WHEREAS, Alaska celebrated Rural Transit Day for the first time on July 16, 2020, to focus on what agencies have done, and are doing, to recognize the specialized needs of rural passengers and staff, and as the reliance on rural transit has grown, so, too, has the need to maintain the elements necessary for effective rural transit, including infrastructure and personnel; and
WHEREAS, Alaska’s state road system spans over 5,600 miles, with many communities not connected to the national highway system, and many Alaskans rely heavily on rural transit for access to their basic life needs; and
WHEREAS, Alaska Community Transit (ACT), part of the Division of Program Development, under the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, manages Federal Transit Administration grant funds for 12 rural transit sub-recipients to assist with providing access and mobility to the general public and to transit-dependent populations; and
WHEREAS, as our communities change and grow, reliable and accessible rural transit continues to become a greater necessity to deliver people to work, medical appointments, shopping centers, entertainment locations, and other vital destinations.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike Dunleavy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ALASKA, do hereby proclaim July 16, 2023 as:
Rural Transit Day
in Alaska, and encourage all Alaskans to take advantage of and support activities provided by Alaska’s rural transit operators.
Dated: July 16, 2023
