New Haven residents rally for investment in public transit

New Haven residents rallied for greater investment in public transit Tuesday, saying an equitable transit system would provide access to opportunity for all those in the city. Here, Ben Martin of 350 Connecticut speaks. less New Haven residents rallied for greater investment in public transit Tuesday, saying an equitable transit system would provide access to opportunity for all those in the city. Here, Ben Martin of 350 ... more Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close New Haven residents rally for investment in public transit 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN — Residents called for greater investment in public transportation and city streets Tuesday, with hopes of bolstering economic opportunity, combating climate change and giving all New Haven residents an equal ability to move through the city and region safely and comfortably.

The residents spoke on the New Haven Green to mark Transit Equity Day, a national series of events established to mark the 107th birthday of Rosa Parks, sharing a vision of a public transportation system that would provide uniform mobility for those without cars.

“Even as we stand here today, we are looking at the third decade of the 21st century, and we are still fighting for transit equity. It looks a little different than it did 50 years ago — it’s not just about getting a seat on the bus, it’s about where that bus takes you, how it takes you there, and what you have to do to make sure that happens,” said Dottie Green, a member of an organization that works to remember Parks’ legacy. “You cannot have equity and limit people’s access. Poverty does not mean that you should not have what you need.”

“People should have more options to, in an affordable way, access their jobs, access government, and lead a life that is safe and allows us more opportunities to interact with people,” said Mayor Justin Elicker.

Several of those who spoke Tuesday described an aspect of what a complete, equitable transit system would entail, or what sort of impact it would have.

Aaron Goode of Elm City Cycling called for greater investment in safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists, thus creating complete streets, and noted the number of pedestrians killed in the city. According to the New Haven Independent, nine pedestrians were struck and killed in New Haven last year, and two more have been killed this year.

“Every cyclist or pedestrian death is a preventable tragedy, through better infrastructure, better education, or better enforcement,” said Goode.

Ben Martin of 350 Connecticut noted the impact reducing the number of private vehicles on the road would have on carbon emissions.

Dottie Dumas, president of the Greater New Haven branch of the NAACP, said expanding bus routes would give residents greater access to employment and noticably impact their lives.

“Lack of good, proper transportation is a barrier. When a person can’t find a job, or afford transportation to get to a job, or get home because the bus doesn’t run early enough or late enough, that is a huge barrier,” said Dumas. “Transportation is a civil rights issue.”

Justin Farmer, a member of the Legislative Council in Hamden, described his experience using his bicycle and the bus system to get around, which includes riding 10 to 15 miles per day. He said he eschews a car because of the tics that come with Tourette syndrome. An unequal transit system limits people without vehicles from reaching rural communities, he noted.

“If I can’t access rural communities, or I can’t access (people in) communities that don’t look like me, then that is institutional racism built into our transportation system that we have to address — and we need to address,” said Farmer.

Elaine Kolb, a disability rights advocate, led those in attendance in a song near the end of the gathering.

“We will ride, we will ride, with the strength of truth and justice on our side,” sang Kolb, calling those in attendance to action. “By the grace of God above our battle cry is love, and we will ride, we will ride.”

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com