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

I use Metra and my personal vehicle. I also occasionally use the CTA. Using Metra especially has shown me that it's not usually worth it to drive from the suburbs to downtown. It is safe, easy, and relatively cheap to take public transportation.

What are some transportation challenges in your district?

We have a lot of first mile/last mile issues. For example, it might be difficult for someone to get to the Pace or CTA stop from the home, and/or from the drop-off location to their work. We need to do a better job of helping individuals get where they need to go, or they will just opt to use their personal vehicle.

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?

I believe Cook County should continue to maintain and update their roads. One of the best grants Cook County has is the "Invest in Cook" grant. This allows municipalities to apply for grant funding for projects they need but might not have the funding for. Working with our local municipalities to invest in their projects is essential, on top of maintaining what we already have.

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

We should continue looking for partnerships with our local governments to expand these bikeshare programs. Some of the first mile/last mile issues we have in the 15th District could be solved with more of these programs. As a Commissioner, I would welcome the opportunity to begin these discussions with municipalities.

What role can the County play in bringing funding sources and revenue streams to county transportation projects?

We should continue to invest in our Department of Transportation and Highways to fund our roads. Additionally, we should look for more grants to fund one-time upgrades and projects that we might not have normally done. As a Commissioner, I would work to find these additional revenue streams that we could bring to the county.

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?

I believe the new mass transit legislation from the State of Illinois will bring many opportunities for us to reenvision our mass transportation infrastructure. I look forward to working with our partners at the county, state, and local governments to increase access to public transit. Additionally, we should continuously reexamine the county's public transit systems to make sure we are investing in the right areas and programs to meet the needs of our constituents.