PRESS RELEASE — Wednesday, August 31, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT
Danny Katz, Executive Director, Colorado Public Interest Research Group (CoPIRG)
danny@copirg.org | 608-215-0929
Molly McKinley, Policy Director, the Denver Streets Partnership
molly@denverstreetspartnership.org | 919-588-9676
DENVER — Today, after a month of free RTD transit, at a community event in Sun Valley, a group of organizations—made up of representatives from Amalgamated Transit Union 1001, Bicycle Colorado, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, CoPIRG, Conservation Colorado, the Denver Streets Partnership, GreenLatinos, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), Servicios de la Raza, and Southwest Energy Efficiency Project—is announcing a new effort, called the Alliance to Transform Transportation.
Over the next two years, the Alliance to Transform Transportation will be working to stop wasteful highway widening projects and significantly increase funding to expand transit in the Denver metro region. In addition, the Alliance plans to expand the number of transit riders who are able to advocate for improvements to the transit system.
Members of the Alliance to Transform Transportation believe that our current transportation system does not meet the needs of Coloradans and does not align with our shared commitment toward a healthier and more-connected quality of life. For decades, rather than sustainably investing in providing people with good travel options, Colorado has poured a disproportionate amount of money into large highway expansion projects for cars, deepening our dependence on driving and disproportionately harming underserved populations with dangerous emissions.
We believe people move and connect in different ways and every person should have equitable access to their transportation system. We need to Transform our Transportation system by significantly expanding the dollars going into travel options in the Denver region with a focus on building a transit system that equitably reduces air pollution, tackles climate change, saves lives, increases affordability, and expands access to opportunities including work and education.
We also need to stop expanding highways for cars, and reinvest millions of dollars to ensure people have better transportation options including fast, frequent, bus service and safe ways to walk or bike in our communities. For decades, expanding highways for cars has negatively impacted our communities with pollution, noise, unsafe streets, higher personal costs for transportation, and physical barriers.
Find our full vision statement here.
“The disability community needs strong, reliable and affordable transportation,” says Jaime Lewis, Cross Disability Coalition Transit Advisor. “We see firsthand that the transportation needs of our community are not being met in our current system. We must do better to get people where they need to go.”
“During the month of August we heard loud and clear from transit riders that they need access to more frequent, reliable transit service,” says Molly McKinley, Policy Director at the Denver Streets Partnership. “It’s long past time that a more significant investment is made in public transit that will improve people’s lives and get us closer as a region to meeting our air quality, climate, safety, and equity goals.”
“For too long low income communities and communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by our transportation system,” says Rudy Gonzales, President and CEO of Servicios de la Raza. “A significant increase in funding for public transit is necessary for a more equitable future and will improve the lives in the communities we serve.”
“Our members at the ATU 1001, transit workers, are the backbone of our community,” says Lance Longenbohn, President of the ATU 1001. “We support a shift in transportation funding to better meet the needs of the people we serve.”
“Access to mobility is a human right and Colorado’s investments in public transit need to demonstrate that,” says Jenny Gaeng, Conservation Colorado’s Transportation Campaign Manager. “To address poor air quality and ensure a livable climate, we must create infrastructure that enables people to move freely and efficiently without relying on cars.”
“We need to give Coloradans better access to clean, safe, and convenient transportation options and we cannot do it without more funding for public transit,” says Matt Frommer, Senior Transportation Associate with the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project. “When it comes to public transit, frequency is freedom.”
“Public transportation is a critical resource in our fight against climate change but it remains largely untapped due to lack of funding,” says Alana Miller, Colorado Climate Policy Director for NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “An investment in transit is an investment in our climate and air quality, as well as our health and access to opportunities.”
“Frequent, affordable public transit service is essential for an equitable transportation system while also improving safety for bicyclists with fewer cars on the road,” says Piep van Heuven, Bicycle Colorado Government Relations Director.
“Without sufficient funding there can be no equity for anyone who depends on public transit. Without adequate resources, public transit will never be able to provide frequent and reliable service,” says Paolo Solorzano, RTD Policy Advocate for GreenLatinos. “Working class people, students, people with disabilities and people of color deserve reliable access to employment, education and medical appointments. Truly, investing in public transit is investing in basic human rights.”
“Whether it’s tackling climate change or reducing crashes, decreasing ozone pollution or cutting transportation costs, helping people drive less will help all of us live more,” says Danny Katz, CoPIRG (Colorado Public Interest Research Group) Executive Director. “We need to transform our transportation system by stopping wasteful highway widening projects and significantly expanding transportation options, especially fast, frequent and reliable transit service, for our health, our safety, and our future. We need to act in the next two years.”
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The Denver Streets Partnership is a coalition of community organizations advocating for people-friendly streets in Denver. Our mission is to reclaim Denver’s streets for people walking, rolling, biking, and using transit, and to build safe, healthy, and equitable communities.
Learn more at denverstreetspartnership.org or follow us on social media at Facebook @DenverStreetsPartnership, Twitter @BikeWalkBus, or Instagram @BikeWalkBus.