WHEREAS, Alaska’s state road system spans over 5,600 miles, with many communities not connected to the national highway system; and
WHEREAS, the National Transit Assistance Program celebrated the Nation’s very first Rural Transit Day on July 16, 2019; and
WHEREAS, this day focuses on what agencies have done, and are doing, to recognize the specialized needs of rural passengers and staff; and
WHEREAS, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities celebrated National Rural Transit Day for the first time on July 16, 2020; and
WHEREAS, in 2020 the Department’s Alaska Community Transit staff managed the award and distribution of over $13 million in Federal Transit Administration grant funds to 12 rural transit service providers; and
WHEREAS, as our communities change and grow, rural transit continues to become a greater necessity, delivering people to work, medical appointments, shopping, entertainment, and other vital destinations; and
WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, our transit operators continued to provide essential services to communities throughout Alaska.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike Dunleavy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ALASKA, do hereby proclaim July 16, 2021 as:
Rural Transit Day
in Alaska, and encourage all Alaskans to take advantage of and support activities provided by Alaska’s rural transit operators.
