formerly citizens' greener Evanston
Evanston now has 25 years to achieve its carbon neutrality and zero waste goals as outlined in the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP), and Sustainability and Resilience Manager Cara Pratt has said the city has already accomplished the “low-hanging fruit” in pursuing these targets.
What climate goals and policies would you prioritize in the coming term? How should the city pursue reduction of building emissions?
Do you support phasing out natural gas use in new construction, and requiring existing buildings work toward carbon neutrality over the next 25 years?
Evanston is set to approve stretch codes encouraging all-electric new construction. Many developers, including the new school and projects in the Fifth Ward, are already choosing all-electric voluntarily, showing a strong trend toward clean energy.
For existing buildings, I support the Healthy Buildings Ordinance with key amendments I proposed — ensuring protections for commercial buildings with retail tenants and giving building owners a real seat at the rulemaking table. The ordinance includes an alternative compliance pathway to account for financial and technical challenges, preventing undue burdens. With these updates, it’s a strong step toward reducing emissions while keeping regulations fair and practical.
Nearly 2/3rds of all households in Evanston own one or no cars, and a majority of residents do not commute via car. Each year, more Evanstonians of all ages are walking, rolling, and using bus or train service for convenience, physical fitness, cost-savings, and environmental benefits.
How do you incorporate walking, biking and public transit into your everyday life?
I live in a busy household of five—my wife, our three children (ages 12, 3, and 1), and I—and we rely on a mix of transportation options. We have one car, which we use mainly for longer trips or when we need to quickly shuttle the kids to programs across Evanston (or even as far as Glenview). When I’m driving, my wife often takes the bus with the kids, and if our destination is close by, we’ll walk.
We also made a deliberate choice against buying a second car and are planning to incorporate an e- cargo bike into our routine, especially during the warmer months. I already use my bike for local errands, and as a family we look forward to riding together to the park and other nearby destinations.
Academic research and case studies from cities like Paris, Amsterdam, and New York show that reducing car traffic and building protected bike lanes are necessary to meet climate and mobility goals. Plans such as the Chicago Ave Multimodal Project provide an example of how this can be implemented in Evanston.
Where would you want infrastructure improvements, such as traffic calming, pedestrianization/ street closures, and protected bike lanes, to encourage more walking and cycling?
I would prioritize upgrading existing striped bike lanes to protected lanes on key corridors, while ensuring our planning connects the entire city, neighboring communities, and the region—not just one ward.
For example, on Emerson Street—a major, continuous route running from McCormick in the west to Sherman in the east (the edge of the Fifth Ward)—converting the current striped lanes to protected ones would enhance safety and connectivity. Similarly, on Dodge—which runs from Simpson to Church and already features some striped lanes near the high school—adding protected lanes would be beneficial. Extending these improvements beyond the Fifth Ward into the Second Ward, and linking them with the intermittent “lower level” protected lane starting at Greenleaf, would promote safe and efficient cycling across a broader area.
To ensure a comprehensive approach, I’ve asked our Transportation and Mobility Coordinator to provide recommendations on increasing pedestrian safety and bike friendliness. Their insights will guide our five-fifth TIF committee’s work, where we have dedicated funds for infrastructure improvements.
Public transit has seen a major change in ridership trends, with 9-to-5 commuter services falling short of pre-COVID milestones while off-peak and weekend demand climbs despite infrequent and often unreliable schedules. CTA, PACE, and Metra are facing a ‘fiscal cliff’, as federal dollars to keep transit service operating run out by 2026.
While not in the position to solve this problem on its own, what can the City of Evanston do to support existing bus and train service, and how would you want to see public transportation expanded in our city in the future?
Improving bus and train ridership starts with understanding travel patterns—not just for current transit users, pedestrians, and cyclists, but also for drivers. We need to know where people are going, how long they stay, and when they need to be there so we can design transit options that truly meet their needs.
Public transportation must be predictable and convenient. Coordinating bus and train schedules—ensuring, for example, that a connecting train departs soon after a bus arrives—creates a seamless experience that keeps travelers on track.
Local investments can make a big difference. Implementing real-time tracking and improved shelters reduce uncertainty and improve comfort. Enhancing last-mile connectivity through better sidewalks, bike lanes, and on-demand shuttles ensures that travelers can easily reach their final destinations. Strengthening partnerships with regional agencies and promoting transit-oriented development near transit hubs further boost ridership and service reliability.
When public transit consistently gets people where they need to be on time, it becomes a more attractive option for everyone.
With parallels to Envision Evanston 2045, Minneapolis has modified its zoning code in the past decade to eliminate minimum parking requirements, encourage transit-oriented development, and allow the construction of more “missing middle” housing city-wide. Together, these reforms lead to a stabilization of rent prices, a drop in homelessness, reduced displacement, and increased racial diversity. Environmental benefits were also realized, as more dense and mixed-use developments encourage lower rates of car ownership and generate less embodied carbon from construction.
What changes to Evanston’s zoning code, such as the ones listed above, would you support in response to the housing and climate crises?
I won’t comment on the ongoing Envision Evanston 2045 process, as it is still under review by the Land Use Commission. However, I believe that thoughtful policy development can discourage excessive car use while promoting increased public transit use and reduced carbon emissions. We should explore every avenue to achieve these goals.
For example, one successful measure the city has implemented is eliminating the ability for residents of new developments to get residential parking permits. Once the building parking spaces are filled, no additional parking is available on the street. This encourages those who rely on cars to seek housing that’s more accommodating to their vehicle use and demonstrates how targeted measures can help discourage undesirable behaviors.
