E&S TAG: How Do We Get There? Accessible and Affordable Public Transportation for All
Tuesday, March 28, 2:00 - 3:30 pm, Slides
MEETING RECAP
Public transportation plays a critical role in reducing our carbon footprint and promoting sustainability. It is also an essential mode of transportation for many individuals who cannot afford a personal vehicle or who have limited mobility. However, as highlighted by the diverse group of community members in our recent event, access to reliable, affordable, and efficient public transportation remains a significant challenge.
Community members of Rise South City were guests of the event, where they shared their experiences with public transportation. They spoke about the challenges they face with buses being frequently late or not showing up at all and the need for better routes to reach their desired destinations. One of the major concerns raised by community members was the unreliability of public transportation. Buses being late or not showing up at all can cause significant inconvenience, particularly for those who rely on them to attend important appointments such as medical checkups and to get to work. Additionally, the limited routes and inadequate access are a challenge. We also had a VISTA Fellow from Georgia who provided valuable insights into the importance of reliable access to public transit. She shared her experience of how public transportation is readily available in her area of North Fair Oaks and how it has made a significant impact on the mobility of individuals in her community. She values public transit services but would like more time slot options as a rider and more integrated fares. She shared that it cost her $20 to get from her home to Burlingame and back.
Supervisor David Canepa, who is on MTC and SamTrans, emphasized the significance of striving for accessible and affordable transportation for all members of the community. He stressed the importance of equity and mentioned the initiatives being taken to provide services in multiple languages. Furthermore, Supervisor Canepa stated that he would investigate the specific bus lines that community members pointed out as problematic.
Gina Papan, Council Member, City of Millbrae, and MTC Commissioner, attended the event, and listened carefully to the concerns raised by community members. She acknowledged the issues with buses being late or not showing up and pledged to work towards improving reliability and efficiency. Despite these challenges, there are some positive developments in the pipeline. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is working towards providing accessible, affordable, and reliable public transportation to all residents in the county.
Our guest experts, Laura Tolkoff, Transportation Policy Director at SPUR, and Adina Levin, Advocacy Director at Seamless Bay Area, discussed the Transit Fiscal Cliff and the slow recovery of ridership in the Bay Area compared to other cities across the country. They also shared multiple ways to advocate for better public transportation, such as supporting long-term funding for public transportation. To save public transit from devastating cuts that would damage the economy, hurt the climate, and deepen inequality signatures are being collected. Another way advocate right now is to complete the Bus Stop Improvement Plan Survey.
Accessible and affordable public transportation for all remains essential to environmental sustainability. We must continue to address the challenges our community members face and work towards providing reliable, efficient, and equitable transportation services. Our goal was to identify opportunities for advocating for affordable and accessible transportation for all, such as supporting long-term funding for public transportation and actively participating in opportunities for community input. Adina provided amazing recourses and tools listed below. By taking proactive steps to address these issues, we can work towards a future where everyone in our community can access reliable, efficient, and equitable transportation services.
Resources/Actions
