Gilbert Town Council candidates share transportation concerns - Rose Law Group Reporter (2024)

By Tom Blodget, Lucie Flagg | YourValley

Transportationis consistently identified as a top concern for residents. For whattransportationsolutions, practices or policies would you advocate?

Chuck Bongiovanni, co-founder and CEO of Majestic Residences Franchise Systems

“I will analyze and evaluate theGilbertTransit Survey results and how it incorporates an updated Traffic Master Plan to align with the 20-year vision for theTown’s multi-modaltransportationnetwork to connect people and places better. First, however, we need to be realistic about where we live. Some bike lanes are great, but we’re not Tempe, with 80,000 students biking to school every day. We need to remember the practicality of all projects.“

Bobbi Buchli, real estate broker

“I agreetransportationis a must among residents I have spoken to as well. Roads, freeways and surface roads must be maintained, widened and expanded as is planned for growth.Gilbertresidents and families are constantly in their cars not just for work, but getting their kids to school, sports, events, social gatherings, church, etc. The major mode oftransportationinGilbertis vehicles, and moneyneedsto be spent to maintain them.Transportationavenues could be increased by rideshares, adding more bus stops and buses. Buses can go anywhere inGilbert, from city to city, if they work local or to other cities if they work out oftown. Buses would give commuters a convenient and inexpensive way to commute where they need to go should they not want to drive. Commuter rail is not acost effectiveaddition totransportationinGilbert. Costing in the hundreds of millions to a billion dollars to build and years to complete only to become a huge tax burden on residents due to lack of usage. Adding more bicycle lanes to lanes that are now rarely used doesn’t make sense to me nor do I see families trying to bicycle their kids to sports, events and getting to school.

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• July 13, 2022