TRPT holds "wake up call" workshop at the US Social Forum

In a sea of meetings held by 1400 organizations, TRPT drew a packed room of 70 activists and organizers from around the country who wanted to do something about the national crisis that has been crippling regional transit systems.

Many felt it was a wake-up call. They came looking for answers to the transit crisis in their own cities without realizing the real depth and scope of the problem.

Titled "Mass Transportation for the Masses: Organizing for Climate Justice," the TRPT workshop was sponsored by the Bus Riders Union, UPROSE, LVOEJ, WEACT, Urban Habitat and MOSES.

New popular education piece: "The ABC's of Transit Operations"

The workshop kicked off with a new popular theater skit showing the path federal money takes from Washington to the streets. The skit featured James Burke as the Federal Highway Bill, with Soledad Gaztambide starring as the Transit Agency. With the help of volunteers from the audience,  the skit illustrated how the demands of capital (building) priorities and pet projects steal away federal funding. Watch it here  "The
ABC's of Transit Operations"

Panel presentations: connecting operations, racism, civil rights protections

After the skit where Soledad Gaztambide of UPROSE and James Burke
of WEACT broke down how the lack of operational funding causes the loss
of jobs, the neglecting of maintenance, and the fare increases and cuts
to service for the riders.

Lee Gaddies of MOSES took the floor and spoke of the racial inequities that have plagued policy in transit, especially in his hometown of Detroit, where the mishandling of funds has caused a transit crisis in city already crippled by record unemployment.

Bob Allen of Urban Habitat and Francisca Porchas of the Bus Riders Union spoke of the TRPT's struggle to restore power to the Civil Rights Act. He was also able to show the historical trends of the gutting of bus systems serving low-income communities to increase the reach of rail in suburban and higher income areas.

Breaking bread with new allies and friends

On Thursday night about 30 people turned out for the TRPT dinner. It was a great chance for workshop attendees to meet one on one with the TRPT members and pick our brains about the loss of transit, federal transit legislation, and the growing crisis in their own cities.

We look forward to working with our new allies!