Today is National Dump the Pump Day, a day when millions of Americans choose to ‘dump the pump’ and take public transit instead of driving. But for thousands of residents in Washington State, devastating cuts to bus service, especially the loss of Sunday and night service in some places, has made it difficult to take the bus to work, school, the doctor, or the grocery store.
In response, the Transportation for Washington campaign is releasing a set of principles to create a system that is fair, provides access, and creates opportunity for all Washingtonians. Read the principles here.
These equity principles emphasize policies and investments to preserve, restore, and improve transit service; plan and build healthy, safe, and inclusive communities; increase access to quality jobs and workforce development; and focus on results. The principles are designed to serve as a guide for policymakers and advocates to advance solutions that create a more balanced transportation network in the state.
“Bus service is not just lines on a map. It’s about connecting people to jobs, services, and their communities. In neighborhoods in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties, loss of bus service has cut off access especially for communities of color, low-income families, seniors, immigrants and refugees, and people with disabilities,” said Estela Ortega, Executive Director, El Centro De La Raza and endorser of the Transportation for Washington Campaign. “In these tough times, there must be a renewed urgency to make our transportation system work for all in community,” she added.
“Across the state, communities are seeing transit service disappear as a result of budget cuts. More cuts are around the corner if we do not find a more permanent, sustainable, and fair solution to save transit service,” said Rob Johnson, Executive Director, Transportation Choices Coalition and co-chair of the Transportation for Washington campaign.
Hilary Franz, Executive Director, Futurewise and co-chair of the Transportation for Washington campaign added, “If we are to remain economically competitive and a vital place to live, we must create communities that are affordable, healthy, and well connected with great transportation choices.”
Transportation for Washington is a multi-year, statewide campaign to fix our crumbling roads and bridges, save and restore transit service, and build healthy communities for all. It is led by Transportation Choices Coalition and Futurewise and supported by a coalition of nearly 100 public officials and 88 organizations from the social justice, housing, faith, health, environment, labor, and business communities. For more information on the equity principles and the campaign, please visit www.t4washington.org
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