AC TRANSIT JOINS BAY AREA & TRANSIT SYSTEMS ACROSS THE NATION URGING CONGRESS TO #SAVEPUBLICTRANSIT

This day of action and engagement will take place on Tuesday, December 15

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) joins the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and public transit agencies throughout the Bay Area for #SavePublicTransit.  On Tuesday, December 15, we will shine the light on the dire financial crisis facing the public transportation industry and urge elected officials to act now.

Public transit is calling on Congress and the Administration, in the lame duck session before Congress recesses for the holiday, to provide at least $32 billion in emergency funding. This funding will ensure that transit systems can survive and help our communities and nation recover from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

“Immediate action needs to be taken to address the public transportation industry’s dire financial situation so that we can continue to serve essential employees every day and can help with the nation’s economic recovery,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “The industry’s very survival is at stake.”

It is important to reiterate, Public Health Officers’ social distancing mandates required AC Transit to temporarily halt fare collection from March to October 2020. During that time, AC Transit lost more than $1 million weekly. Despite the financial losses, AC Transit continues to make extraordinary investments in system-wide anti-viral disinfecting and personal protective equipment (PPE) for all employees. Our financial commitments also include onboard free facemasks and hand sanitizer to riders. What’s more, we suspended almost the entirety of our high-ridership Transbay bus lines across San Francisco Bay, which has declined by a historic 90%.

Ultimately, without emergency funding relief from Congress, AC Transit’s pandemic-driven service reductions could become permanent; with more cuts on the horizon as the only means to keep our vital service running.

“AC Transit is not only the primary transportation for the Bay Area’s essential workers but more than half live in low-income and disadvantaged communities, and are fully reliant on our bus service for their survival. Worsening matters, these communities are disproportionately suffering the devastating health impacts of COVID-19,” says AC Transit General Manager, Michael Hursh.

On Tuesday’s day of action, join AC Transit as we collectively call on Congress to save public transit, save Bay Area businesses, and potentially save lives. You can observe social distancing and still make your voice know in the following ways:

• Re-share AC Transit’s social media posts from @RideACT on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to help raise awareness about #SavePublicTransit
• Craft your own #SavePublicTransit social media post using these sample messages. 
• Call or email your member of congress. We have assembled sample talking points, a link to your Bay Area U.S. Representatives, and California’s U.S. Senators.

For more information on how to #SAVEPUBLICTRANSIT, please visit actransit.org.