Earlier this week, we officially kicked off Metro’s commitment to the National Transit Equity movement and our yearlong spotlight on “Workers Making Mobility Happen.”
Transit Equity Day was on Feb. 4, a particularly snowy and blustery day in King County when our workers were braving the conditions to make mobility happen and deliver our riders safely to their destinations.
February 4 was chosen as the official date for Transit Equity Day to commemorate civil rights activist Rosa Park’s birthday (Feb. 4, 1913). Her brave act of defiance on Dec. 1, 1955 — when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in violation of Alabama’s segregation laws — became a catalyst for the civil rights movement.
While we honor her legacy, we also recognize that unequal access to public transit based on race, income, and disability have persisted to this day.
As King County experiences rapid growth, we have a more urgent need than ever to help lower congestion, advance equitable outcomes (particularly for historically disadvantaged communities), and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
We are committed to National Transit Equity’s mission:
- To make public transit accessible and affordable to all.
- Create good jobs by expanding our public transit systems.
- Protect our health and climate by using renewable energy to power our buses.
We want to thank our riders for doing their part in lowering congestion and thank all of Metro’s workforce for serving King County’s communities, making it easier for people to get to jobs, school and wherever else they need to go – even on the coldest, stormiest days.