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

Chicago's transportation system faces various challenges, including heavy traffic congestion, limited accessibility to transportation in underprivileged areas, air pollution, and inadequate infrastructure in specific regions. The lack of access to transportation in low-income neighborhoods and associated public safety concerns are a significant problem. To tackle these issues, the city must invest in expanding public transportation options, such as bus rapid transit or light rail, in these areas, and deploy violence interrupters to patrol the CTA. Long-term solutions like investing in infrastructure development and expanding public transportation options are crucial to ensure the sustainable growth and improvement of the city's transportation system.

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

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

[no response]

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?

Support it.

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?

Eliminating the divisions brought on by interstate highways in Chicago necessitates a multi-faceted and long-term strategy that targets both the physical and societal implications of the problem. A crucial step towards reconnecting segregated neighborhoods would be to invest in community development and affordable housing initiatives that revitalize and reinvigorate areas affected by the construction of highways.

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

The transportation sector in Chicago has a significant impact on the environment and contributes to the exacerbation of climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. The continued reliance on fossil fuel-based modes of transportation, combined with the city's sprawling infrastructure and heavy vehicular traffic, contributes to an unsustainable pattern of urban development with severe long-term ecological ramifications. Transitioning to electric vehicles and advocating for more sustainable transportation will be a vital step towards mitigating the negative environmental impacts associated with traditional fossil fuel-based transportation. I fully support the transition of city vehicles and buses to electric vehicles to potentially significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and dependence on non-renewable energy sources.

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?

The current proposal should be re-consulted by a diverse panel of elected officials, representative members of the community, and relevant organizations, in order to achieve a consensus that is mutually acceptable.

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?

I plan to work with the Governor and State Legislators to secure additional funding for better infrastructure.

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?

The parking meter deal will require a comprehensive, long-term effort that will involve a combination of strategies such as: renegotiating the contract, creating zones for street sign designs and investing more into public transportation.

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?

Installing speed humps, roundabouts, and traffic circles

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?

It’s a complex issue because there are positives and negatives associated with both sides.

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

Support it!

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

Support it!

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

Making the CTA more reliable is crucial. The CTA is the lifeblood for many Chicagoans to gain access to employment, school and healthcare. Coordinating city-wide job fairs with city council members and the CTA would help fill in the employee shortage gaps to decrease the ghost bus and train phenomenon. Fine tuning the tracking system would also help with notifying riders if a bus or train is late or not in operation for the day.

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?

The impending fiscal cliff is a serious concern, and addressing it will likely require a combination of short-term and long-term solutions and collaboration among different sectors and stakeholders. Seeking out new sources of funding such as grants, bonds, and federal funding and increasing efficiency through automation and technology.

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

Support it

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

Yes