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

We need to make our transit system more equitable in terms of volume and availability of service. I supported the Red Line extension and we need to redouble our efforts and continue improving the infrastructure and the rail systems across the region. This includes offering more accurate service times to improve the reliability of transit, improving sanitation and cleaning services on all lines, helping reduce waiting times for busy train lines, eliminating “ghost” buses and trains, and expanding CTA services especially to tourist locations (United Center, Museum of Science of Industry, etc). Above all, we must improve the security on CTA lines in order to improve public safety and protect our CTA Riders by increasing the presence of uniformed and armed police in transit stations; add plainclothes police officers on trains; clean up stations to make them more inviting; and ultimately provide the sense of security Chicagoans and tourists are looking for.

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 utilize the sidewalks, bike lanes and paths, drive and use public transit. I often drive my car, it's the easiest way for me and my family but like many commuters we do experience issues such as the unpredictable weather during the winter. Especially when the snowfall is excessive to the point where it is difficult to move and maneuver.

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

As a mother pushing a stroller around the neighborhood or as my kids got older and started to ride their bikes around, I quickly realized the importance and need for protected pathways and bump outs to ensure safe crossings. I have made this a priority of my first term.

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?

Winters in Chicago are brutal and even devastating to many in our city. From wind chills, freezing temperatures and of course snow. Excessive snowfall brings issues to our roads, sidewalks and other means of commuting. I think the city needs to explore options for assisting our most vulnerable residents. I support finding ward specific solutions, including recruiting volunteers to help shovel our neighbors blocks.

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?

I am encouraged by the 2021 investment from the Federal government with the passage of the Infrastructure bill. I think we can and should look to other cities to see what they have done to start to heal the damage done to communities. One interesting idea is something they are doing in Austin, TX where they put a cap over the expressway to add green space and mixed use developments.

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

When looking at the data we see that 24% of greenhouse gasses come from transportation (CAP 2022). If we continue going the path we are going and not fully implement the Climate Action Plan 2022, our carbon and greenhouse footprints will rise. But if we invest in clean energy, public transportation and other sustainable alternatives we have a chance to cut our carbon footprint by 62% by 2030.

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 Department of Transportation and the current proposals that are being recommended all have ideas of improving the way of commuting through the lakeshore. While the list of plans each address some of these issues, none of them address all of them. I have concerns that adding additional traffic to North DuSable Lake Shore Drive could have a negative impact on access to the 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?

I was pleased to see CDOT and IDOT announce plans to streamline collaboration earlier this month, and I will work with our State Senator Ram Villivalam and State Representative Mike Kelly to make sure that the legislature and city council are holding these departments accountable.

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?

Privatization of our parking spaces has been a decision that gets worse each year that passes. Unfortunately, I do not think we can undo that contract. What we can do, and what I intend to do is make sure that Chicago does not enter into any other short-term gain, long term pain contracts again.

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?

Recent studies and reports have shown that Chicago has a high number of fatalities caused by distracted driving. This puts other drivers and pedestrians at risk of being hurt or even killed, which is why we need to increase driver safety. Considerations include reduced speed limits and stronger enforcement of the current systems in place such as radar, red light and speeding cameras.

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 an ordinance in place regarding what type of vehicles should be used in certain areas. Our friends and neighbors of the 39th Ward have called my office regarding truck parking for example and have voiced concerns over having such large vehicles in our streets as it’s both an environmental and parking issue. It all comes down to specifics and what the ordinance is outlining.

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

This would be worth looking into in order to protect commuters that bike or walk from vehicular accidents and grants safe paths to walk. It would depend on how it is implemented so I would have to look at a proposal first.

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

The ability to have pedestrian-only streets would be great for commuters that travel on foot, and we can look north to Montreal Canada which has a system in place that has streets that prioritizes folks that walk as well as having slow areas to allow for bike and skateboard riders to travel. Furthermore, it can assist in getting businesses such as coffee shops or restaurants more traffic due to the easy accessibility.

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

As mentioned before, we must ensure that during peak ridership times services are well equipped with staff, drivers and conductors to ensure that we can provide CTA riders with an excellent experience.

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 RTA faces challenges that are not unique to any transit system across the country, especially since ridership fell during the pandemic and is only just beginning to recover. As this is a nationwide problem we need to ask the federal government and the state to step in and help.

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

It has done wonders in the Loop and I think it could be beneficial in other parts of the city.

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

Yes