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

My husband and I do not own a car and rely on the CTA and Metra to get to work, see friends, and run errands. I walk to work or take the 49B, and he takes the Brown Line, bus, and/or Metra for work. As a lifelong Chicagoan, I have seen drastic changes in CTA reliability and service. I am constantly worried about my husband, an avid cyclist, because of the lack of safe cycling infrastructure. It’s those experiences that drive my advocacy to create a comprehensive bike grid within the 40th Ward where I serve as chief of staff to Alderperson Andre Vasquez. Ald. Vasquez and I advocated and helped deliver new CTA leadership, organized a neighborhood-wide volunteer-powered snow shovel program in the absence of a city plowing system, and pushed for infrastructure funds to be used for sidewalk repairs and pedestrian-oriented improvements.

What are some transportation challenges in your district?

CTA ridership is significantly down across the city and within the 12th District. With pandemic- and post-pandemic service cuts and unreliable service, many people stopped using buses and trains. This district is especially served by the Brown and Blue lines, where I’ve personally seen drastic reductions in reliability and longer wait times that make using the CTA difficult. While service is improving with new CTA leadership, we need to be actively recruiting riders back to public transit.

Additionally, the 12th District has two Metra stations: Clybourn and Mayfair. Metra can be a good option, but these stations are outdated; neither is accessible, and the existing shelters leave riders exposed to the elements and unpleasant to use in cold, snowy, or rainy weather

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?

The county has a responsibility to partner with local governments to ensure every county road is safe for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and motorists, as the 2011 County Complete Streets Ordinance intended. But loopholes in the ordinance have allowed the county to avoid adding pedestrian and bike access on some roads by deeming them unsafe. DOTH should work to offer grant funding to local municipalities to expand sidewalks and safe cycling infrastructure, ensuring communities can stay connected.

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

The County should work to expand bikeshare programs beyond the existing ones in Chicago, Evanston, and Oak Park. As commissioner, I would prioritize expanding bikeshare programs by advocating for Divvy stations on Cook County Forest Preserve properties near existing and planned bike trails, and by evaluating installing bike share on county-owned and maintained roads.

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

In addition to having a direct vote on the budget and revenue streams for DOTH, commissioners have discretion to disburse funds to aldermanic partners through Invest in Cook funding, advocate for funds to congressional partners via Community Project Funding (CPFs), and serve as advocates for other large federal grants. While considerable grant funding seems unlikely under the Trump administration, I’ve been successful in advocating for CPF funding through congressional partners to improve CTA stations in the neighborhood, and I would continue to partner with congressional offices to bring more investment to the 12th District.

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?

The RTA currently administers the Access Pilot program, which offers reduced rates to SNAP recipients. Right now, this program is set to expire January 31st, 2026. This is a crucial program that has also boosted ridership and should be extended and expanded, especially as we see the Trump administration cut eligibility for SNAP.

I am excited about further fare integration between regional transit systems, especially between CTA and Metra. My family would benefit from a fare reduction for transfers between the CTA and Metra.