FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Celebration to Honor Civil Rights Icon Rosa Parks on Her Birthday

BALTIMORE, MD (January 31, 2025) – In recognition of National Transit Equity Day, Tuesday February 4, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration will offer free rides across all services including Local Bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC Train, Mobility and Commuter Bus. An annual tradition, Transit Equity Day is dedicated to honoring the life and legacy of civil rights icon, Rosa Parks.

“Marylanders deserve equitable and reliable public transit,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “On Transit Equity Day, the Maryland Department of Transportation honors the brave legacy of Rosa Parks and continues to work toward making our transit system more inclusive and convenient across the state.

Parks changed 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. 

“Providing an affordable, safe and inclusive transit system is a priority for the agency,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “We are proud to offer free service to our riders on Transit Equity Day in recognition of Rosa Parks’ courage.

The nationwide celebration of Transit Equity Day highlights the vital role public transit plays in the health of the communities it serves. The Maryland Transit Administration encourages riders to use their free ride on February 4 to commute to work or school, doctor’s appointments or for recreation to visit events and exhibits at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum and The Blacks in Wax Museum. If you’re trying transit for the first time, use the website mta.maryland.gov or Transit app to plan your trip.

The Maryland Transit Administration is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States, and operates Local Bus, Commuter Bus, 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, reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. To learn more, visit mta.maryland.gov, check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/mtamaryland and follow us on X @mtamaryland.

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

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