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

I typically run, walk and drive around the 52nd District, which stretches 129 square miles in the northwest suburbs from Hoffman Estates and South Barrington in the south to Wauconda and Volo in the north, Algonquin to the west and Libertyville to the east. I also occasionally use Metra when I need to get into the city.

I’m a 90-time marathoner and 13-time ultramarathoner, so in order to explore the district and its green spaces more closely, I spend a lot of time on our sidewalks and gravel paths, which gives me a close look at safety conditions for pedestrians. Viewing our transportation system from all of these angles underscores how important it is to have safe streets, reliable transit, and predictable travel times. These are everyday needs for families, workers, and older adults, and this lens shapes how I think about good transportation policy.

What are some transportation challenges in your district?

Our district faces real challenges with reliability and limited options. Metra is essential for many commuters, but service changes and scheduling gaps can make it hard for people who do not work a standard schedule. Pace buses serve our area, but the number of routes is limited and buses do not come as often as many residents need. We also have a dearth of bike lanes that would encourage cycling, a cleaner, more affordable mode of transportation. Increasing suburban bike lanes would also help drastically with safety, as suburban drivers often are unaccustomed to bikers on the roads.

Also, as a twice-elected member of the Barrington Community Unit School District 220 Board of Education who serves on our district’s facilities committee, I have been working with our administration officials to try and get a traffic signal installed at our high school’s main entrance to make the street crossing safer for the nearly 3,000 students who attend Barrington High School. We have the capital projects funding for the traffic light, and we’ve done the traffic study and have the support of the Village, but there are still obstacles, such as proximity to railroad tracks, that have made it hard for us to get the project “green-lighted” by IDOT, so to speak. We also have some gaps in railroad crossing safety in high-pedestrian areas, as well as high amounts of congestion, that affect the ability of students and residents to move around their own neighborhoods. This all shows how important it is to improve both safety and connectivity.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) plays a significant role in transportation throughout the state, in Chicago, and Cook County. What is your opinion on their role with the Chicago Department of Transportation, Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, local communities, and the impact that has?

IDOT has a major influence on transportation across Illinois, especially with the state routes that run through our towns. I believe IDOT is at its best when it communicates clearly with local governments and communities, bringing them into the process early. Too often, communities feel like decisions are made without enough input or without a clear understanding of local conditions.

After years of trying for the afore-mentioned traffic signal at the entrance to Barrington High School, we still aren’t clear about what the blockage is or what else we need to do in order to get a light that will enhance student safety. As a state legislator, I’m committed to improving municipal communication and coordination between entities so that we can make essential infrastructure improvements for our residents. Increased collaboration and more transparency would help ensure that projects meet the needs of the people who use these roads every day.

How do you view the Illinois General Assembly’s role in setting IDOT’s priorities for public transit, passenger rail, and strengthening accessibility in transportation?

The General Assembly guides IDOT through both funding and policy direction. Lawmakers should make sure IDOT is operating efficiently, partnering with municipalities and prioritizing safety, accessibility and reliable transportation options for every part of the state. That includes supporting Metra, Pace and Amtrak, improving accessibility at transit stations, and investing in safer pedestrian routes. Funding decisions should reflect what residents actually need rather than antiquated formulas and assumptions. A strong, modern transportation system helps people get to work, stay connected and move around their communities with confidence.

States like Colorado, Minnesota, Virginia have passed legislation that has shifted their transportation infrastructure spending towards projects that prioritize safety, transit and cycling, and greenhouse gas mitigation. What’s your position on Illinois’ current transportation infrastructure spending, and if you could change anything, what would it be?

Illinois has taken some positive steps, especially with the passage of the transit bill in the last veto session that holds promise in both fixing and funding transit for our major metropolitan area. However, the state legislature needs to continue examining progressive revenue streams, including re-exploring a graduated tax — and framing and gathering feedback in a way that residents would understand exactly where the funding would be going – so that Illinois can fully fund such essential services as public education, first responders and transit. We need to ensure that we’re shifting funding toward fixing existing roads and bridges, ensuring safe crossings (especially near our schools), investing and creating awareness for cleaner forms of transportation, and providing dependable transit service for all communities.

This fall, the Illinois General Assembly passed a historic investment in transit operations – as well as significant governance reforms in the establishment of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority. How do you view the Assembly’s role in ensuring both the short- and long-term success of this legislation?

Passing the transit legislation was important, but the job isn’t finished. The General Assembly now needs to ensure it’s implemented well. This means providing stable operational funding, making transparency and accountability paramount, and showing suburban riders that they have a real voice in the new transit structure. Residents in my district rely on Metra, and many also depend on Pace even though the routes are limited. The reforms will only matter if people see real improvements in reliability and access.

What is your position on investing to expand passenger rail service in Illinois, including the development of high-speed rail?

I see developing high-speed rail as essential toward our future. In countries with reliable and prolific high-speed rail service, such as Japan, China and Spain, people often prefer the convenience of high-speed rail over the hassle of planes. It’s also the option that transports far more people at one time and pollutes much less. Better, more reliable rail service gives residents more options, reduces congestion and helps strengthen the economy across the state. For suburban communities like ours, improved rail service means more consistent connections to job centers and greater mobility for people of all ages.

Federal funding for Illinois transportation projects – such as the Red Line Extension and Red-Purple Modernization projects – has come under threat from the Trump administration. How can legislators shore up funding for critical infrastructure projects under a hostile federal climate?

When federal funding is at risk, state legislators must be ready to keep key projects moving. Legislators can do that by protecting state capital funding and working across party lines to back long-term investments. They can also make sure local communities are prepared with plans and partnered well with IDOT so that projects enhancing safety and easing congestion can move forward quickly. Legislators should work with organizations such as the Illinois Revenue Alliance to examine progressive revenue streams that will more fully fund essential services and infrastructure. It’s also important to continue advocating for our state needs at the federal level. Even when the Trump administration makes the transportation environment difficult, we must commit to providing safe, modern and reliable infrastructure for all Illinoisans.