Livingston County Rosa Parks Transit Equity Day to highlight transportation improvements

HOWELL — Livingston County organizations and municipalities committed to improving public transportation will be recognized at a yearly event.

The third annual Livingston County Rosa Parks Transit Equity Day event is set for 8-9:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 2, at Cleary Commons, Cleary University, 3750 Cleary Drive, in Howell. The event includes breakfast and a short recognition program. It is hosted by the Livingston County Transportation Coalition. Attendees can RSVP online at movelivco.org.

Feb. 4 is the nationally observed Rosa Parks Transit Equity Day, any municipality or organization that proclaims it will be recognized.

Mark Hymes, chair of the Livingston County Rosa Parks Transit Equity Day Committee, said communities actively working to provide public transportation by contracting with Livingston Essential Transportation Service (LETS) will also be recognized. Hymes noted Hamburg, Unadilla and Putnam townships have contracts with LETS to provide public transportation to their respective municipalities.

The Livingston County Transportation Coalition and its partners advocate for improved public transportation in and around the county.

Hymes said the day is a good time to appreciate where Livingston County is at now with public transportation — after the Transit Master Plan was finalized five years ago. Hymes noted rural areas in Livingston County now have access to public transportation with LETS.

Michigan Flyer has a stop in Brighton, allowing passengers to connect to the Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). A recent announcement will allow DTW to connect with Downtown Detroit.

“We want to appreciate and recognize those different groups and organizations that have been working so hard to actively implement those pieces of the transportation master plan,” Hymes said.

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Hymes said the goal of the Livingston County Transportation Coalition will be continuing to update the master plan and finding different ways to implement its vision. Hymes wants to bring equitable transportation to everyone in Livingston County.

“We, as a group, think it’s important for everybody to have the same access as everyone else,” Hymes said.

The first Livingston County Rosa Parks Transquit Equity Day took place at LETS and had about 10 people, Hymes said. Last year’s event at Torch 180 in Fowlerville was attended by roughly 45 people. Hymes is anticipating 75-100 people at this year’s event, adding Cleary Commons is the place to be on Feb. 2.

“It’s going to be a great morning,” Hymes said.

— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Livingston County Rosa Parks Transit Equity Day event set for Feb. 2