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

When the federal funds are expended by 2025, our transit agencies will face a $730 million deficit annually. We must work together with the region and the state to close this fiscal gap. Federal and state capital funding can be used to improve transportation investments needed to produce increased access, mobility and vitality of all Chicago communities and neighborhoods.

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?

Our family takes advantage of all mobility options. Most often, walking, transit and driving and for recreation, cycling. Sidewalks are important considering my wife’s mobility challenges with her MS diagnosis. That is why it is important to me that we keep our sidewalks in good condition, clean and free of obstruction, plowed and clean of snow and ice in winter.

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

I am the person in my household who is responsible for shoveling the sidewalk. When I am in DC, I worry about whether my wife is able to access a clean, shoveled sidewalk. During the pandemic, I recorded an instructional video to make it easy for family and friends to help out. Another example was the realization from Planning School, when it became clear, the connection between transportation, land use and economic development. I am now a champion of Equitable transit-oriented development in the Congress.

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 support organizations like Access Living and Better Streets Chicago and the Plow the Sidewalks campaign and believe that sidewalk snow and ice clearance should be a citywide municipal service.

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?

Congress has made funds available for Reconnecting Communities. It is up to cities to submit a competitive application. I will do so if this administration hasn’t. We can and must invest in the communities that experience the consequences of racist policies. My economic development plan will accomplish that. One component is transit-oriented development. By encouraging multifamily housing near transit, we can create new housing in walkable neighborhoods closer to transit. This is not just good housing policy, it is good climate and transportation policy, too.

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

During my time in Congress, I have focused on transportation and infrastructure including my support and work to help pass the Inflation Reduction Act which the Office of Management and Budget projected would cut Greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, and this legislation provided neighborhood access and equity grants to support equitable transportation planning that will reconnect communities divided by existing infrastructure. Too many communities, left without adequate mobility, are at higher risk from extreme weather events, and are disproportionately exposed to toxic air and water. Efficient public transit can help to reduce emissions and restore equity all at the same time. I believe in a strong public transit system and I will be in Springfield to support reforms that will guarantee great service and sustainable funding. I will look to find ways where Chicago will support the efforts of Illinois toward electric vehicles and implementation of clean energy law, CEJA.

I believe in a strong public transit system and I will be in Springfield to support reforms that will guarantee great service and sustainable funding. I will look to find ways where Chicago will support the efforts of Illinois toward electric vehicles.

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 last post on the City's and State's "Redefine the Drive" official website thus far does not offer a proposal with alternatives for public viewing or comment. The Drive, as currently configured along its length, is a barrier to the People's Park - Lake Michigan. The final design should connect Chicagoans with the Lake; make it safer for pedestrians, beach-goers, and cyclists; create new habitats: correct environmental challenges that make the Drive more resilient to climate change. I would support a plan to reduce congestion and increase green space without the need for infill in Lake Michigan.

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?

CDOT has primary responsibility for the vast majority of roads and streets in Chicago. IDOT's authority extends only to designated state and federal routes. IDOT does not have a meaningful public engagement process to hear from residents the kinds of transportation improvements that would improve their quality of life. Also, IDOT does not use performance measures to identify how projects should be prioritized. These are requirements of federal regulations but IDOT often uses federal regulations as the reason they cannot respond to requests for slower speeds or pedestrian facilities on state and federal roads, My primary responsibility is to the people of Chicago and my administration will use all available means to improve safety and to leverage the opportunities from transit-related and pedestrian investments.

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?

We can all concede that the parking meter deal was a bad deal for Chicago. We need to recognize that parking was privatized and not the streets. I will work in the best interests of Chicagoans and will use whatever means legally available to the City to enact safe street designs.

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?

There are a variety of traffic calming and distracted driver initiatives that are being used in various cities around the world. I will instruct CDOT to draw from these examples as well as invite experts with the aim of initiating pilot projects. My expectation is that many will lead to citywide solutions. Fines alone won't fix the problem.

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?

Chicago is a transportation crossroads city. We draw our workforce and our commerce flows from the entire metro area. Also, many Chicagoans have no choice but to keep their vehicles operating for as long as possible. Any Chicago-only ordinance will have limited effect. I believe that vehicle regulations should be addressed at the federal and state levels. California is effective because of the size of its market, its geographic location, and its ability to set an example for neighboring states.

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

I am willing to explore the feasibility of dedicated funding streams. My concern is that dedicated funding streams tend to establish funding ceilings as well as create functional silos.

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

I support the creation of pedestrian-only, traffic-free plazas done in concert with the surrounding community and businesses.

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

The first priority is increasing the workforce so that it is adequate to run the trains and buses and keep them in a state of good repair. Buses have to operate in mixed traffic of cars, buses, taxis, TNCs and micro-mobility devices. Putting buses in dedicated lanes with traffic signal priority will speed up the operating time keeping them on schedule and allow for more frequency.

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 city must take an active leadership role in addressing the regional transit ridership and funding challenge recently announced by the RTA and CMAP. Chicago does not exist in isolation from the region; it is critical to our economic prosperity. Pitting CTA against Pace or Metra will not help anyone in the long run. We need regional solutions. In the next year a new plan and potential reorganization for regional transportation will be negotiated. As Mayor, I will lead in that process to make bus services regular, frequent and reliable in neighborhoods and to have commuter rail lines better serve Chicago neighborhoods and all residents in the Region. The pandemic appears to have fundamentally changed ridership and work patterns which pose great challenges to the regional economy.

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

I support the establishment of Bus Rapid Transit lines in Chicago. I agree with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that Bus Rapid Transit in Chicago can generate business opportunities, economic development and job creation, especially near BRT routes.

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

Yes