Council-approved walkability plan, which identified several neighborhoods with deficient or non-existent sidewalk networks.

Question: How would you bring sidewalks to all neighborhoods in Kansas City?

The development of sidewalks in neighborhoods that presently do not have them should be a
priority. It should become part of a larger overall plan to provide basic infra-structure for
neighborhoods, and be part of the overall city budget and planning for infra-structure
replacement, repair and revitalization.

Council members have the power of the budget to increase funding for neighborhood services
and that is one of my priorities.

I also support renewing the 1 cent sales tax for capital improvements.

4. City policy treats sidewalks as the property of the home or business owner. Anyone who wants to, however, can use the sidewalks in front of a home or business.

Question: do you think the city should consider the sidewalk to be a public asset—part of the thoroughfare—or the personal property of the property owner?

Useable sidewalks add value to a property and the neighborhood. They benefit the public and are
an asset to a neighborhood for everyone’s use and enjoyment.

In practice, city policy treats sidewalks as a public asset, while the homeowner who derives the
value added has the responsibility to maintain the asset. When the homeowner fails to do so the
city can and should make repairs and assesses the cost to the homeowner. I would support
increased opportunities for more inspections and prompt repairs that contribute to improved use
and safety for pedestrians and bicycles.

5. Kansas City's bicycle and pedestrian programs are haphazard and dispersed through many departments, leaving us with no coherent policy and no mechanism to oversee the policy that does exist.

Question: How would you create an integrated transportation system that includes bicycles and pedestrians?

A review of existing plans and policy is needed in order to determine a single agency that could
serve to coordinate the activities of the various departments and staff. There needs to be the
development of a truly integrated transportation system that consists of our roads, trails, and
mass transportation systems supporting the needs of all Kansas Citians. This is an action that I
would endeavor to take up with the other members of the new council.

6. The city currently relies CMAQ and Transportation Enhancements for most of its bike/ped funding. This forces us to compete with all of our suburban neighbors for funding.

Question: Would you support the budgeting of city money for bicycle/pedestrian facilities, and if so how would you accomplish it?

I support seeking out a better budget for bicycle / pedestrian facilities. Through creative use of
the limited budget available and coordinating more effectively the actions of the various city
departments, staffs and programs, we may discover opportunities to expand support for presently
non-budget supported programs like funding transportation enhancements for bikes and
pedestrian improvements.