Rebekah Scheinfeld

Rebekah has built a career tackling challenging urban development issues through her work in both the public and private sectors. She is President and CEO of Civic Consulting Alliance, a nonprofit organization bringing together collaborative, pro bono investments to get big things done for the Chicago region. Prior to joining the organization in March 2020, Rebekah spent years contributing to the organization’s mission: as a partner that provided pro bono consulting services, and as a client who leveraged those services to improve the region’s transportation.

From 2014 – 2019, Rebekah served as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation, where she spearheaded many of the Emanuel Administration’s key transportation initiatives. Her achievements include overseeing the Vision Zero Chicago traffic safety plan, the Riverwalk, the 606, the Loop Link, the Union Station Transit Center, new CTA elevated stations at Washington-Wabash and Cermak Road, new pedestrian and bike bridges over Lake Shore Drive at 35th and 41st Streets, the transportation planning process for improvements needed for the Obama Presidential Center, and the citywide “smart” street lighting modernization.

Rebekah also served as the Chief Planning Officer and a Senior Vice President at the Chicago Transit Authority, where she handled strategic planning for major capital projects including the Red Purple Modernization and Red Line Extension, and introduction of Bus Rapid Transit service improvements. Before that, she worked as an attorney at Mayer Brown, representing public and private sector clients on major infrastructure and transportation projects. Earlier she worked in real estate development specializing in affordable housing and public housing redevelopment.

Rebekah has a BA in Urban Studies from Brown University and both her JD and MBA from Northwestern University. She is on the Board of Directors for the Civic Federation and Woodstock Institute, as well as a member of the Economic Club and The Chicago Network. She lives with her family in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago.