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

The lack of alternate means of transportation. The City needs to work on improving and building infrastructure for public transportation, cycling, and walking. Last December I voted in favor of adding a TIF district to fund the Red Line extension to the far south side. At the moment, I am discussing my priorities for protected bike lanes with CDOT. I have also voiced my long-term plans to have an interconnected ward so that parents and children can travel safely to and from schools, parks, and libraries.

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 all forms of transportation and I feel all are necessary to get around. I enjoy walking as does my 74 yr old mother so we log a lot of miles on the city’s sidewalks. My son rides his bike as often as he can and frequently rides from Chinatown to the lakefront trail and utiilzes public transportation. While I enjoy walking and biking I drive my car regularly.

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?

At the moment, many departments are understaffed. We do not have enough inspectors to write tickets for snow removal scofflaws. The City is having a difficult time with retention and new hiring. I cannot see it being any easier to hire new staff to remove the snow/ice and I am wary of considering private contractors with that job. Without knowing the price of the service or knowing how the service will be funded, I cannot speak to implementing a universal city-sidewalk snow/ice removal service. The latest property reassessment has severely affected my constituents. I hear it regularly from the seniors who are on fixed incomes. I think it is a great idea, but we need to continue making sure the City’s current undertakings are properly funded. Among other improvements, we have made good strides in funding employee pensions and developing a lead service line replacement which we will begin implementing.

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?

It is not something that can be undone as easily as it was built. There are two expressways that run through the 11th Ward so I see everyday how communities are divided. I don’t think there’s an easy answer. The best we can do is continue to invest in those communities that were adversely affected by this division.

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

It’s easy to search and find that the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions nation-wide is transportation, followed closely by electricity. We need to promote alternate sources of transportation, because while electric cars help, they too come at a price.

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?

I am in favor of rebuilding NDLSD. I believe that in the long run the the proposed designs will reduce congestion. Having quick, reliable public transportation always decreases congestion. In turn, reduced congestion makes it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

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 think the biggest barrier is along state roads. In the 11th Ward, we are fortunate not to have those major impediments. CDOT has done a great job introducing bike lanes into Little Village and Lawndale through their Complete Streets Program. They are expanding it into two nearby neighborhoods, Mckinley Park and Brighton Park. I look forward to working with residents and CDOT. It’s not something that has come up in previous conversation, but if CDOT has had pain points with the State, I would like to help. I already have a relation with the legislators who represent the 11th Ward in Springfield and I am sure I can work with my colleagues to ease any restrictions CDOT may have met.

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?

I think we should revisit that contract for a variety of reasons, not just bike lanes. I think a more feasible, safer alternative would be to consider moving protected bike lanes next to the curb

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?

The easiest way to increase safe driving behavior is by removing drivers from the streets. We need to build on our public transit infrastructure and promote using public transportation, especially for shorter trips. Narrowing streets by moving bike lanes to the interior would reduce traffic speeds as well as creating traffic choke points by installing bump-outs.

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?

We already have weight limitations on residential streets, as well as on smaller arterial streets. I worry about people receiving their mail and packages when we start further regulating weight limits.

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

That is not something I have considered. The Department of Transportation already has a plan in place to expand bike lane infrastructure. The plan is being rolled out equitably, starting with underserved community areas, as I indicated earlier. Additionally, Chicago is meeting its current obligations and has managed to do so without raising property taxes. I would first like to see that the pension obligations we have are fully funded so that we can keep our promise to past and present City employees.

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

My main concerns are those of my constituents. They have asked me to do something about crime, to advocate on their behalf at the Cook County Assessor’s Office because of the inordinate increase in property taxes, and yes to do something about the rats. I’ve listened to what the cyclists in the 11th Ward have asked and I am addressing those concerns by prioritizing protected bike lanes on the most dangerous streets.

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

Any policy solution I can implement will be for naught if the CTA does not have an adequate number of drivers. There is no magic bullet that will allow buses and trains to operate reliably if we do not have the drivers for those buses.

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?

That is a big concern, but I feel like there are more pressing concerns. At the moment, I am more concerned with losing federal funding to public transportation. I hope that my colleagues in City Council and I can support the Illinois delegation to lobby House leadership to not cut federal funding

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

I am not against it, but I think we need to work on hiring the drivers we need first.

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

Yes