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

I use car, uber and airplanes during an average week. When away serving state my daughter and husband rely on public transportation. This makes me aware of many the issues that arise with each of these modes of transportation including safety, cost, operations, customer service etc.

What are some transportation challenges in your district?

The closed Racine Green Line station has hurt transportation availability for residents and has had a detrimental impact on transit oriented economic development and jobs in Englewood. We have been working for over a decade to influence officials to reopen this station. During the fall veto session transit bill I made sure it included language that would rehab and reopen the Green Line Racine station.

Rideshare companies take advantage of certain communities or play games to charge customers more when they know they have no other options for transportation. There is no school bus transportation for my child or other children trying to get to school daily, leaving parents with little to no options especially when they work fulltime and are head of households/single parents. Private transportation companies for youth and adults discriminate against neighorborhoods like Englewood and West Englewood, charging much higher rates or refusing to serve the area at all leaving residents with no options to get small children to school who are not old enough to take public transportation on their own. I spent more on transportation to get my child to school less than a mile away than I did on private school tuition - I tried to save money by putting her back in public school and then private transportation charged me more than tuition, simply because no drivers want to do pickups in my neighborhood.

Safety on the bus and trains for all people but especially, women youth and elderly - there seems to be little to no security to help in these instances. My teenage daughter is scared to take the bus and train daily during her 1.5 hour daily commute from the things she sees and experiences but we have no other option.

The 59th Street corridor has been totally taken over by truck traffic in the past 10 years thanks to certain elected officials. It has increased accidents by over 80%in this area, myself getting into an accident because people are trying to drive around hundreds and hundreds of semi trucks that have taken over our once walkable, drivable, bikeable community. The 59th street corridor is supposed to be our haven for community development around urban agriculture, food access and recreation -green trail. The semi truck traffic from the two rail lines at Damen and Wallace have totally changed the landscape, road conditions (constant potholes and roadwork needed from heavy trucks)of 59th street and residents can barely access this important road anymore to get to school, work, play etc.

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?

IDOT should be a leader and partner to these agencies

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?

It is the role of the General Assembly to set these priorities thru legislation, funding and implementation.

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?

I would focus our spending on safety, transit and greenhouse gas mitigation.

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?

The General Assembly must continue to evaluate the effectiveness of the recent changes and propose solutions as they arise in the future.

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

I support this.

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?

Legislators need to actually meet whether as committees, workgroups or leadership and come up with solutions to these issues as they arise or before they arise.