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

I have the privilege of living in one of the most transit-connected communities–and one of the most transit-connected legislative districts–in the state. In the average week, I’ll primarily take the 50 Bus (Damen) and the Brown Line, or bike. If I need to go downtown or further afield, I’ll either connect over to the Red Line at Belmont or hop on the UP-N at Ravenswood.

My experience biking around my neighborhood and through the city has shaped my view on both transportation and environmental policy. During the summers I work as a rowing coach down at Park 571 in Bridgeport, and more often than not, I bike down, taking Damen to Milwaukee, Milwaukee to Halsted, and Halsted down to the South Branch. It’s a clean route; it takes as long as it would to drive and beats public transportation by a few minutes. But time and time again, I have cars whizzing past me at speed, if not bumping into me at turns, and I’m swimming in their exhaust. But my route shows me directly & immediately that a better world is possible: as soon as I hit the UIC campus, bike lanes are protected, and cars and bikes are able to travel more efficiently.

My experience on the CTA bus network has radically impacted my view of transportation policy in two very different ways. Before living in Ravenswood, I lived down in the 44th Ward, and commuted downtown for work via the 146. Buses were irregular and unpredictable, either bunched or packed like sardine cans. We need to improve our bus infrastructure to let folks have faith in the system – whether this means BRT or LRT on DLSD, better tracking of vehicles, or other improvements, we need a change.

Now, in Ravenswood, I live directly on the path of the 50/Damen bus. You’re far less likely to find a sardine situation, but you’re just as likely to be wondering when the next bus is going to arrive, or if you’re going to get ghosted. And here, the physical infrastructure is deeply lacking: most stops are lucky to have either seating or shade, let alone both. The lack of shelter and seating pose difficulties to all travelers in adverse weather conditions, but especially so to those who have mobility challenges and may not be able to stand for long periods. This has directly influenced my campaign’s emphasis on seating & shade for all CTA bus stops.

My experience with trains is similar to that of buses: ghosting plays a major role in the lack of trust in the system. While we have improved since the worst days of COVID, train tracking is still spotty at best. Further, on the issue of accessibility, we should transition the heaters away from their set schedule and toward a schedule based on forecasted temperature. I’ve been caught in October and April snows before without a working heat lamp in sight.

What are some transportation challenges in your district?

The 13th District is an incredible microcosm of Chicago, but that means it also contains almost every kind of transportation problem we face in the city.

I have already discussed the lack of built infrastructure at our bus stops. Between transit funds, the road fund, and partnerships with advertisers and community groups, there is a potential to expand seating and shade at bus stops that lack it. With the passage of the transit bill, a number of potential challenges have been addressed (for now). The Red and Brown lines will continue to run, and no bus routes risk closure. We are fortunate enough to also be adding 81/Lawrence to the ‘frequent network’ this winter.

I would be remiss during this time of year to not mention the challenges faced by older Chicagoans or those with limited mobility. Snow piles up, ‘desire paths’ pop up, but very often they can make an unsafe situation even more perilous.

The far eastern edge of our district, home to Montrose Beach & the Bird Sanctuary, is cut off from Uptown and the rest of the city by DLSD. We have seen so much evidence that Chicagoans in the 13th and across the city have a desire to reduce their car dependence; yet this freeway still obstructs clean access to Lake Michigan.

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?

I have been pleased to see IDOT’s movement in recent years from a focus on highways to a broader focus on transportation. IDOT’s Next Move Illinois plan, the agency’s statewide plan for public transportation, makes particular note of the need for sustainability principles and transit-supportive roadway design and development. As Next Move continues, IDOT must collaborate with CDOT and NITA to ensure that the working people who depend on public transportation see real, concrete improvements.

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?

IDOT’s stated priorities for Next Move Illinois are impressive: to ‘ensure public transit is an affordable, safe, reliable, and equitable transportation option available to all’, to connect people, reduce congestion and air pollution, and help shape economically vibrant communities.

The General Assembly must hold IDOT accountable in realizing these aspirational goals by defining clear parameters, milestones, and intermediate goals that prioritize connecting communities and addressing the climate crisis. Too often do Democrats and progressive lawmakers talk a big game about our values but fail to deliver.

As we move forward, through Next Move and beyond, it is critical that Illinoisans' voices are heard earlier on in the infrastructure planning process–and actually listened to. As state representative, I hope to stand alongside organizations like BSC to raise awareness for the issues that everyday Chicagoans face when it comes to transit priorities.

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?

Much of Illinois’ current transportation infrastructure funding is focused on righting the wrongs of the past, especially bridge repairs and rail infrastructure. Moving forward, I would like to see the state move in a more environmentally conscious direction. We have seen incredible advances in green infrastructure in recent years, and as state representative, I would aim to push its uptake in future legislation. I was pleased to see the inclusion of upzoning around transit hubs move in the last legislative session. Allowing transit-oriented development is a critical way that improvements in our public transportation infrastructure can have spillover effects into other areas of built infrastructure.

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?

First and foremost, the Assembly must fulfill its role as representatives of the people of Illinois and make sure that public feedback to NITA is heard and valued. In too many other projects, infrastructure and transportation agencies eschew the voice of the public.

In the long term, we must ensure that the reforms passed alongside the creation of NITA are having their desired effects, that new frequency standards are upheld, that the transit ambassador program is starting according to schedule, and interoperability between CTA, Metra, and Pace actually comes to fruition. The General Assembly must also pass legislation requiring proper data collection and sharing between existing municipal, county, regional, and state agencies to better track both our built infrastructure and its behavior.

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

I would love to see Illinois criss-crossed by a high-speed rail network. When I last visited Milwaukee, I took the Amtrak. When I first visited Springfield? Amtrak. But too many of our existing train systems are outdated, unreliable, and insufficient. I was happy to see the recent announcement of the Rockford Intercity Passenger Rail project, to expand Metra service to Rockford. This is a great first step, and we must ensure that the project’s construction prioritizes speed, safety, and quality.

Greater investment and expansion of passenger rail service keeps cars off the roads, reduces traffic accidents, and most importantly, gets used. Projections for the new Borealis and Mardi Gras Amtrak lines are blown out of the water quarter after quarter. People like the ability to travel by rail: we should provide it to them.

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?

As with so many issues where Illinois has to pick up the slack of the Trump administration, this comes down to revenue. At the state level, we must pursue progressive revenue options, such as those put forth by the Illinois Revenue Alliance, but fundamentally, we must pass a graduated state income tax; the Fair Tax should be on the ballot every year until it passes.

For infrastructure funding in particular, we should also look at revenue sources derived from car traffic: first, changing the Illinois vehicle registration fee from a flat fee to a weight-based fee, and second, the implementation of congestion pricing through our existing tollway infrastructure.