Transit Equity Day highlights push for improvements to bus services in Albuquerque
Wilderness Society statement in response to Albuquerque’s commitment to create a more equitable transit system
Today Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller reaffirmed his public support of transit equity for all residents during a public event in recognition of Transit Equity Day and an announcement that ABQ RIDE buses and Sun Vans are free to ride on February 4th.
February 4th is set aside in recognition of Rosa Parks birthday and her history-changing act, which sparked a 381-day bus boycott leading to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Gayle v. Browder decision that upheld the lower court’s ruling that racial segregation on Alabama buses violated the 14th Amendment.
The Wilderness Society along with our partners in the Urban to Wild Coalition have been working toward a number of improvements to create a more resilient and equitable transit system in Albuquerque.
The following statement is from Rachel Swanteson-Franz, Urban to Wild coordinator with The Wilderness Society:
“While tomorrow’s Transit Equity Day commemorates a hero for public transit, it is inspiring to see the collaboration happening now that can help create a more equitable transit system for our city's future that recognizes the great role that busses and public services play in getting people where they need to go, from essential work to our parks and open space.
“We hope to support and encourage efforts across city and county departments to work with local organizations and neighborhood groups to meet some of the gaps we have seen in our local services. This is especially important in Albuquerque where our recent transit study found that about 1 in 3 low-income families do not have access to a vehicle and are likely transit-dependent.
City leaders are making a down payment on their commitment to a more equitable transit system and today we recognize how important these efforts will be, just as Rosa Parks made that bold commitment many years ago.”
CONTACTS:
- Rachel Swanteson-Franz, (505) 450-2979, Rachel_SwantesonFranz@tws.org
- Jennifer Dickson, Senior Communications Manager, (720), 647-9417, jennifer_dickson@tws.org
