St. Charles Mayoral Candidates Pan Rabchuk Bike Plan

St. Charles mayoral candidates Jotham Stein and 3rd Ward Alderman Ray Rogina this week offered some constructive criticism of John Rabchuk’s plan to make the city a hub for bicyclists, with Stein saying the city’s greater need is to become a business hub, and Rogina criticizing an inaccuracy in the plan that might mislead some businesses.

Rabchuk said he wants to make St. Charles a hub for bicyclists, and proposed a number of steps, including the addition of some amenities.

“Making St. Charles not just a cycling hub, but a sports hub is a great idea,” Stein wrote in an email to St. Charles Patch, “however, what St. Charles really needs is a mayor who will make St. Charles a business hub.

“That’s my top priority and what, with my experience, I will do best,” Stein wrote. “We have empty storefronts, empty manufacturing facilities and empty office space throughout the city. If we fill these spaces, we will have more jobs and more business tax revenue that we residents don’t have to pay. We will also have a more vital community.

“Yes to cycling, but even more important, yes to more businesses throughout our city,” he wrote.

Rogina was more critical.

“To be a good mayor, a person must always accurately portray the facts in order to avoid creating misperceptions in the community,” he wrote. “In discussing his cycling initiative, Mr. Rabchuk was quoted as saying  ‘... the city of St. Charles and the St. Charles Park District are trying to acquire the abandoned railroad right of way running through the city from south of DuPage Airport to where it ends west of Randall Road.’

“In conversation between staff and the City Council, it has been made clear to us that the abandoned railroad right of way ends at or near Tyler Road,” Rogina wrote. “This needs to be clarified because east of Tyler, the railroad is a functioning spur. There is no need to give businesses, who may use or seek to use the spur network, the wrong impression about the intention of the city at this time.”

Candidate Jake Wyatt had no response on Rabchuk’s bicycle plan.

Related:

• Jan. 28, 2013: Rabchuk: Make St. Charles a Cycling Hub
• Jan. 30, 2013: Rabchuk Defends Bike Hub Plan for St. Charles

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