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

I take the CTA Green Line train 3-4 times a week. Riding this train, I see the lack of government services for some of Chicago’s poorest residents especially those who are homeless. If elected to Congress, I will work to end homelessness as we know it.

Regarding my view of transportation policy, if elected to Congress, I will bring billions of federal dollars back to Chicago to make our regional transit system the best in the world. The people of the 7th District need these vital transit services, and our environment will worsen if we do not boost our transit services.

If I am elected, the 7th District will have new and improved CTA train stations and bus routes, new and improved METRA train stations and new and improved PACE buses. Here are my top priorities:

Better CTA Buses

New CTA express bus on Madison St.

New CTA express bus on Cicero Ave.

New heated & lit bus shelters for all 7th District bus routes

Better CTA Trains

New CTA Green Line Western Ave. station

New CTA Green Line Kostner Ave. station

New CTA Pink Line United Center station

Fix the CTA Green Line Ashland Ave. station

Improve all CTA Blue Line stations along I-290

METRA Rail Improvements (Union Pacific West Line)

Improve the Kedzie Ave. station, so it's accessible for people with disabilities

Build a new Cicero Ave. station for Westside economic development & connecting to Midway Airport

PACE Bus Improvements

Per the IDOT’s I-290 plan, new PACE express buses between the CTA Forest Park station and Mannheim Rd. in Hillside and Westchester IL

New PACE express bus on Mannheim Rd.

New PACE express bus on Madison St.

New PACE express bus on Roosevelt Rd. to service 3 Proviso Township high schools

New PACE bus shelters outside Proviso East, Proviso West & Proviso Academy high schools

What are some transportation challenges in your district?

Certainly, we need to do more to prevent crime activities on our transit system.

If elected to Congress, I will work to end today’s drug addictions crisis, so we will have less crime, and I will work to improve our job training and placement programs, so people have hope and new careers.

Overall, the 7th District has faced decades of a lack of proper government investment. For example, the CTA Green Line Western Ave. station was closed in 1948 despite Western Ave. carrying the most CTA bus riders for decades. We need a renaissance of government commitment to public transit.

Finally, many 7th District residents face great poverty. If elected to Congress, I will work to gain free public transit services for those with financial needs. Public transit services should be free to those in need.

How do you view Congress’s role in setting priorities for public transit, passenger rail, and strengthening accessibility in transportation?

Congress has an essential role in ensuring that there is safe and affordable public transit for all constituents; that tax dollars are being used properly; and that there is a return on investment for these investments that will lead to future economic development, especially in historically disadvantaged communities.

What’s your position on the Federal government and Illinois’ current transportation infrastructure spending, and if you could change anything, what would it be?

U.S. government spending and state spending for public transit must increase to build and renovate our systems.

As it relates to our state, I would like to see at least 50 annual budget hearings to decide our state’s annual infrastructure priorities together - - with maximum emphasis on public transit, bicycle access and pedestrian accessibility improvements.

With greater government funding, all senior citizens at 65 or older should rider for free, and all low-income residents should also ride for free.

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

I fully support high speed rail in Illinois. If elected, I will work to achieve:

• METRA express trains from downtown Chicago to both O’Hare Airport and Midway Airport

• An AMTRAK express train from downtown Chicago to Springfield IL

• An AMTRAK express train from downtown Chicago to Milwaukee WI

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 do you plan to shore up funding for critical infrastructure projects under a hostile federal climate?

Congress appropriates federal dollars for public transit. No President can hold up these funds. Congress needs to exercise its rightful role as the financial guardian and decision-maker for U.S. public transit policy.

Our streets have become increasingly militarized in the past several months as the Trump administration has ramped up DHS and ICE activity in our cities. This past summer, Congress voted to increase the ICE budget larger than most of the world's militaries.

What is your position on ICE and related immigration enforcement?

We need comprehensive immigration reform.