The Alliance for Community Transit – Los Angeles strives to create just, equitable, sustainable transit systems and neighborhoods for all people in Los Angeles, placing the interest of low-income communities and communities of color first as we create a more sustainable region.
About Us
The Alliance for Community Transit-Los Angeles (ACT-LA) is a broad-based coalition made up of organizations with expertise engaging in transit justice, housing justice, environmental justice, and public health.
Together, we work to build a Los Angeles where all people have access to quality jobs, affordable housing, necessary social services, ample transportation options, and a voice in decision-making.
Our Work
ACT-LA envisions a Los Angeles that is a transit-rich city where all people have access to quality jobs, affordable housing, necessary social services, ample transportation options, and a voice in decision-making. We believe in building a sustainable community through the reduction of toxic air pollution, the promotion of public health, and the strengthening of community culture and heritage.
Transit Justice
Transit riders in Los Angeles are overwhelmingly low-income, people of color, and/or essential workers. Over a million people in the county do not have regular access to a car—yet our transit system is unreliable and fails to adequately connect people with their jobs, school, health care and other needs. Therefore, transit justice is a key avenue for racial and economic justice, as well as climate justice, in Los Angeles county.
Our coalition’s collective vision for transit justice in Los Angeles county: Metro is a sanctuary for the public. The train and bus are fareless, consciously part of the region and integrated into people’s daily lives and neighborhoods. Metro serves the public as libraries do, a public system where people go to feel safe, access information, and receive a high level of service. Metro feels honored to serve youth of color and be a resource for all. Los Angeles is proud of how we have embraced a healthy, community-serving, world-class transit system.
Our Transit Justice Campaigns:
Housing and Land Use Justice
Los Angeles has a history of racist and discriminatory land use practices—and a lack of investment in tenant protections and affordable housing. These historical urban planning priorities have benefited primarily white homeowners, and led to detrimental health consequences, lower life expectancy, and traumatic lived experiences for generations of low-income families and families of color.
Our vision for housing in Los Angeles county: Everyone in Los Angeles will have access to housing that fits their family’s size, needs, and budget and live in communities that are dignified spaces, in safe and healthy environments, and have access to economic, social and cultural resources. Housing is planned thoughtfully in its quality, design, amenities and size to meet our housing needs. Residents have decision-making power regarding their housing, can exercise self-determination, and more. Angelenos will build community through collective ownership of their homes and land. Everyone will have equal access to live in whichever neighborhood they choose, families can choose to stay in their homes for as long as they want, and future generations will have the choice to continue living in the same neighborhoods as their families.
Our Work:
Our Members
ACT-LA is a coalition of 45 member organizations throughout Los Angeles county. Together, we participate in advocacy, organizing, and policy-making—and collaborate on regional campaigns to improve the Southland.
Chairs, Coalition Building Committee
Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA)
LA Forward
Chairs, Executive Committee
Esperanza Community Housing
Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC)
Chairs, Housing and Land Use Justice Committee
Community Power Collective (CPC)
Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE)
Chairs, Transit Justice Committee
Community Power Collective (CPC)
Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE)
Our Staff
Take Action
Look below for how to take action and fight for transit justice and housing and land use justice in Los Angeles. Don’t see any actions you can take? Sign up for our email updates and we’ll send you action alerts as they happen.
Resources & Updates
Resources
Fareless Report
ACT-LA is proud to partner with member organization Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) on a new report: The…
Envisioning a Fareless LA Metro (Flyer)
What is fareless transit, and why does it matter? Click here to read through and share our resource on how…
Metro as a Sanctuary: Reimagining Safety on Public Transit (Flyer)
What sort of design interventions could transform Metro into a sanctuary? How can we offer every transit rider and worker…
Updates
Press Advisory for April 19, 2023
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR APRIL 19, 2023 ACT-LA Housing Coalition Rallies, Demanding LA City Council Create Social Housing LA unlocked hundreds…
ACT-LA 2022 Activation
About the Activation Community and thoughtful design can build an infrastructure of safety that all Metro riders can feel. Safety…
ACT-LA’s 2022 Work Plan Overview
As part of yearly visioning and strategy planning with our member organizations, ACT-LA has finalized our 2022 work plan with…
ACT-LA Instagram Feed
Last month, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that they will be requesting additional taxpayer funds to purchase a high-tech weapon that will be used on transit riders.
Here are the facts:
• This weapon has already been condemned by transit riders across the United States, as well as mental health advocates, disability rights advocates, and the Human Rights Watch.
• Public transit is not made safer when police have millions of dollars in weapons to use against transit riders. In fact, more transit riders will be harmed at stations and stops if Metro allows LAPD to purchase these weapons.
• Transit riders who are in crisis need support from equipped professionals who provide a constant presence on transit–NOT by being shot with a “Kevlar cord that can ensnare a person”.
• We cannot get Angelenos out of their cars and into transit–increasing our county’s overall health and safety–by allowing police on Metro to have even more weapons to use against Black and brown transit riders.
Take action with us today and tomorrow, 9/28. Link to the one-click email and other ways to take action are available at go.act-la.org/actionalert. (Link in bio)
Last month, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that they will be requesting additional taxpayer funds to purchase a high-tech weapon that will be used on transit riders.
Here are the facts:
• This weapon has already been condemned by transit riders across the United States, as well as mental health advocates, disability rights advocates, and the Human Rights Watch.
