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

Public transportation: creating a safe, clean & welcoming space for residents & visitors remains the most urgent necessity at this point.

Vehicular transportation: the City of Chicago must find a sustainable way to not only fix the $8 Billion deferred infrastructure needs but also plan for future routine maintenance on streets, alleys, and sidewalks.

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, as an alderman that is not a hermit, I use all of the above for both my professional and personal needs. I sometimes take the Orange Line to City Hall. I use my bike to survey the ward with my staff (also on bikes) for city services. I walk my dogs on the sidewalks and have run several 5K's on the streets of this great city. All said, I have a good appreciation for the needs of our residents and inequitable manner in which maintaining them happens.

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

On a recent trip to Israel, I saw how differently they approached bike lanes across the nation. Rather than keeping them car level, Israeli bike lanes are above the curb next to the sidewalk in dedicated spaces off the street. I found that to be remarkable, especially considering how universal that application was, unlike in Chicago were there are several forms of bike "lanes" and protective options for street-level lanes.

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 have helped hundreds of seniors or persons with special needs clear their sidewalks of snow during the winter. It is not, however, the city's responsibility to do that universally, especially for commercial or rental properties.

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?

If the City of Chicago wished to reclaim Daniel Burnham's mantra, we should build over the interstate system and reconnect both sides of the highways. We could create giant interstate boulevards & green space, or create new housing options.

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

According to the Chicago Climate Action Plan, the City of Chicago's residents create nearly 12 Million metrics tons of CO2 gas every year. Our goal should be to reduce our reliance but also focus on mitigation efforts, increasing green space and rejuvenating our tree canopy across Chicago, monitoring air quality with partners like Microsoft & JCDecaux.

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 have no position on the subject but fully support City Council public hearings on the topic.

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?

Three days ago IDOT & CDOT reached a memorandum of understanding moving forward on street safety. Our goal now is to ensure funding options, particularly from the State of Illinois, come to the city to ensure application of any recommendations or requirements moving forward.

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?

There is nothing that can invalidate the contract's provisions without taxpayers paying annually for the loss of revenue incurred by the company.

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?

Lack of enforcement of traffic laws only pushes drivers to engage in risky or illegal behavior. We must correct that indifference and actively and aggressively change bad habits, like they did in the 80s for seatbelts, car seats and drunk driving.

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 full support of such regulation. I introduced and passed legislation keeping commercial vehicles off of residential streets.

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

I fully support enforcement of bicycle licensing to fund bike infrastructure similar to the city sticker.

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

I have no citywide position but have support created pedestrian-only sections of streets in my ward. These only work in concert with other directional and street-level investments.

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

City Council has not authority or jurisdiction on the CTA as it is a sister agency. However, we should use their requests for city funds as opportunities to demand better or restrict access to our taxpayer dollars.

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?

Again, that regional authority's financial distress should not fall solely on the backs of Chicago taxpayers. The county and state must step up and provide funding of public transportation if they want it to be functional for all communities that are their constituents also.

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

I support Rapid Transit lines connecting all corners of Chicago.

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

No