Mass Transit

It is January, which means that after two months of nominations, it is time to elect the 2013 Bus Riders Union Planning Committee. Made up of 5 volunteer members and 4 staff members, the Planning Committee (PC) is the decision making body for the Bus Riders Union. An introduction to the 10 volunteer members running for PC this year.

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, the mainstream media has begun to talk about climate change in a new way. This article from the HuffPost Green is one of the few to tie climate change and mass transit together.

The bid by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to extend an existing transportation sales tax until 2069 failed to meet the necessary 2/3 threshold, delivering a setback to the Mayor's gentrifying and polluting vision for transportation expansion

LA Metro's rail expansion plan under Measure J and R can lead to less transit ridership with continued hikes in fares and bus service cuts. As voters are asked once again tomorrow to extend a regressive sales tax measure funneling another $90 billion, will LA Metro's rail expansion plan deliver skyrocketing transit ridership for the region and reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution as touted by it's proponents? Our answer is "no" based on history and experience of the last 20 years of rail experiment.

The MTA claims that Measure J will help the environment. But did you know that the MTA has made a deal with the devil, that at least 20 percent of the Measure J funds will go to freeway expansion? How in the world can we combat greenhouse gases and air toxins by expanding the freeways again and again? When will we restrict auto use? But what if the MTA is really a rail construction agency?

Emily Badger of Atlantic Cities examines the growing trend of transit unions, starting with the model of the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union. She also examines how the changing economic landscape and the subsequent dismantling of support for transit has driven communities to organize.

Alternet takes a look at the Bus Riders Union as part of the series, Facing the Climate Gap , which looks at grassroots efforts in California low-income communities of color to address climate change and promote climate justice.

Media takes notice as a diverse coalition group gathered on the corner of Crenshaw and Slauson to announce our opposition to Measure J.