Bike Walk Wilmette had the pleasure of speaking with the five candidates for Village Trustee:
Peter H. Barrow
Kathy Dodd
Kate Gjaja
Brian Locke; and
Justin Sheperd
The candidates are vying for three spots. Our group is not endorsing any candidate. We wish to thank them again for their time and share their statements, below.
Don’t forget to vote in our local elections on April 6. Complete information is here.
Peter Barrow
The Village Board’s recent approval of the Master Bike and Transportation Plan reflects the culmination of several years of study by the Village’s consultant, the Transportation Commission and the Municipal Services Committee and extensive resident engagement. The Plan is a significant milestone in helping Wilmette become more bike and pedestrian friendly. It will be an important resource for our Boards, Village staff and the Village Board in creating policies for Village-wide transportation and will aid in obtaining grants and other funding for transportation infrastructure.
The Plan recognizes that our streets and neighborhoods were created with little to no thought about bike and pedestrian needs. By necessity, the Plan reflects a balancing of the needs of residents to park in their neighborhood, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. It’s not perfect by any means, but we all must live together in one Wilmette.
Certain aspects of the Plan, for example, the proposed tunnel under, or bridge over, Edens highway will require engineering studies, significant grant funding and cooperation of both state and federal authorities, and are many years from accomplishment. Other proposals, such as increased road striping and improved signage, are inexpensive and are within our control. Those should be addressed quickly. Our 2021 budget has allocated $50,000 to Plan implementation. I believe striping and signage for the recently resurfaced Greenleaf Avenue, itself a fine biking route, should be addressed quickly. The Plan notes several areas in the Village where critical sidewalks are missing. The missing sidewalks affect the safety of adults and children alike and should be a priority for our Board and our Public Works Department.
I expect the Board’s annual budgeting process will include consideration of how best to implement the Plan. We’ll look to establish a five-year plan to address what should be done, in what priority and how to fund it all. Such advance planning will also enable the Village to apply for grants and other third-party funding to defray the costs of these improvements.
Kathy Dodd
I’m very excited that on February 23rd, the Village Board unanimously approved the Village of Wilmette Active Bike and Transportation Plan. This shows a commitment on behalf of our current board to make our community a more bike and pedestrian friendly community. I recognize this is a just a plan, but it’s an important first step in creating a road map for how we can improve our streets and sidewalks for the safety and usability of everyone. If re-elected I’m committed to moving this plan from simply a vision to a reality. I also believe we have strong community support as the pandemic has reinvigorated all of us to get outside, enjoy the beauty of our community, spend quality time with family and find ways to be active together.
I live a very active lifestyle. I walk my dog and ride our tandem bike with my daughter Stacy, everywhere. Stacy has special needs so I’m acutely aware of the safety concerns many residents have biking and walking in our community. As I look at priorities for the bike plan, addressing safety issues and walking and biking routes to schools would be my top priority.
Kate Gjaja
Thank you for the opportunity to submit a statement regarding active transportation issues. And more importantly, thank you for all of the advocacy work you have done for years on these issues in our community. Only when residents speak up about the issues most important to them can the Village Board best represent the community in its decision making.
One of the main reasons we moved to Wilmette 16 years ago was because it is a “sidewalk community” where our children could walk to schools and parks, and we could walk to public transportation, the downtown, and the beach. Just as safe and connected walking routes are important to Wilmette residents, so too are safe and connected roads for bikers to traverse our Village.
There is no doubt in my mind that supporting active transportation is critical to the future of our community, both in terms of livability and environmental sustainability. The recently completed Walk Bike Wilmette Plan provides a roadmap for us to make progress in this area. With this information, the Village can be planful as it schedules infrastructure work to incorporate pieces of the plan where possible, and it can also work with community members to target resources and seek outside funding appropriately. Incorporating many of these ideas into the upcoming Comprehensive Plan will also be important. I am excited to work on these issues with Bike Walk Wilmette if elected as a Trustee!
Brian Locke
Everyone can agree that Wilmette offers incredible opportunities for walking and biking, whether it be casually strolling the neighborhoods, utilizing the bike lanes, or visiting our excellent parks. As a Village Trustee, my priority will always be to preserve the high quality of life we all enjoy while remaining fiscally responsible.
With the recent adoption of the Village’s Master Bike & Active Transportation, the Village now has vision and set of goals to work toward. The challenge will be achieving that vision in a financially responsible manner. I will always strive to work closely with the community, other agencies (such as the park district), and fellow trustees to find the best possible solutions given limited resources. I am specifically concerned about safe walking for residents, especially children, in areas that do not currently have sidewalks, and feel that it is especially important to find solutions to that concern.
Justin Sheperd
Thank you Bike Walk Wilmette for your advocacy of safe transportation in the Village of Wilmette. As a current Wilmette Plan Commissioner, and as a Candidate for Village Trustee, I am very happy that the Master Bike and Active Transportation Plan has been unanimously approved by the Village Board. As the Village prepares to celebrate its Sesquicentennial Anniversary, it is clear that we have work to do to meet our current needs to both provide and encourage safe and active transportation. This Plan is an important part of the process and if elected Village Trustee, I will support its integration into our Village’s planning process.
Bike Walk Wilmette 