What do you believe are the greatest transportation challenges facing the City of Chicago right now?

As the downtown city of Chicago strives to improve its modality diversity, the transportation challenges facing it have come into sharp focus. Chief among them is fully funding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to enable a reliable and affordable transit system for the citizens of the city. This must go hand-in-hand with accountability and external oversight from organizations like the Better Government Association, along with community engagement and improved service delivery at all levels of government. If implemented properly, these measures could usher in a wholly new level of public trust in Chicago’s transportation system, unlocking new modalities and opportunities for inhabitants and visitors alike.

Do you or members of your family regularly use sidewalks, bike, take transit, drive, or a combination of any/all to get around? Does this correspond with your preferred/ideal modes of getting around? If not, what barriers do you and your family face in using your preferred mode of transportation?

Yes, my family and I regularly use sidewalks, bike and take transit to get around. However, our ideal modes of transportation can only be achieved if the infrastructure supports safer sidewalks and more safe bikelanes. At present this is not always possible, because slower traffic is hindered either by other vehicles or poorly designed roads and intersections. Additionally, schedules for transit options are sometimes prohibitively frequent or too slow to be practical for getting around efficiently on a daily basis. Barriers like these have prevented us from using our preferred transportation options - therefore, we must look to alternate forms of travel in order to fulfill our needs.

Can you share a personal experience that changed your opinion about a transportation related policy matter?

I often bike from my home to the 606 elevated trail with my children. They have learned how dangerous an area in Palmer Square is, and often remark as we head south in front of St Sylvester Church that the area should be known as “Death Valley” due to the swift speed of drivers and the poor visibility. It is both nerve wracking and saddening to hear that from my kids and I want infrastructure that will allow them to traverse our city safely, especially as they grow older and more independent.

Chicago is a snowy city, and even one stretch of uncleared sidewalk can make it impassable – particularly for folks with disabilities, the elderly, and parents with young children. What is your position on implementing a universal city-wide sidewalk snow/ice removal service?

Its vital that the city of Chicago provide a universal city-wide sidewalk snow/ice removal service. Without it, those with disabilities, the elderly and parents with young children are unable to access public spaces safely in the winter months. To ensure effective implementation, this should be achieved through meaningful community engagement and conversations around funding mechanisms. Each neighborhood should have an opportunity to weigh in on how such a service is funded, installed and maintained. With collaboration from all corners of Chicago, we can work together to ensure that everyone has access to safe snow/ice free sidewalks for years to come.

It is now widely recognized and understood that interstate highways were used to physically divide urban communities from one another – often along racial and class lines. How do you propose we overcome these divisions to restore the urban fabric of Chicago and reconnect our segregated neighborhoods?

By acknowledging the environmental injustice that has contributed to divides among our urban communities, we can actively take measures to counter the physical separation and restore the fabric of Chicago. Through increased transportation diversity and equitable development initiatives we can make headway in reconnecting neighborhoods across racial, class, environmental and geographic lines. This work must involve meaningful community engagement every step of the way to create a shared understanding of what needs to be addressed and make sure no voices are left out. Collective action ensures that all impacted neighborhoods can benefit from these reconnection efforts and our urban communities will emerge stronger than ever.

What role do you believe transportation plays in Chicago’s collective greenhouse gas emissions, climate responsibility, and overall environmental health?

Transportation plays an enormous role in Chicago's collective greenhouse gas emissions and climate responsibility. As one of the most populous and transportation-dependent cities in the United States, it is clear that if Chicago is to commit to improving its environmental health, reducing emissions must be a major focus. To reduce carbon dioxide releases, the city should develop cleaner transportation systems that uphold the principles of environmental justice and support the reduction of emissions associated with climate change.

What is your position on the Illinois Department of Transportation’s current proposals for rebuilding North DuSable Lake Shore Drive? Do you believe the proposed designs will reduce congestion, improve transit access and make pedestrians and cyclists safer? How do you think the current proposals will impact access to the lakefront?

IDOT should not be the primary consulting party in the reconstruction and local residents feedback should be prioritized to make certain that the new designs slow traffic, improve lakefront access and make the area safer for all, something the current designs do not achieve.

What barriers do you believe the Illinois Department of Transportation presents to Chicago pursuing better safe streets design standards and transit investments? How do you plan to work with City Council, the Governor, and State legislators to overcome these barriers?

The Illinois Department of Transportation presents formidable challenges for Chicago in pursuing better safe streets design standards and transit investments. Specifically, funding constraints can prevent citizens from benefiting from enhanced mobility that is fairer and equitable. To overcome these barriers, working with City Council, Governor, and State legislators is essential to ensure that funding is prioritized to prioritize community input and deliver better outcomes. Going forward, involving the communities on the front lines of transportation planning will strengthen our commitment to enabling sustainable transportation solutions both now and in the future.

The 99-year parking meter deal enacted by former Mayor Richard M. Daley has been a barrier to enacting safe street designs by privatizing large portions of Chicago’s streets. What is your plan to address this?

To address the 99-year parking meter deal enacted by former Mayor Richard M. Daley, I would introduce a community engagement initiative that involves working with stakeholders from all sectors of Chicago. This measure would include discussions led by community leaders to explore ways to effectively harness community talent and resources, so as to work towards better safety outcomes for all street designs. With community input and collaboration, I believe it is possible to come up with new approaches for privatizing large portions of Chicago’s streets without sacrificing safety.

Studies show us that speed and distracted driving kill. What do you think are the most effective ways to reduce driver speed and increase safe driving behavior?

Research continues to demonstrate the danger of speed and distracted driving, resulting in fatalities and serious injuries. To reduce speed and enhance safety on our roads, various effective strategies have been implemented. Speed tables have been successful in slowing speed by putting humps in the road, while pedestrian prioritization is another way to ensure higher speed areas are ready for a safe crossing. This can take the form of designated crosswalks or raised platforms at intersections to draw attention to pedestrians. Community engagement also plays an integral role in improving driver speed, with initiatives like bike lanes or shared streets encouraging slower speed. Finally, we should consider equity when implementing solutions as speed limits that favor wealthy populations with access to public transport may not reflect what is needed for all populations; policymakers must be conscious of this in order to achieve equitable outcomes for everyone.

What is your position on the City passing ordinances that attempt to regulate the size, weight, and/or safety features of personal and private vehicles?

As public servants, we have a responsibility to consider regulations that not only make sense in theory but are also justifiable and equitable. It is important when considering such ordinances to take a holistic view of their impact on the safety and security of our citizens, as well as their potential effect on the environment and larger community. Regulating size, weight, and features of personal and private vehicles should focus on better outcomes for all involved- justice for drivers, enhances safety for passengers, respect for resources both renewable and nonrenewable alike. Collectively engaging with individuals and groups that would be most affected by any proposed regulation is vital in order to create policies with the power to shape our future in an equitable way.

What is your position on establishing a dedicated funding stream for safe and universal pedestrian and bike infrastructure in Chicago?

Establishing a dedicated funding stream for safe and universal pedestrian and bike infrastructure in Chicago is a great goal, one that I believe should be actively worked towards. Change of this magnitude requires the engagement of many communities across the city, so it is important to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the best outcome possible. By doing so, we can create access to infrastructure that allows people to safely move around their neighborhood freely.

What is your position on creating select pedestrian-only streets?

Creating select pedestrian-only streets is a great goal that can have many positive effects on a local community. To truly make it successful, it will take work and cooperation from all stakeholders; the government, businesses, and citizens. It is important to be cognizant of potential roadblocks and work with them to ensure success with this project. Community engagement is essential - the people affected need to be consulted in order to make sure that everyone agrees wholly with the proposed changes. Creating pedestrian-only streets is certainly something to work towards - if done right, everyone can reap great rewards!

What policy solutions would you implement to ensure CTA buses operate on schedule, frequently, and quickly?

To ensure that CTA buses operate on schedule, frequently, and quickly, the first step must be to fully fund the system's operations. Increasing the resources available to CTA would enable them to hire more bus drivers and mechanics as well as create maintenance and staff training programs. Next, a system accountability audit should be conducted to identify any areas for improvement within the system that could improve efficiency and punctuality. Finally, accountability measures should be implemented to evaluate how successfully the specific initiatives have improved service. The combination of these strategies would help bolster accountability and increase efficiency within the CTA transit system.

Considering the role the CTA, Metra, and Pace play in providing public transportation within the city, what are your plans to address the impending fiscal cliff – a deficit of over $700 million – that the agencies will be facing in 2025?

In addressing the impending fiscal cliff of over $700 million facing the CTA, Metra, and Pace in 2025, stakeholder engagement is paramount. My plan includes utilizing stakeholder meetings to discuss equitable funding mechanisms for these public transportation providers. This will require gathering input from multiple stakeholder groups including riders, representatives from regional transit agencies, elected officials, and most importantly, affected communities. I will also lead community engagements that provide information on our plans and receive feedback from citizens. My goal is to collect stakeholder input in order create a well rounded solution that is both realistic and sustainable for the future of public transportation within the city.

What is your position on establishing a network of Bus Rapid Transit lines in Chicago?

Establishing a network of Bus Rapid Transit lines in Chicago is a great goal for the city to strive for, and one that I strongly support. This would greatly benefit the residents of Chicago by cutting commutes times and providing more transportation options. However, there are some challenges to overcome if we are to make this a reality. Specifically, we need to find ways to fund these projects as well as engage with local communities during the planning process. By doing our due diligence now and involving citizens in the discussions, we can increase the likelihood of success for any such project in the future.

Will you commit to securing the funding necessary to implement CTA's plan to become 100% accessible according to ADA standards? (yes/no)

Yes