Public Transit Agencies Celebrate Rosa Parks Day!

Public transit agencies across the U.S. are celebrating Rosa Parks Day, Feb. 4, with free rides and community events. This year would have been Parks’ 112^th birthday.

“Rosa Parks is an inspiration to me,” said Sam Desue Jr., general manager, TriMet, Portland, OR. “Seventy years ago, she had the courage to defy injustice and segregation. By keeping her seat, she took a stand. As the first black person to serve as TriMet general manager, my life has been shaped by Rosa’s legacy, and I’m proud to say that on TriMet, all are welcome. Please, join us, and ride with Rosa!”

A major thoroughfare and an elementary school in North Portland bear Rosa Parks’ name. TriMet renamed its Portland Avenue MAX Yellow Line Station for Rosa Parks in 2009.

“This is the transportation industry’s commitment to fairness in mobility,” said India L. Birdsong Terry, general manager and CEO, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA). “As a public agency committed to this change, we must continue to do our part to embrace one another with respect and dignity, across all modes, while ensuring safe transportation options that can be relied upon, every day.”

“Equitable access to public transportation is a civil right afforded to all,” said Debra A. Johnson, general manager and CEO, Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD). “RTD’s services are more than a means to connect customers to work, school, healthcare, and social destinations, they are the great societal equalizer, providing individuals with access to opportunities for their betterment of their lives. The agency exists to serve others, and the introduction of zero fares today reinforces its commitment to advance equity in every aspect of its work.”

“Rosa Parks’ act of courage reminds us that transit systems must serve as pathways to opportunity and equity,” said Stephanie Cutter, interim executive director/CEO, Chatham Area Transit Authority (CAT), Savannah, GA. “By offering a zero-fare service day, we honor and keep Rosa Parks’ legacy alive.

“Equity and accessibility are central to Laketran’s mission and public transportation as a whole,” said Ben Capelle, the agency’s CEO. “Rosa Parks, like many residents of Lake County, Ohio, today, depended on the bus for essential needs. We invite the community to honor her legacy by taking a seat dedicated in her name.”

The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide), MI, is honoring Rosa Parks Feb. 4 by reserving a seat on each of its buses.

“This year commemorates the 70^th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott and 20 years since Ms. Parks’ passing,” said Jeff Pfeifer, TheRide’s manager of public affairs and community engagement. “Ms. Parks’ actions were monumental in making transportation more equitable for all, and we want to honor the transformative impact she had on people across the country.”

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is reserving a single seat for Parks and her history-changing act against racial segregation on public transit Feb. 4. The agency has previously honored Parks’ legacy by reserving a seat with a special sign on all buses, and for the first time, a reserved seat will be saved on every train as well.

This year also marks the 20^th anniversary of WMATA’s historic Rosa Parks bus. The vehicle is the same model she protested on and was refurbished in 2005 after Parks’ death. It was used in the procession for her memorial service in Washington, DC. The exterior of the bus reads “It All Started on a Bus: Rosa Parks, 1913-2005; The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.”

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is waiving all fares Feb. 4. The RTA Board of Commissioners adopted the fare policy in 2022. The policy highlights RTA’s dedication to honoring civil rights icons, naming fare-free days for Rosa Parks on Feb. 4 and Claudette Colvin Day on Sept. 5.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), in partnership with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council, is commemorating the day.

A MARTA historic bus will be on display at West End Station. The bus is similar to bus number 2857, the one Rosa Parks rode when she helped spark the Montgomery bus boycott and galvanize the civil rights movement. The event includes a march from the IBEW building and a speaking program.

In California, the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA/Wheels) will reserve the front seat of its buses with commemorative signage, encouraging riders to reflect on the legacy of Rosa Parks and the ongoing fight for equality.

“Rosa Parks’ unwavering stand against injustice serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of equality and the power of individual action to create lasting change,” said Executive Director Christy Wegener. “We are honored to celebrate her legacy and reaffirm our commitment to providing safe, accessible, and equitable public transportation for all.”

Metrolink, the region’s six-county passenger rail provider, is once again offering free rides to commemorate Rosa Parks’ birthday. On Feb. 4, Southern Californians can board at any of Metrolink’s 67 stations and travel systemwide, including Arrow service.

“When Metrolink introduced the largest service expansion in our history last fall, we did so with the goal of creating a better, more equitable system that works for all Southern Californians,” said Metrolink Board Chair and Orange County Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee. “Offering free rides helps deliver on that promise. It also gives people who may not have previously considered public transportation a reason to explore our region’s vast transit network and experience its convenience.”

“The Orange County Transportation Authority also is committed to offering equitable public transportation that benefits all of Orange County,” said Chaffee. “We are offering free rides on OC Bus to celebrate and honor the legacy of Rosa Parks.”