<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Anna Zivarts</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:annaz@dr-wa.org">annaz@dr-wa.org</a>></span><br>Date: Fri, May 16, 2025 at 12:42\u202fPM<br>Subject: Transit rider representation - recruitment and training for transit boards<br>To: Kris Colcock <<a href="mailto:kris@colcock.com">kris@colcock.com</a>>, Marci Carpenter <<a href="mailto:Mjc59@comcast.net">Mjc59@comcast.net</a>><br></div><br><br><div class="msg482245618600433031">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Hi Kris and Marci, <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">I\u2019m working to put together a series of online trainings and an all-costs-paid in-person training for transit riders who live in parts of the state covered by our new PTBA law.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Below is some more information as well as a form for people who are interested \u2013 would you mind sharing this to the NFB of WA and NFB members at large lists?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">Do you rely on transit or paratransit? </span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">Would you like to make transit work better for your community?<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">In the 2025 legislative session, Washington legislators passed
<a href="https://disabilityrightswa.org/wp-admin/post.php?post=10485&action=edit" target="_blank">
<span style="color:black">HB 1418</span></a> which allows transit agencies governed under the PTBA structure to appoint two voting members to their governing boards, one who is transit-reliant and one from an organization that serves transit-reliant communities.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">These transit agency boards formerly were composed only of locally elected officials, many of which don\u2019t often ride transit. While many transit agencies support citizen advisory
committees (CACs) for community member input, there is no assurance that community feedback will be incorporated into decision-making.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">Twenty-one out of Washington State\u2019s transit agencies are governed under this PTBA structure. These agencies include: Whatcom Transit, Valley Transit, Twin Transit, TranGo, Skagit
Transit, Spokane Transit, RiverCities Transit, Pierce Transit, Pacific Transit, Mason Transit, Lewiston/Asotin County Transit, Link Transit, Kitsap Transit, Jefferson Transit, Island Transit, Grant Transit, Garfield County Transit, Community Transit, Columbia
County Transit, Clallam Transit, C-TRAN, and Ben Franklin Transit.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">Why this matters:</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">For people who can grab their keys and drive where they need to go, transportation isn\u2019t a major concern. But for those of us who can\u2019t drive or can\u2019t afford to, transportation
access is something we think about daily. We care deeply about how transit works because it is such a major part of our day and can make the difference between getting to do the things that connect us to our communities, like running errands, seeing a friend,
or getting to an appointment. Which is why we should be included in making transit work better for our communities. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">We want to hear from you!</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">If you\u2019re a transit rider or work for an organization that serves transit riders in one of the PTBA areas, please complete
<a href="https://forms.gle/JChxDAemcgDs49CLA" target="_blank"><span style="color:black">this form</span></a>. We are looking at hosting a series of online trainings as well as an in-person all-costs-paid convening to provide support and training for potential future board
members. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">Questions: Text or call Anna Zivarts at 206.718.8432</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Anna Zivarts</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="http://www.disabilityrightswa.org/" title="http://www.disabilityrightswa.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">Disability Rights Washington</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">206 718 8432 (cell) | <a href="mailto:annaz@dr-wa.org" title="mailto:annaz@dr-wa.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">annaz@dr-wa.org</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">315 5<sup>th </sup>Avenue S, Suite 850 | Seattle, WA 98104<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="http://www.donatetodrw.org/" title="http://www.donatetodrw.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">Donate to support our work</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="https://disabilityrightswa.org/survey/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">Inform</span></a> our 2025 advocacy priorities. We want to hear from you!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><a href="https://disabilityrightswa.org/survey/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="350" height="113" style="width:3.6458in;height:1.177in" id="m_-6505251105579209857Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:ii_196db6347e34ce8e91" alt="Disability pride flag in corner, DRW logo in other corner. Inform our 2026 advocacy priorities. We want to hear from YOU! disabilityrightswa.org/survey"></span></a><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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