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

I believe the greatest transportation challenges that we currently face are those associated with Chicago's public transportation system. CTA ridership has finally had a steadily increase in ridership over the past year. This has mainly been attributed to fare decreases and other rider incentives, as well as an increase to employee return to work employer policies. However, public safety issues on the public transit system has been a deterrent to seeing a more fruitful increase in ridership. I have also proposed and have had fruitful discussions that our public transportation system employ the latest modern technology to decrease violent offenses on the system. This proposed pilot program would be on city trains, platforms and busses.

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?

My family members use a combination, but regularly use motor vehicles for most travel and bikes recreationally. These modes of transportation does correspond with out preferred method.

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

None that I can readily recall.

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 would support a program of that provided for the removal of snow on sidewalks given there are certain restrictions placed upon the program to help with the cost of running a major program like this. Having restrictions on the frequency of the removal and what snow depth would trigger said services are of importance.

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?

Because our highways are not easily reconfigured, we must continue to use the political process of mapping to indirectly reverse the harmful effects that's cause by highway segregation. Because of this segregation, communities that are underserved can be restored through equitable benefits that are often the result of highways that run through the more affluent communities.

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

I believe that it is undisputed that transportation has played a major role in Chicago's overall environmental health. As such, Chicago has increasingly made efforts to increase and protect human health. For example our pilot program of using electric CTA busses will serve to reduce gas emissions in our communities over time as the program expands.

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?

Because the design and functionality of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive is well over 100 years old. I support a modern review of the Drive to ensure a modern use. Any such project must keep in mind that a reduction in the current allocated greenspace and lakefront is not practicable. However, proposals in improving lane usage, ingress and egress upon the Drive would be beneficial to the residents.

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?

Perhaps one of the greatest barriers would be the lack of collaborative planning between IDOT and CDOT.

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?

It is quite unfortunate that the City entered into this lopsided deal. We are contracted to maintain an average of 30,000 private meters on our commercial streets. Along with this agreement, Chicago cannot drop below a certain revenue point or Chicago would be liable for the difference. Although this mat be a barrier in the greatest sense of the word, enacting safe street design, to some degree, can be maintain regardless. Our infrastructure needs specifically include an assessment of a need to remove or replace private parking

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?

The most effective way to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety is not enforcement alone. Our communities throughout Chicago are seeing increasing design changes in the flow of traffic to better assist in the attempts at reduction. Through our use of bump out, lane reconfiguration, increased bile lanes and plastic bollards, we have been able to decrease the number of fatalities and help to reduce the speed of drivers.

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 support the use of ordinances that would regulate the size and weight of vehicles as to relates to their travel along non-commercial streets. Safety must be of utmost importance. Many of the neighborhoods throughout the city are surrounded by industrial corridors with increasing traffic of vehicle having excessive gross weights traveling along residential streets. I support policies that limits the ability to do so.

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

I support a dedicated stream aimed at safer pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure.

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

I support the use of Pedestrian Streets in the city of Chicago. Chicago has traditionally used P-Streets in heavily retail areas to preserve safety and functionality of the shopping district.

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

It is important that out transit systems become as reliable as possible. As such, creating policy that requires quarterly reviews of usage, scheduling and frequency would serve to help facilitate a more efficient system.

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?

Although ridership has increased throughout 2022, the lack of public safety has been a continuing deterrent to residents opting not to use public transportation. I have requested and the Superintendent has increased the number of officers riding the train and busses on a daily basis and increased the number of officers standing on the platforms during peak ridership. I would also support an effort to expand the voluntary special employment program that puts officers on CTA property (trains and platforms) to include officers riding busses and implement dedicated police patrolling on bus routes.

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

I would support such an effort

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

Yes