Worcester, MA – In honor of Rosa Parks’ birthday on February 4th, Worcester Regional Transit Authority proudly joins communities across the nation to observe Transit Equity Day. This annual event highlights the vital role of public transportation in fostering equality, justice, and opportunity for all.
Rosa Parks’ courageous stand against racial segregation on December 1, 1955, sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott that lasted nearly 381 days, devastated the transportation system in Montgomery, and captured the world’s attention. Her refusal to give up her seat set a pivotal example in the fight for civil rights. The boycott led to the Supreme Court ruling declaring segregation on public transportation systems unconstitutional.
Parks’ legacy reminds us that access to safe, reliable, and affordable public transportation is not merely a convenience—it is a fundamental right.
To honor Rosa Parks’ enduring impact, the WRTA will reserve a seat on every bus on February 4th and the surrounding days as a tribute to her memory. Transit Equity Day also serves as a powerful reminder of the disparities in transit funding, service, and accessibility. It calls on policymakers, transit agencies, and advocates to work together to ensure equitable and inclusive transportation systems for all.
###
The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) is a regional transit system that services the City of Worcester and the surrounding 36 communities in the Central Massachusetts area with a bus fleet that includes diesel-electric hybrid buses, and clean-diesel buses. The second largest regional transit authority in Massachusetts, the WRTA offers reliable, comfortable, and safe transportation for traveling to work, shopping, school, medical appointments, and leisure activities. The WRTA also provides paratransit service for the elderly and disabled, as well as a variety of special services for those groups in the entire service area. In 2024, WRTA provided 4.75 million passenger trips throughout its system. All fixed routes and paratransit services are free through June 2025.