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

As Vice Chairperson of the City Council Committee on Transportation, this is an area I am passionate about. While I think an infrastructure that supports vehicle traffic is essential, I think we should be much more focused on reducing vehicle usage and providing the infrastructure and support needed to encourage residents and visitors to use alternative means of transportation. We have to build more bike lanes in every corner of the city and they should provide real protection for cyclists. We have starved our public transportation system of dollars and of ingenuity and have allowed CTA leadership to escape accountability at every turn. Our trains and buses must run regularly and on time, they must be kept clean, and they must be safe for riders. A robust public transportation system is the backbone of any great city - and Chicago deserves better. I have also been a champion for alternative methods of vehicle traffic, like our scooter program.

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?

My family uses sidewalks regularly in the city of Chicago and we enjoy walks to my in-laws home which is seven city blocks away from our home. My shed is full of bikes for every member of my family. We typically have to drive a significant amount of time in order to find adequate bike paths for leisurely activity and I wish we were able to bike from our house easily to these paths, without having to drive. This fact has limited the amount of time we spend in this activity that my family enjoys.

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

Organizers and activists with Access Living raised the issue of bus stop usage along 31st Street. Several of the individuals in the group navigate in wheelchairs and were unable to access the bus stops on the street as the sidewalks were not smooth surfaces at any point for several blocks. The 31st Street bus gives access to the lake and downtown to local residents and for these individuals it was a critical means of transportation. This issue brought home the need for more inclusive transportation policies and actions that are sensitive to diverse riders.  

Another personal experience to highlight is during a trip to the Country of India with the Civic Leadership Academy, I witnessed the constant negotiations and extra planning a classmate of mine who utilized a wheelchair for travel had to make due to the limited infrastructure. While the rest of us were able to take for granted that we would be able to traverse the country, she had to plan out each excursion meticulously. These experiences have certainly shaped the way I view how we build a transportation system for people with disabilities, but they also just drove home how essential movement and transportation are to every facet of life for many groups of people including the elderly. 

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?

I support a city-wide snow and ice removal program.

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?

This is a legacy that I believe many are unaware of, that has a deep impact on communities in every major US city, and that is very challenging to tackle in any restorative way. That said, I was pleased to see the Biden administration address this issue in the infrastructure bill and am hopeful that we can start chipping away at the problem. We are not likely to reroute existing highways through major cities, but what we can do is come up with creative ways to change the landscape where roads pass through communities. Whether that means burying roads, making viaducts into more vibrant spaces, building on top of highways or any number of other creative ways to address this need and reinvest in communities intentionally torn apart by racist federal, state and city policies. 

We are taking an active role in reversing this in my area. On 43rd and Cicero Avenue in the 22nd Ward we are reversing decades long trends of housing disinvestment and segregation. Phase one development of the former LeClaire Courts Housing projects will include 200 units of affordable housing across the street from a newly built school, a Tony’s Finer Foods grocery store in a food desert, a federally qualified healthcare center and more. We have spent a significant amount of time with this diverse community planning this development and have near universal support. For years, housing projects were placed on the other side of the train tracks or expressways and were largely forgotten and disinvested in; this project, however, takes a holistic view at building a community and incorporates community benefit developments where the private sector is attracted to invest and improves quality of life for future residents and the current community. 

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

Vehicular traffic is a leading cause of climate change and one that we all have a responsibility to mitigate. That means demanding more on emissions standards, requiring all city vehicles to transition to electric vehicles, putting environmental requirements into all city contracts so that those doing business with the city are also doing their best to be responsible stewards of the environment, and getting as many of us out of our cars and into bikes, public transit, and walking as possible. 

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 proposals are a mixed bag at best. I am in favor of some of the improvements - particularly bus only lanes and additional green space. However, I do not believe there is nearly enough done to protect cyclists and pedestrians. We do not need to expand the Drive - we need to rethink its configuration and have the improvements reflect what I hope are our shared priorities of safer streets, healthier environments, and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. And while I share frustrations about congestion, I do not want to have drivers speeding up and down a road that residents and visitors use to access our magnificent lakefront.

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?

Identifying jurisdictional control and significant communication between government entities is crucial to achieve positive change. On Cicero Avenue, for example, we have had issues with ingress/egress control as standards for improvements seem to be different between the city and state. This labyrinth of differing rules and requirements based on jurisdiction delay potential infrastructure improvements and are quite frustrating when intersecting and/or neighboring streets are governed by different regulations. By working with our State Representative, we were able to raise the issue with authorities at the state that helped resolve the conflict. We need to establish better communication and more universal standards so delays in improvements are resolved. 

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?

What was a terrible deal from the very beginning seems to get worse for the city with each passing year. While private lawsuits directed at breaking the contract have thus far failed, we have yet to see what a committed administration could do to advocate for Chicago residents harmed by this deal. City officials should be fighting to get us a better deal and should be finding creative ways to work around the current deal. Instead, the last two administrations have simply thrown their hands up and said there is nothing they can do. We can work around the edges to mitigate the impact by relocating parking or pushing back on how our obligations are calculated; or, we can walk away from the deal and see how that plays out - it cannot be much worse for us financially than the current arrangement. 

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?

I think we need to build an infrastructure that reflects our values. That means streets with fewer lanes and with traffic calming measures that center people over vehicles. More narrow streets, forcing private development to limit ingress/egress, curb bump outs, pedestrian medians, traffic circles, improved lighting, are some of the ways that we have implemented traffic safety measures in the 22nd Ward particularly around schools and parks. In addition, speed limits are important enforcement measures, and we should lower speed limits in city residential areas.

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?

I am in favor.

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

I am in favor.

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

I am in favor.

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

In speaking with the transit union it has become apparent that staffing levels for CTA bus and train operators are not where they need to be and are a major cause for concern. We need to implement rapid hiring and training practices. In addition we need to implement new technologies. I find it hard to believe that we cannot communicate effectively when the next train or bus is arriving to pick up our patrons- we need real time updates to the public regarding the expected arrival of buses and trains. We are a world class city and should have a world class 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?

First and foremost, I have worked with labor and progressive groups and I will not support the roll back of the CPI inflation adjustments in our city budget. We went decades without responsibly managing our finances and we cannot go back to those practices. These adjustments allow the city to manage its budget responsibly as pension debt can absorb too much of our resources and limit our lending capacity and strength. I will work with allies and colleagues in Springfield to address the issue legislatively at the state as well.

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

I am in favor.

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

Yes.