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

Chicago’s transportation system has several serious issues that need to be addressed from very limited to almost no safe streets infrastructure depending on the neighborhood, lack of protected bicycle lanes and a connected or consistent bike lane network, and high vehicle speeds, but, the most dire among those currently is the state of the CTA, which over the last few years has provided service that is less reliable, less enjoyable for patrons, and less safe. To correct this the City must fully staff the CTA, which has approximately 1,000 vacancies presently, in the short term increase law enforcement presence throughout the system to deter violent crime, reinstitute the conductor program, and stand up a multidisciplinary ambassadors program that connects people in need with social services.

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?

I take an all of the above approach to transit and utilize whatever mode works best for a particular trip. Prior to running for Alderman I rode my bicycle for transportation or fitness on a nearly daily basis, walked or rode my bike to the Metra UPNW line which is my primary means of transportation to work, almost daily, and then Divvy’d or walked to my office on Michigan Avenue from Ogilvie. When running errands like going to the grocery store or taking my young daughter places I generally drive. I rarely drive into the City for work but do from time to time when I have to be home at an unusual time that does not fit into the Metra schedule.

In most cases I would prefer riding my bike for trips within a couple of miles of my house and taking transit to get downtown. I do ride my bike regularly when going to the store alone to pick up a couple of things real quick. But, if I am taking my daughter to the store or have a lot of groceries to pick up my bicycle is not really a feasible option. This is partly due to the fact that my town bike is not really set up for carting around my daughter and several bags of groceries. However, even if I had a cargo bike, like a Urban Arrow, I would be very hesitant to take my daughter anywhere beyond the few blocks surrounding our home on a bicycle because there are no good safe routes and no infrastructure whatsoever in place for to getting to places like grocery stores in my neighborhood and surrounding suburbs on the far Northwest Side. In fact, there is not a single protected bike lane anywhere within the 41st Ward and the “infrastructure” in place consists only of sharrows and painted bike lanes. Although I as an experience cyclist am comfortable utilizing that “infrastructure” and navigating our neighborhood alone there is no way that I would be comfortable doing it with my daughter in the bucket on the front of a much heavier and less maneuverable bicycle. As a result I have not invested in a cargo bike.

As for taking transit to get downtown, that’s always my preference. But, infrequent Metra service (running approximately once hourly outside of peak times) sometimes results in me driving. I could also take the Blue Line to Harlem and then jump on the Harlem bus, but with inconsistent CTA service and slow and infrequent bus service that option usually ends up taking up far too much time.

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

I grew up riding and racing my bicycle. So, from a young age I had more freedom and independence to get around than most kids my age. I could get anywhere I wanted to go within reason at almost no cost. When I got my driver’s license, I was shocked by how expensive and inconvenient driving and traffic were so when possible I stuck to taking the train, riding my bike, or walking when possible. Having grown up and become comfortable riding my bicycle on public roads, in an environment where there was effectively no infrastructure for cycling, I never really understood why people insisted on driving. It was not until I got a little older (aware of my own mortality) and cell phones became more ubiquitous did I realize how terrifying riding a bicycle on an unprotected roadway is for the average person who is not used to the experience, or parent with a child.

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?

Although I would like to learn more about costs, I’m generally supportive of plowing sidewalks and bike lanes.

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?

Unfortunately, I do not think that we can restore the urban fabric to what it was before the interstates were built or repair the wounds that their construction inflicted on communities of color. Having said that safe, reliable, consistent, and affordable transportation is key to reconnecting neighborhoods divided by the interstates.

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

According to a 2022 position paper from the RTA Board of directors approximately 24% of all greenhouse gas emissions annually produced in the city of Chicago are from transportation vehicles, with approximately 15% of all greenhouse gases coming from on-road vehicles like cars, trucks, and busses. Obviously, making public transportation more accessible, efficient, reliable and safe would encourage more people to utilize transit, lessening their emissions, but we also need to make other forms of transit like the bicycle safer and more convenient for the average cyclist so that the bicycle becomes a realistic option on most short trips for folks.

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?

While the Redefine the Drive Study has been interesting to follow, the study’s suggestions lack ambition and imagination. Having said that, it seems that the least harmful of the changes proposed, and most beneficial from a public transit perspective, is the 3+1 bus only lane configuration, as it does not add a lane, seems to preserve the surrounding parkland, and adds a dedicated bus lane, which should speed up bus traffic on the drive. With regard to access, there is some discussion of the drive going underground at Addison which would, in theory improve access at that location. Unfortunately this will not solve the access problem which is the result of both geography and physical infrastructure. The lakefront provides a unique set of challenges as it is quite far, in some places miles from the nearest L station, massive, and even without Lake Shore Drive would be somewhat difficult to access, particularly for those with disabilities.

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?

IDOT has historically been a major stumbling block for safe streets or, at the very least, something that aldermen could point to as a reason for not making streets safer. The recently agreed to memorandum of understanding between CDOT and IDOT is a small step in the right direction, but I would suspect that IDOT will continue to be a barrier for safer street design in the City. I think it is important that we as a city coordinate with IDOT to expand the list of approved street treatments set forth in the agreement of understanding.

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?

I would be interested in looking at ways that the City could get out of the parking meter deal and return the parking meter income to City coffers, at a sensible price to tax payers

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?

Although speed restrictors on vehicles and fully automated traffic enforcement would not only increase but effectively force safe driving behavior. However, any speed restriction requirement would likely have to be implemented by the federal government, given the sheer size of the auto industry, and fully automated enforcement would result in serious civil liberties issues and political blowback. As such the best way to reduce driver speeds is designing our streets to that they prioritize safety over speed.

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 think the city would have a difficult time regulating size, weight, and safety features on personal and commercial vehicles. It is one thing to ban something like window tints and another endeavor all together to require vehicles in Chicago to comply with certain specifications. However, I think there are ways that the City could do a better job of encouraging smaller vehicles that have a smaller environmental impact, like charging a premium for city stickers on vehicles weighing over 4,000 lbs., that are not used primarily for a specific work related use, and implementing congestion pricing that takes into account the size of a vehicle among other things.

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

I would be open to creating a dedicated funding stream for safe and universal pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.

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

I am in favor of creating pedestrian-only streets in appropriate areas and circumstances.

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

The CTA currently has approximately 1,000 vacant operator positions, that need to be filled as soon as possible to improve reliability and frequency across the system. It also makes sense to create truly separate and dedicated bus lanes in select areas to make bus travel more efficient and reliable.

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?

It is imperative that the CTA, Metra, and PACE receive additional federal and state funds to fill the budget gap, as the entire transportation system, which separates Chicago from peer cities, is teetering on the edge of a potential death spiral. Any further cut or deterioration in services has the potential to end public transportation in the city as we know it, and effectively leave those that rely on public transit stranded.

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

More efficient bus and train service is a critical component of encouraging people to get out of their personal vehicles and onto public transportation. To achieve that goal we should take an all of the above approach which includes further exploration of bus rapid transit lines.

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

Yes