GTT’s Program Work
Our Approach to Regional Programs
Updated 8/23: Getting There Together Coalition members and allies strongly supported affordability as their top priority, and were in favor of Fare Affordability, Anti-displacement (Community Strengthening), and Multi-Family Housing; safety, selecting Active Transportation Regional Connections, and Safety Hotspots; and programs that fall into transit service needs, including Better Bus and our suggested additional programs Paratransit, and Transit Service Expansion.
We heard from numerous Coalition partners that they saw overlap in many programs and wished to merge programs together to leverage impact; some of the program concepts they found important and wanted to keep in the conversation, but didn’t make their top five; and many expressed frustration for having to limit the programs to the concepts provided and defined. Several Coalition partners noted pointedly that better air quality was very important, but felt that by providing more and safer transportation options they would see a direct benefit to our air quality as an outcome.
The T2020 Task Force made their recommendation on programs at their 8/21 meeting; the programs put forward are Safe Routes to School, Better Bus (ETC), Active Transportation Regional Investments, Safety Hot Spots, and Transit Fare Affordability. We are pleased to see these programs put forward; however, our Coalition and many allied frontline communities have called repeatedly for the inclusion of transit service expansion as a function of the T2020 measure, and we were disappointed to see that transit service expansion was not put forward as one of the potential programs. Download our full comments.
Similar to our approach to corridor prioritization, a people and equity first approach is important as we consider any program. Centering people who use the system will inevitably lead us in accomplishing our region’s climate and safety goals. GTT’s recommendations will be based on the following considerations:
- Which programs address safety issues that may not be covered in the corridors approach?
- Which programs best complement potential enhanced rapid transit that could come from the investments in corridors?
- Which programs best address anti-displacement and help to repair past harm to communities who have been affected by displacement and gentrification in our region?
- Which programs best help address barriers to accessing public transit, especially for low-income people, youth, elders, people with disabilities?
- What programs best address personal safety issues related to walking, biking and taking public transit in our region?
It is critical for Metro to work with our transit agencies to define with the community what an increase in ridership strategy can look like that will consider changing the ages of access to our youth on a year-round basis and providing more service coverage.