February 5, Monday, is Transit Equity Day. The day, organized by Labor Network for Sustainability, is a celebration of Rosa Parks birthday (actually February 4), and the power of transit and transit workers in our lives.

Transit Equity Day Principles (from the Transit Equity Day website)

Public Transit provides basic mobility for many in our communities. It is also essential urban infrastructure–just like roads, bridges, tunnels and utilities–that is crucial to the economic, social and environmental well-being of all our regions.

Everyone has a right to a public mass transit system that includes:

1. Safe, reliable, environmentally-sustainable and affordable transit that is accessible to all, regardless of income, national origin, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, or ability.
2. An affordable public transit system that reliably connects people in all communities to the places we need to travel: home, work, school, places of worship, shopping, health, and recreation, in as efficient, and timely a manner as possible. We must ensure that all communities have access to transit; no community should be left behind. Public transit in rural, less densely populated communities should be provided in any master transportation plan despite the special challenges that may present.
3. Living wages, benefits, safe working conditions, and union rights for transit workers, including those who manufacture transit equipment, and access to family-sustaining transit jobs and training opportunities for people from underserved communities.
4. A just transition for workers and communities who are dependent on our current automobile and highway-centered transportation system, to ensure that no one is left behind as we transition to a more public, accessible, and cleaner transit-based system.
5. Rapid transition of our transit and school bus systems to electric, non-polluting buses powered by electricity from renewables. 
6. Safe, healthy and livable neighborhoods that are connected by public transportation and by bicycle pathways and sidewalks, and that are planned to expand safe access to transit and reduce single occupancy vehicle miles traveled.
7. Dedicated and sustainable public funding for public transit.

Operations funding

The theme this year is federal support for transit operations, and specifically, the bill by Congressman Hank Johnson, ‘Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act‘ that would provide $20B per year to support transit operations. Though Congress has long funded transit infrastructure, at a too-low level, it had never funded transit operations until the pandemic. That funding is soon to end.

At the time of introduction, the following California representatives were co-sponsors: Nanette Diaz Barragan (CA-44), Tony Cardenas (CA-29), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Adam Schiff (CA-30), and Juan Vargas (CA-52). Absent from the list, at least so far, are Sacramento region representatives Tom McClintock (CA-05), Ami Bera (CA-06), and Doris Matsui (CA-07).

Supporting organizations include: Sierra Club, Transport Workers Union of America, the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, ATU, MTACD, MARTA, T4America, NRDC, National Campaign for Transit Justice, America Walks, Union of Concerned Scientists.

Labor Network for Sustainability has a page on the Johnson bill.

SacRT

SacRT said this about the day: “We are offering systemwide free ride day on Sunday, February 4, 2024, Transit Equity Day and Rosa Park’s Birthday – free rides all day, any SacRT service operating that day (no flyer needed, just board and ride). Monday is not a free ride day, but there is a press conference being held by Michael Harris (not a SacRT event) that will feature our “old blue” bus. If you want to participate, here is Michael’s contact information: 804-664-7295.” Their Transit Equity page has more information.

Advocacy

The Sacramento region transit advocacy organizations are talking about additional ways of recognizing and celebrating the day, but don’t have specific plans yet.

• SacRT
• Transit Equity Day
• transportation funding