FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Honoring the Legacy and Courage of Rosa Parks on Her Birthday

BALTIMORE, MD (February 2, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration will celebrate Transit Equity Day on Sunday February 4, a day dedicated to honoring the life and legacy of civil rights icon, Rosa Parks.  In the spirit of  expanding equitable transit access to all riders, all service, including Local Bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC Train, Mobility and, where operating, Commuter Bus will be free of charge for the day. Transit Equity Day is observed annually nationwide on the birthday of Ms. Parks.
 

“Public transit belongs to everyone,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “As we honor the incredible legacy of Rosa Parks, the Maryland Department of Transportation strives to make our transit systems more equitable, inclusive and convenient for all Marylanders.”  

“Equity is at the center of everything we do, and a core value of the Maryland Transit Administration,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “We are proud to offer free service to our riders on Transit Equity Day in recognition of that value, and to honor the courage of Rosa Parks.”

Parks, a Black seamstress from Montgomery, Alabama, etched her name in history on December 1, 1955, when she defied local law and refused to give up her seat to a White passenger on a segregated public transit bus. Her subsequent arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and legal challenges to the segregation law which was eventually ruled unconstitutional in November 1956. Transit Equity Day is observed yearly on February 4, Parks’ birthday.

For Transit Equity Day, riders are invited to explore as many of the Maryland Transit Administration travel modes and routes as they desire, at no charge. If you’re a regular rider – enjoy the free ride. If you’re trying transit for the first time, use the website mta.maryland.gov or Transit app to plan your trip.

The nationwide celebration of Transit Equity Day highlights the vital role public transit plays in the health of the communities it serves. In addition to providing access to key services, transit produces less pollution per passenger mile compared to cars.

The Maryland Transit Administration is preparing to launch its zero-emission bus pilot, an important milestone in the agency’s transition to a zero-emission fleet that underscores the agency’s commitment to meeting the needs of all Maryland citizens.

The Maryland Transit Administration is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States, and operates local and commuter buses, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC Train service and a comprehensive Mobility paratransit system. The goal of the Maryland Transit Administration is to provide safe, efficient and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. To learn more, visit mta.maryland.gov, check us out on Facebook or YouTube and follow us on Twitter/X.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Paul Shepard
Office: 410-767-3935
Cell: 443-622-4181
pshepard@mdot.maryland.gov

Courtney Mims
Office: 410-767-8367
Cell: 667-392-0157
cmims@mdot.maryland.gov

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