Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates running for Mission City Council to address leading up to the Nov. 4 election.

Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to Mission residents.

Each day this week, we’re publishing the candidates’ responses to one question.

Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:

Bike and pedestrian safety: Mission continues to develop a traffic safety plan through the federal Safe Streets 4 All initiative that aims to ultimately cut down if not eliminate traffic-related injuries and deaths. Part of that process is getting resident feedback on what areas of the city pose the most danger. What roadways or areas of the city do you think need the most attention when it comes to making safety improvements?

Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on this issue:

Ward 2

Joe Donaway

Residential areas are the biggest concern. These are the places where we walk our dogs, ride bikes with our kids, and catch up with friends by the curb. The streets around our parks are especially important to keep safe for families and kids.

I’ve heard repeated complaints about 58th Street between Nall and Lamar, where delivery trucks and golf carts serving ScriptPro frequently roll through stop signs. Likewise, 56th to 58th west of Lamar see dangerous traffic from drivers cutting through to avoid poorly timed lights on Johnson Drive.

This problem starts with signal synchronization; our traffic lights just aren’t working together. When lights on Lamar, Johnson Drive, and Martway aren’t coordinated, it creates congestion, pushing impatient drivers into quiet neighborhoods. If we simply coordinated the timing of those lights, we’d ease congestion, cut down on shortcutting, reduce vehicle emissions, and make our city safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Mission’s “Traffic Diet” starting at Johnson Drive and Lamar has only added to the issue, creating long backups with no convenient or safe detour options. The key part of having a traffic diet is to have accompanying transportation services to reduce the number of cars on the roads. Without transportation services, a traffic diet just creates more traffic. With more high-density housing coming online, these problems will only grow. We need a smarter traffic plan, one that balances pedestrian safety, smooth traffic flow, and accountability for development-driven impacts.

Sam Komosa

As mentioned in the question, the city must continually engage residents when solving any problem. Bike and pedestrian safety is no different. I encourage all residents to attend the Safe Streets Open House on Wednesday, October 29 at the Powell Community Center. This type of residential feedback is critical to a responsive city government.

When I think of bike and pedestrian safety, I think of our downtown corridor on Johnson Drive. Downtown Mission is an area where consumers reach their destination in a variety of ways: walking, biking, and driving. Easy access to crosswalks, increased visibility, and well maintained roads and sidewalks are necessary to keep these areas safe.

Walkability and bikeability are not only safety issues, they are economic issues. By investing in safer sidewalks and safer bike lanes, we can drive more foot traffic along our business corridor, which in turn helps local businesses.

Ward 3

Debbie Kring (incumbent)

– We have followed the guidance in the “Safe Streets 4-All” initiative and relied on community feedback for implementing a community-wide plan for ensuring streets, sidewalks, and bike paths are safe for our residents and businesses.

– Roadways, side streets, and sidewalks along the Johnson Drive corridor have been a priority, primarily due to Mission’s continued efforts in providing bike lanes, pedestrian paths, and lower speed limits. A police presence has also helped in identifying high traffic areas.

Kayla Schiller

Did not provide the Post with a response.