Celebrating Mrs. Rosa Parks on Transit Equity Day, February 4th

    

Transit Equity Day is observed annually on February 4th, Mrs. Rosa Parks birthday, to commemorate her life and legacy. Rosa Parks became a key figure in the Civil Rights era when she refused to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery, Alabama public transit bus and was arrested in 1955. Her actions sparked the Montgomery bus boycott and the U.S. Supreme Court decision declaring segregation on buses unconstitutional. The actions and legacy of Rosa Parks are tied to the concept of transit equity for all.

In recognition of her history altering bravery, MCDOT posted commemorative bus cards on all buses in December 2020, 2021, and 2022. Transit Equity Day began in 2017, when a network of labor unions, community organizations, and environmental groups declared February 4 “Transit Equity Day,” a national day of action to commemorate Parks and other civil rights icons, and to advocate for accessible, reliable, and affordable transit powered by renewable energy.

MCDOT is committed to providing equitable transportation for all. Montgomery County is stronger when everyone has access to reliable and affordable transportation. MCDOT continues to connect people to jobs, health care, schools, grocery stores, housing, public services, and more, while eliminating barriers to transit. 

Transportation and Sustainability
Equitable transportation in Montgomery County includes investing in clean transportation options and infrastructure. In September 2020, MCDOT launched our first four electric buses and ordered ten more, to reduce greenhouse gases from the transportation sector. The goal is to convert the entire fleet of buses to electric by 2035, thus dramatically reducing our carbon footprint. In September 2022, MCDOT hosted the completion ceremony for the first in the region Integrated Microgrid and Charging Infrastructure Project for Ride On Electric Bus Fleet at Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot. This one-of-a-kind project which was featured on a global list of intriguing microgrid projects to watch in 2022, will support the first 44 electric buses planned for deployment.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Program
MCDOT works closely with the Maryland Transit Administration to meet its Title VI program requirements which help ensure our public transportation service is provided in a non-discriminatory manner. Montgomery County assures that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1987, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity.

For the most up-to-date service information, riders should follow @RideOnMCT on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Additional information is available at RideOnBus.com, by subscribing to receive email alerts at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/govdelivery, or texting MONTGOMERY RIDEON to 468311 to receive text alerts.

For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT's "Go Montgomery!" newsletter.