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

Making our CTA bus and rail system safe and clean to encourage ridership. Making improvements in the CTA will require better leadership and more investment in operations.

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?

I drive a vehicle most of the time and use a bike during the summer months.

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

A visit to Copenhagen changed my opinion about the importance of bike infrastructure to encourage more of our citizens to use this mode of transportation. I was surprised to see that bikes are the preferred mode of transportation in this European country.

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?

This sounds good but given the vast needs of our city for improved safety, education, mental health and more, I would need to know the costs associated with a municipal snow/ice removal program and the revenue source to pay for it. It may be more effective and efficient to enforce the current municipal ordinances regarding snow/ice removal.

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?

The key to a better Chicago is equitable investment in marginalized neighborhoods.

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

Transportation is a key contributor to greenhouse gas emissions given the large number of cars and trucks on Chicago streets and highways.

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 haven’t seen or been briefied by IDOT on these plans and I reserve judgment until I have evaluated the proposal.

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?

Aldermen are not privy to the barriers that exist when CDOT works with IDOT on street design standards or transit investments. These discussions occur at the staff level of these two agencies. Perhaps a briefing of the City Council by Better Streets Chicago is warranted

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 contract will be with us for quite some time. By working with the contractor and the city, arrangements can made to modify the locations of various meters to usher in safe street designs. These negotiations can be accomplished on a case by case basis or by designing a safe street location plan for the entire city.

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?

In my ward, I have installed speed humps, traffic circles and lane narrowing in selective locations to reduces speeding and improve pedestrian safety.

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?

This is not a role for the city. There should be a federal mandate that universally and uniformly applies across the states.

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

This is not a bad idea, but the devil is in the details, I would want to see the proposal with sources and uses.

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

I do not have a position on this idea at this time.

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

Better staff incentives and improved working conditions for CTA employees who ultimately are responsible for keeping the schedule for arrivals and departures. Correctly aligning the schedules with the equipment needed when compared to the service/ridership impacts. CTA should hold quarterly public meetings to get feedback from customers and be held publicly accountable for their performance.

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 City Council has no role or oversight on this matter as the CTA is a separate governmental agency and Metra/Pace is not within our jurisdiction. This question should be directed to the Mayor, Metra and Pace.

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

I support this idea.

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

Yes