faith-based support of public transit

[Rachel Cywinski]

I commend to the attention of the faithful supporters of Creation Care and faith-based environmental justice that public transit is very much a service at the heart of what we consider to be essential; as it allows the most vulnerable members of society to go to work, school, house of worship, grocery store; which many cannot do without.

When I go early enough on a Synday morning, I observe that most of the people on the bus heading to central San Antonio are wearing uniforms from the same 3 or 4 major hospitality companies. These people going to work between 5 and 9 a.m. are the basis upon which the downtown tourists industry could not exist.

Yet on Saturdays and Sundays many routes in San Antonio run only once an hour or not at all. This discourages those who wish to attend services, and makes every service disruption more challenging for the least-paid workers upon which so many others rely.

The message forwarded below is one example of how those most vulnerable workers are not appreciated and at risk of losing the transportation upon which they and their employees in Dallas area rely. 

I wonder: Would you be interested in showing solidarity with the transit riders in our own areas to encourage members to use the bus or other public transit for a day, a week, a month?

Some congregations have taken this option to, for instance, go to lunch together rather than taking a bunch of cars from one parking lot to another.

I believe if even a few people from every faith-based group in the transit service areas switched to taking public transportation on weekend that soon others woukd be encouraged not to be isolated at home and employees would have better access to go to work because there would be more frequent service based upon demand.

In the VIA transit area, senior adults 62+ ride FREE every Saturday and Sunday after going to a VIA transit Center and getting a VIA senior i.d. at no cost. This is a tool to prevent isolation so many senior adults experience when they no longer drive.

https://www.viainfo.net/reduced-fares/#seniors

I appreciate your consideration.

May God's peace be upon you.

Rachel Cywinski

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: "Dallas Area Rapid Transit" <da...@service.govdelivery.com>

Cc:

Sent: Tue, May 6, 2025 at 3:58 PM

Subject: House Bill 3187 Kills DART

HB 3187 is Voted Out of Transportation Committee and Threatens to Collapse North Texas Public Transit FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 6, 2025 DALLAS, TX — Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is issuing an urgent warning about the devastating consequences of Texas House Bill 3187, this bill would dismantle the region’s public transportation system, eliminate thousands of jobs, have more than 100k riders immediately lose access to transit, and cripple economic growth throughout North Texas. The legislation, now moving through the Texas House, mandates a redistribution of DART’s voter-approved sales tax funding, stripping essential operational and capital funds from the agency and forcing immediate and irreversible cuts. In just the first year, the bill wipes out 5,800 jobs across North Texas, cancels planned capital improvements, and slashes service levels by more than 30%—jeopardizing the mobility of thousands of daily riders who rely on the system for work, school, and healthcare. “This bill isn’t a tweak to funding. It’s a full-on dismantling of the DART system,” said Jeamy Molina, Chief Communications Officer, DART. “The people of North Texas voted twice to fund a unified, regional transit system. House Bill 3187 completely ignores their voice and puts the future of public transportation in jeopardy.” If passed, the bill would stall or kill over $3.5 billion in transit-oriented development projects, many already underway near DART rail stations. It would reduce transit access for essential workers, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families, and undermine DART’s ability to prepare for major international events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The consequences of H.B. 3187 goes beyond service cuts. The bill represents an unprecedented break in the contract between DART and its voters. The agency’s funding was approved through democratic vote and reaffirmed through supermajority elections in member cities. H.B. 3187 effectively overrides the will of the people. For media inquiries, contact: Jasmyn Carter Director of Public Relations Dallas Area Rapid Transit jcar...@dart.org | 469-798-4018 #KeepDARTMoving | #HaveDARTsBack      Questions about DART?      Contact Us      www.dart.org      214-979-1111   STAY CONNECTED:   SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions  |   Help