What types of transportation do you use during an average week, and how has this shaped your view of transportation policy?

I primarily use rideshare and drive, and because my work takes me to every part of the city from my home on the South Side, to my law office and the County Building downtown, to community events in neighborhoods across Chicago I experience our transportation system from many angles. Along the way, I also hear directly from residents about how access to transportation affects their daily lives.

These experiences make it clear how dramatically transportation access differs depending on where people live. In some areas, getting around is simple and efficient; in others, limited transit options, poor walkability, and aging infrastructure create real barriers. Historically disadvantaged neighborhoods are still working to catch up, and that inequity shows up in people’s commutes, their health, and their opportunities.

Transit touches every part of life getting to work, doctor’s appointments, grocery stores, school, and childcare. Seeing these challenges up close has shaped my belief that transportation policy isn’t just about roads and buses; it’s about fairness, access, and improving quality of life. We should be making it easier, safer, and more reliable for residents to move through the city, no matter what mode of transportation they use or which neighborhood they call home.

What are some transportation challenges in your district?

The 3rd District is extremely diverse, and with that comes a wide range of transportation challenges. In areas like the Gold Coast and the Magnificent Mile, residents enjoy some of the best access to public transit, bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure that Chicago has to offer.

However, many communities on the South Side and in the south suburbs experience the opposite—limited public transit options, fewer protected bike lanes, inadequate sidewalks, and overall lower walkability. These gaps create real barriers for residents, affecting everything from job access to health outcomes.

Ensuring that every neighborhood has safe, reliable, and accessible transportation is essential. Access to walking, biking, and public transit improves quality of life and should be available to all Chicagoans, no matter where they live. My goal is to help close these inequities so every part of the district can benefit from strong transportation infrastructure.

Cook County residents often find their local roadways fall under multiple different jurisdictions and standards. How do you view the County’s role in ensuring consistent, safe, and accessible transportation for constituents?

Cook County plays a critical role in ensuring that our transportation network is safe, consistent, and accessible, even as roads cross multiple jurisdictions. I believe the County must set a high standard for the infrastructure we directly maintain, while also collaborating closely with municipal and state partners to create a seamless experience for residents.

The County is responsible for maintaining 1,620 lane miles of pavement, 132 bridges, 360 traffic signals, and seven pumping stations across four maintenance facilities. That responsibility goes beyond basic upkeep—it means making our roads safer, more efficient, and easier for residents to navigate in their daily lives. To me, the County should lead by example: maintaining strong infrastructure, coordinating with local governments to ensure consistent standards, and investing in improvements that support safety, accessibility, and long-term planning. Whether someone is driving, biking, walking, or using public transit, they should experience a transportation system that works smoothly and reliably across the entire region.

What can Cook County do to stabilize and expand access to bikeshare programs that span municipalities?

I have also been a champion of the Bronzeville Bike Trail, fostering discussions between the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways and the leadership of the Bronzeville Trail, resulting in County resources being committed to the project

What role can the County play in bringing funding sources and revenue streams to county transportation projects?

County commissioners play a critical role in securing, prioritizing, and approving the funding and revenue streams needed to keep Cook County’s transportation network strong, safe, and equitable. We help shape the long-term vision for mobility, ensure resources are directed where they are most needed, and approve the contracts that move these projects from ideas to construction. Recently, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a wide range of planning, design, and construction contracts to support the Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH). These projects adjvance multimodal improvements that strengthen operations, enhance safety, and support our regional economy.

Examples include:

Southern Cook County – $599,956 for planning services to study crossing improvements for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users across interstate barriers.

Countywide – $4.8 million for bulk rock salt to ensure safe winter operations.

Countywide – $3.5 million for new snowplows across all four maintenance districts.

Commissioners help propel this work by advocating for funding, approving contracts, and ensuring that county resources are invested strategically and equitably. We are committed to strengthening transportation across the region and developing a comprehensive plan that considers every mode—private vehicles, highways, bridges, public transit, pedestrian access, bike infrastructure, freight rail, and commerce. Our goal is a transportation system that supports economic vitality, enhances mobility, and improves quality of life for every community. Studies like the South Cook Mobility Study also guide our decisions. Completed in 2019, the study revealed how decades of job loss in the south suburbs, paired with job growth in northern and western Cook County, have created long commutes and limited access to opportunities. South suburban residents now face the longest average commute in the county—nearly 24 miles round-trip—and declining ridership on key Metra lines. The study emphasizes the importance of maximizing existing transit infrastructure and making services more seamless and complementary.

As commissioners, we use this type of data to attract federal and state funding, advocate for regional solutions, and prioritize investments that address inequities—especially in historically under-resourced areas. Our responsibility is to ensure the county’s transportation dollars build a more connected, efficient, and equitable system for all residents.

Cook County has a history of innovating access to public services, including public transit – such as the Fair Transit South Cook pilot. As commissioner, what are ways you envision the County innovating on transportation?

With President Preckwinkle, I have been supportive of the red line expansion and have attended several press conferences in support. We at Cook County also continue to foster collaboration and transparency between the public and the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, CTA, Metra and Pace with annual public hearings, commensurate with our budget process.