Staying the Course for Transit Justice

As you may already know, the state bill (SB 1031) that would have allowed the Bay Area to place a much-needed regional transportation measure on the ballot was pulled from the recent legislative session. This was very disappointing given the years of work Urban Habitat and our allies have invested in this effort. However, the good news is that we still have an opportunity to create a public transportation system throughout the region that is frequent, affordable, and helps us meet our climate goals.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is convening a group of stakeholders as part of a Select Committee to develop a framework for the next iteration of a state bill. As a member of this committee, I will be supporting the long-standing transit justice goals of Voices for Public Transportation. VPT is a coalition of community groups, transit advocates, unions, and policy organizations that has been working to pass a transformative regional measure to invest in the public transportation system we need. I also look forward to deepening our strong partnership with organized labor as a critical voice in this process.

We know what is needed to transform our public transportation system: investment to restore services to pre-COVID levels, funds to expand operations to keep the buses moving, and ensuring low-income communities of color do not bear the brunt of paying for the measure.

Most importantly, we need to center the needs of those who rely on public transit the most: low-wage workers, women, seniors, and the disabled. These riders continued using public transit during the pandemic and are the backbone of our regional system. By making it reliable, safe, and affordable for the transit-dependent, we will make the system reliable, safe, and affordable for all riders.

I am hopeful about the possibilities ahead and look forward to contributing to the transformative changes that will benefit our region for generations to come.