On Thursday November 19th, the Transit Riders for Public Transportation [1] Campaign and the Bus Riders Union hosted a transportation briefing event, "Re-Envision Urban Transit: Los Angeles and Beyond."  The goal of the event was to inform community allies and elected representatives on the vision and details of our local transportation plan, Clean Air and Economic Justice Plan [2] and also the Transit Riders for Public Transportation national campaign.

Attendees

We had over 60 attendees representing 10 organizations and 10 elected representatives' offices.

Presentation

5 speakers presented on the opportunities and challenges of global warming, public health, and jobs relative to public transportation in Los Angeles and across the nation.

(click on the links below to see the presentations from the event)

• Francisca Porchas, national coordinator and lead organizer of the Transit Riders for Public Transportation [3]national campaign spoke about reversing the 80-20 highway transit priorities in the upcoming re-authorization of the $500 billion federal surface transportation act. [4]  For the first time, TRPT campaign brings together grassroots civil rights and environmental justice groups [5] working with transit riders to intervene and shape the national transportation debate in Washington D.C. (video footage [6])
• Ryan Snyder, president of Ryan Snyder Associates and transit planner, made the case for why a bus centered system will best serve U.S. cities [7] both from a mobility, environmental, and transit planning perspective. (video footage [8])
• Esperanza Martinez, organizer of the Bus Riders Union [9], presented the BRU's Clean Air and Economic Justice Plan, [10] which puts 4 core demands on the MTA to expand bus service, and improve public health and mobility for the Los Angeles region. During a time of economic crisis and 12-14% unemployment in the region, this plan will create over 3,000 jobs locally and over 7,000 jobs in southern CA, creating a $4 billion economic stimulus overall in the region. (video footage [11])
• Rosa Miranda, a mother of 3 children and BRU member, spoke about the growing air pollution related public health crisis such as asthma and cancer facing Black, Brown, and API working class families like hers due to auto centered transportation development. Highway expansion and growing cars not only affect her health but also the cuts in bus service and raising of fares by the MTA exacerbate air pollution and global warming.
• Crystal McMillan, a member of the Bus Riders Union, spoke about the challenges faced by herself and other bus riders to access and acquire employment. The Clean Air and Economic Justice Plan will not only bring benefits of increased mobility but also create thousands of new jobs desperately needed by bus riders and low income communities color.

More Information

[12] Stop the Highway and Auto Assault! [13] Our 4-page informational pamphlet (PDF)

The fight for sustainable and equitable transportation is, at its core, a fight for the public health and quality of life of entire communities and the entire globe.