Public transit is a necessary way to transport people during a disaster, providing critical access to fundamentals such as hospitals and grocery stores. But since much of the funding from public transit is directly tied to its ridership, when a disaster like the current pandemic hits and ridership plummets, how do transit systems stay in operation? What long term ramifications are tied to these disasters? How can emergency funding from state and federal sources provide the rapid response solution that transit agencies need to continue to provide service in a time of need? How can transit emerge from this crisis stronger than ever?
+ Janice Li / BART
+ David Bragdon / TransitCenter
+ Randy Rentschler / Metropolitan Transportation Commission
+ Kate Breen / San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency