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

I was born and raised in Chicago and I take buses and trains to get almost everywhere weekly. During warmer months, I like to bike to get around the city. I do not own a car. Public transportation, the funding and frequency of services offered, is one of the lenses I use to view public policy. One example of how my experience as a transit rider informs public policy is my support for Equitable Transit Oriented Development. During my time as Chief of Staff to former Alderman Carlos Rosa we secured affordable housing near transit such as the Lucy Gonzalez Parsons Apartments, a 100-unit, 100% affordable housing development steps from public transit in Logan Square. We also built the OSO apartments on Montrose and Bernard, steps from a 78 Montrose bus stop. Affordable housing that requires car ownership is not truly affordable.

What are some transportation challenges in your district?

The public transit fiscal cliff was averted, but we must push to grow our network of bus routes and push for better train schedules and service. While some residents choose to live in the area due to the accessibility of public transportation on the eastern end of the district, there are some neighborhoods that struggle with access to reliable transit services and protections for pedestrians, particularly those on the west end of the district. I think a lot about Fullerton because I grew up by Fullerton and Cicero in Belmont Cragin. Both Fullerton and Cicero have major bus routes but the streets are built out like highways and they are not safe for pedestrians, bikers, and I would argue drivers as well. I think we also need a Kedzie bus!

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 must advocate for public transportation in order for residents to have access to Cook County Healthcare facilities, forest preserves, as well as the day to day access to work. Working in collaboration with the decision makers in other jurisdictions is key, but that collaboration must include advocacy for meaningful transit infrastructure. Oftentimes the county provides funding and the local municipalities determine how to implement funds. I believe we should provide funding for road infrastructure that centers access to diverse transit uses and I’m willing to push local electeds to use county funding in a more equitable manner.

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

Accessibility to Cook County forest preserves is a priority for my campaign. Expanding the reach of bikeshare programs to our forest preserves will offer residents the possibility of using public transit to get to a preserve, then a bikeshare to explore the preserve. Even those with cars, especially if they may not have a bike rack, would benefit from the ability to rent a bike for a day. As access expands, we will need to promote that access in order to encourage residents to jump on a bus and bike through our forest preserves.

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

Cook County works best when public transit works. I will continue to advocate for full funding of our public transit systems with state and local electeds, including expanding access to all parts of the county through public transit. I would like to work with advocacy groups to find out if there are potential avenues to push for additional revenue streams.

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 Access Pilot Program (Fair Transit South Cook Pilot) is a great step in the right direction to encourage transit use and bring access to low-income families. I would be interested to see how this program could expand beyond Metra. I am also interested in helping to develop the Crosstown Trail, a proposed trail on an underutilized rail corridor from Cortland to Montrose that can potentially connect to the north branch trail to the Forest Preserves. This trail would be multiuse (bike, run, walk) and would create 40 acres of new green space. It will take an intra-governmental effort to make the Crosstown Trail happen, and I have begun to work on community visioning with Friends of The Crosstown Trail to inform the public in order to begin addressing concerns and answering questions from the public.