AV buses free Thursday
LANCASTER — The Antelope Valley Transit Authority will offer free bus rides on all of their local and commuter fixed-route service this Thursday in honor of National Get On Board Day.
The goal is to raise public awareness about the importance of public transit, AVTA Executive Director Macy Neshati said during a presentation at Tuesday morning’s AVTA Board of Directors meeting.
Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association, the 2019 National Get On Board Day is a day that transit officials nationwide hope will encourage people to support public transportation.
Public transit is a $71 billion industry that employees approximately 420,000 people nationwide. The goal of National Get on Board Day is to showcase the benefits public transportation brings to communities.
AVTA’s participation in the national event is projected to cost the agency about $13,000, which is budgeted in
AVTA’s marketing budget.
“The goal, again, is to get the word out to get people to try public transit,” Neshati said.
AVTA staff members will be at the Palmdale Transportation Center and Sgt. Steve Owen Memorial Park transfer centers to hand out passes and talk about the benefits of public transportation.
“Leaving the driving to the AVTA can eliminate costly gasoline purchases, reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil and dramatically shrink our carbon footprint,” Board Chairman Marvin Crist said in a statement. “Public transit also relieves the hassles and expenses of finding and paying for parking, dealing with auto maintenance and repairs and negotiating traffic.”
AVTA’s Board unanimously approved the proclamation establishing National Get on Board Day in the Antelope Valley.
According to the American Public Transportation Association, “Every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic returns, powering community growth and revitalization.”
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