Citizens Advisory Board

Robert Castenada

Number of Years as Chicago Resident

36

Favorite Chicago Landmark & Why

Navy Pier Ferris wheel because that is where my wife of 28 years and I were engaged.

Significant Public Transportation Memory

Riding the “green limousine” CTA bus as a child with my grandmother.

Emmanuel Garcia

Number of Years as Chicago Resident

Lifelong

Short Term Hopes for CTA Citizens Advisory Board

My short term hopes for the CTA Citizens Advisory Board are to address issues around my communities; learn more about what is happening in the transit system;  and lastly learn new information that we can help to spread awareness to communities.

Favorite Chicago Landmark & Why

My favorite landmark in Chicago is the 606, as it offers a safe place for bikers and walkers to go across communities in a safe manner with no cars around.

Peter Henderson

Number of Years as Chicago Resident

6

Past Time Hobbies

Riding the CTA system, getting to talk with friendly RTO’s, Making music, biking, coding, digital graphic design.

Favorite Chicago Landmark & Why

I would say the Willis Tower. Not only is it the second largest building in North America, but it has a deep rich history that brings tourists and others together to have and enjoy a great time!

Robert Johnson

Citizens Advisory Board, Vice-Chairperson

Number of Years as Chicago Resident

17

Favorite Chicago Landmark and Why

I think it's Wrigley. I don't particularly enjoy baseball, but I love seeing a stadium so thoroughly integrated into an urban environment. It's rare and impressive.

Significant Public Transportation Memory

There are so many! Specific to the CTA, I would say it was the day I decided, after a month of living in Chicago, that I could ditch my car and rely on public transit to get me around. I think "liberated" is a fair description of my feeling that day.

Aiden Keefe

Number of Years as Chicago Resident

19, my whole life!

Significant Public Transportation Memory

My first time riding the holiday train when I was very little has to be one of my favorite memories on the CTA!

Favorite Chicago Landmark & Why

The Chicago Board of Trade's quintessential art deco look is just spectacular!

Ryan McCray

Number of Years as Chicago Resident

One

Favorite Chicago Landmark & Why

Has to be the Loop! I just can't stop admiring it and all the views you see from the trains.

Significant Public Transportation Memory

My first time taking the Blue Line into Chicago. I’d know a couple days later that this is where I wanted to live.

Ryan Parnell

Number of Years as Chicago Resident

4

Significant Public Transportation Memory

Taking the Red Line every night to meet my partner at the beginning of our relationship.

Favorite Chicago Landmark & Why

Chicago Riverwalk. Seeing the trains and boats cross the river in the midst of world-class architecture is the epitome of Chicago's excellence.

Caroline Pavlecic

Number of Years as Chicago Resident

1 in Chicago proper, lifelong area resident aside from college

Favorite Chicago Landmark & Why

Sears Tower - I have a lot of great memories of going to visit my mom's office there as a kid.

Past Time Hobbies

Cycling, trivia, reading, writing, transit activism (of course!)

Tracey Powell

Number of Years as Chicago Resident

40 years.

Significant Public Transportation Memory

Taking the 14 Lakeshore to Downtown from Southside to get my first job.

Favorite Chicago Landmark & Why

DuSable Museum – history matters.

Katanya Raby

Citizens Advisory Board, Chairperson

Number of Years as Chicago Resident

Lifelong

Significant Public Transportation Memory

My first bus ride all by myself was at age 10. I rode the #1 bus to school. My mom had given me a reduced fare and it was very exciting to jump up and pull the stop request cord for myself — I felt so grown up!

Favorite Chicago Landmark & Why

I've always liked the water intake cribs. No one can go out there to see them in the middle of the lake, but I've been curious about them my whole life. I'm super fascinated by the whole water intake process.

Sonia Salazar Del Real

Number of Years as Chicago Resident

46

Favorite Chicago Landmark & Why

Paseo Boricua/steel PR flags- representing the heart and soul Puerto Rican community

Past Time Hobbies

Cycling the lake front throughout the spring and summer. It really does cause you to fall in love with Chicago.

Danielle Stanley

Number of Years as a Chicago Resident

10

Significant Public Transportation Memory

My mother taking me on the Metra/CTA as a little girl to visit my maternal grandma in Uptown. It was a long journey, but I saw so much during the ride.

Past Time Hobbies:

I explore the city through running. I belong to several run clubs in Chicago (Peace-runners, Tortugas, 7-On-Sundays). I completed three marathons and several half marathons in Chicago.

Kirby Scott Van Der Weele

Number of Years as Chicago Resident

43

Past Time Hobbies

Bicycling (4-5,000 miles a year) Building communities of people improving our daily lives.

Significant Public Transit Memory:

Seeing the city from all Elevated lines aboard a chartered CTA train.