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

I drive and take the CTA. Depending on my destination on occasion I take Metra and PACE. When I need to travel to ORD I love our new PACE Dempster PULSE bus.

What are some transportation challenges in your district?

We have worked on improving and making our roads more bike and pedestrians friendly. There are still parts of the district without sidewalks. We are excited about filling geographic gaps like the new Peterson/Ridge Metra and updating the new Norton Grove Metra Station. We have also worked on connectivity between public transportation and our county courthouse and forest preserves. And with PACE, CTA and Metra operating we’d love to work towards a more integrated fare system and schedules.

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?

We have used Invest in Cook finds to expand bike share in Evanston. We can continue to do the same as we make other parts of the district more bike friendly and connected to public transportation.

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

We work with our state partners to prioritize and leverage funds and priorities. As transportation agencies are being restructured I hope there will be more opportunities for regional strategies and initiatives.

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?

We hope to expand this model and find ways to do this under what will hopefully be more integrated fare systems across cta, pace and metra.