This event is free and open to all, but RSVPs are encouraged and appreciated.
Register Today!
Tuesday, July 26th
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
215 Columbia St.*
Seattle and King County are at the forefront of a growing movement for mass public transit that is affordable and accessible to all. Just in the past few years, low-income transit riders, public school students, college students, workers, social service providers, and homeless people have organized and won important victories.
Riders speak out for affordable transit in April 2015
And yet, we still have a long way to go. You’re invited to participate in a community assembly on July 26th as we celebrate the progress that’s been made, discuss campaign efforts now underway, envision a future of universally affordable mass transit, and build momentum for new wins this fall!
*SEIU 775 building downtown, served by many transit routes
Solidarity Summit Program
- 11:45 am Doors open, Socializing and Refreshments
- 12:00 pm Welcome & Introductions
- 12:15 pm Panel discussion with audience questions
- 1:15 pm Break & Mingle
- 1:30 pm Workshops
- 2:15 pm Break & Mingle
- 2:30 pm Report-backs & Action Plans
This event is free and open to all, but registration is encouraged. In addition to helping us plan, benefits of registration include:
- A guaranteed seat
- Early choice of workshops
- Complementary copy of the new Seattle Transit Map and Guide!
Solidarity Summit Workshops
We have four great workshops planned for July 26th. Here they are! We have limited space in the workshop rooms, so if you have your heart set on one in particular please make sure to register in advance.
1. Riding While Poor: Transit Access for Homeless & Very Low-Income People
For many, ORCA LIFT is too expensive. Thousands of homeless and very low-income people rely on single-use transit tickets from social service providers; but as housing costs and homelessness continue to rise, the need has far outstripped the supply. This workshop will focus on King County’s Human Services Reduced Fare Ticket Program program. How is it working and how could it be improved? What potential exists for new pass-based programs that are more affordable than ORCA LIFT? What are the challenges? How can transit riders and service providers build grassroots momentum and political will to improve transit affordability & access for homeless and very low-income people?
2. Affordable Transit Around the U.S. and Around the World
Rising fares and inadequate funding for public transit are problems that extend beyond Seattle, King County, and Washington State – and so does the movement for affordable transit! In this workshop we’ll look at some different ways transit systems around the country and the world have implemented programs to make transit affordable. We’ll find out how these programs work, how they’re funded, and what King County and Seattle can learn from them.
3. Climate Change, Public Transit & the Funding Wars
As climate change accelerates, we are confronted with the urgency of reducing carbon emissions. Public transit is a clear part of the solution. So why is investing in a true mass transit system, and incentivizing ridership by keeping fares low, not a priority in the United States? In this workshop we’ll delve into the details and history of the underfunding of public transit systems in Washington State and beyond, and discuss what we can do to turn the tide.
4. Tell Your Story to the Camera!
Do you have trouble coming up with money for bus fare, or have you in the past? If you had an unlimited transit pass, how would that change your quality of life? Do you rely on tickets from human service agencies? Your story can help us to win more affordable transit for thousands of people, and we want to record it for posterity! In this workshop we’ll be conducting short video interviews, inviting you to speak about your experiences riding public transit and what affordable transit means to you. We’ll use these videos to create a short online film. And if you prefer to write about your ex periences instead, that helps too!