Regional Transit Service (RTS) CEO Miguel Velázquez and City of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans were joined by Urban League of Rochester President Dr. Seanelle Hawkins to celebrate Transit Equity Day.

RTS Plans for Transit Equity Day

Transit Equity Day, which is officially Sunday, Feb. 4, is a day dedicated to honoring the life and legacy of Rosa Parks on her birthday. Rosa Parks, a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights era, reshaped history in 1955 by refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Ala.

To pay homage to Parks on her birthday, RTS announced the following efforts:

• Transit Equity Day Wrapped Bus: RTS bus wrapped with imagery of Parks to celebrate her life and legacy throughout Black History Month.

• Seat Reserved for Rosa Parks: RTS reserved a seat on each of its 400 buses for Parks from Friday, Feb. 2, through Sunday, Feb. 4. Each reserved seat will include a placard with a brief description of Transit Equity Day and a QR code to a Transit Equity Day video produced by RTS.

• Free Fares on Sunday, Feb. 4: RTS is offering free fares to customers on RTS Connect in Monroe County on Transit Equity Day (Sunday, Feb. 4). Free fares are also available on Sunday, Feb. 4, for RTS customers in Genesee, Livingston, and Ontario Counties, as these are the only other counties in which RTS provides service on Sundays.

“Public Transit played a critical role in connecting people to jobs, education, healthcare, and retail destinations in 1955, just as it does today,” said RTS CEO Miguel Velázquez. “When Ms. Parks took a stand against segregation, she highlighted the importance of equity in public transit, an issue that continues to have an impact today. The RTS team is honored to celebrate the efforts and impact of Ms. Parks, and we will continue doing all we can to provide vital, safe, and sustainable transportation services that connect the community and promote a better quality of life.”