• Public transit is not made safer when police have millions of dollars in weapons to use against transit riders. In fact, more transit riders will be harmed at stations and stops if Metro allows LAPD to purchase these weapons.
• Transit riders who are in crisis need support from equipped professionals who provide a constant presence on transit–NOT by being shot with a “Kevlar cord that can ensnare a person”.
• We cannot get Angelenos out of their cars and into transit–increasing our county’s overall health and safety–by allowing police on Metro to have even more weapons to use against Black and brown transit riders.
Take action with us today and tomorrow, 9/28. Link to the one-click email and other ways to take action are available at go.act-la.org/actionalert. (Link in bio)
Victory today!
Today, the LA City Council approved spending (and the spending plan for) the first $150 million of Measure ULA funds! This is a huge and important first step, and gets mansion tax dollars flowing into our communities to help at-risk seniors, people living with disabilities, and other at-risk renters.
ACT-LA is proud to continue working within the @unitedtohousela coalition to ensure that Measure ULA mansion tax funds will always be spent to directly help Angelenos who are battling our housing affordability and housing insecurity crisis.
We will continue to work within the coalition and with our partners at the City of Los Angeles to ensure that the social housing built from mansion tax dollars meets the community`s vision for social housing. Thank you to the City Councilmembers who championed the spending and spending plan today.
More to come! ✊
Article via @latimes.
Victory today!
Today, the LA City Council approved spending (and the spending plan for) the first $150 million of Measure ULA funds! This is a huge and important first step, and gets mansion tax dollars flowing into our communities to help at-risk seniors, people living with disabilities, and other at-risk renters.
ACT-LA is proud to continue working within the @unitedtohousela coalition to ensure that Measure ULA mansion tax funds will always be spent to directly help Angelenos who are battling our housing affordability and housing insecurity crisis.
We will continue to work within the coalition and with our partners at the City of Los Angeles to ensure that the social housing built from mansion tax dollars meets the community`s vision for social housing. Thank you to the City Councilmembers who championed the spending and spending plan today.
More to come! ✊
Article via @latimes.
Thank you again to all of the transit riders, community members, and organizations who turned out for last Thursday`s rally for fareless transit and signed onto our letter of support for fareless transit!
We made our voices heard at Metro - and as a result, @mayorofla committed to taking the lead on creating a fareless Metro system! 🙌 We thank Mayor Bass for continuing to move forward her campaign promises - ensuring that "no Angeleno ever has to pay to ride a bus or Metro train again."
We will continue to work with @metrolosangeles and the Mayor on making a Metro system that is universally fareless - and will continue to post updates on next steps around creating a fareless transit system.
Quote from Mayor Bass taken from the July 27, 2023 recording of the Metro Board of Directors meeting: https://metro.granicus.com/player/clip/2766
Thank you again to all of the transit riders, community members, and organizations who turned out for last Thursday`s rally for fareless transit and signed onto our letter of support for fareless transit!
We made our voices heard at Metro - and as a result, @mayorofla committed to taking the lead on creating a fareless Metro system! 🙌 We thank Mayor Bass for continuing to move forward her campaign promises - ensuring that "no Angeleno ever has to pay to ride a bus or Metro train again."
We will continue to work with @metrolosangeles and the Mayor on making a Metro system that is universally fareless - and will continue to post updates on next steps around creating a fareless transit system.
Quote from Mayor Bass taken from the July 27, 2023 recording of the Metro Board of Directors meeting: https://metro.granicus.com/player/clip/2766
We`ve filled the room at the @metrolosangeles Board of Directors meeting to call on @mayorofla and the Metro Board of Directors to create universal fareless transit!
We`ve filled the room at the @metrolosangeles Board of Directors meeting to call on @mayorofla and the Metro Board of Directors to create universal fareless transit!
110 transit riders and community members strong for our universal fareless transit rally at Metro HQ! đź’Ş
Today is @mayorofla`s first Metro Board of Directors meeting as our new @metrolosangeles chair. Mayor Bass campaigned with the promise of no Angeleno having to pay for transit—ever.
We`re out here today to remind Mayor Bass and the entire Metro leadership that Los Angeles needs universal fareless transit, and we need it now!
For our workers. For our air. For a prosperous and healthy Los Angeles đź’Ş
Thanks to the following organizations who turned out! @cpcolectivo @dsa_la @kiwa4justice @saje_southla @carwasherxs Bus Riders Union @peopleformobilityjustice @heyimwalkinghere @rootsforpeace_la @thaicdc @bvclt_la @garmentworkercenter Pacoima Beautiful
110 transit riders and community members strong for our universal fareless transit rally at Metro HQ! đź’Ş
Today is @mayorofla`s first Metro Board of Directors meeting as our new @metrolosangeles chair. Mayor Bass campaigned with the promise of no Angeleno having to pay for transit—ever.
We`re out here today to remind Mayor Bass and the entire Metro leadership that Los Angeles needs universal fareless transit, and we need it now!
For our workers. For our air. For a prosperous and healthy Los Angeles đź’Ş
Thanks to the following organizations who turned out! @cpcolectivo @dsa_la @kiwa4justice @saje_southla @carwasherxs Bus Riders Union @peopleformobilityjustice @heyimwalkinghere @rootsforpeace_la @thaicdc @bvclt_la @garmentworkercenter Pacoima Beautiful
Los Angeles can take a bold step towards creating mobility for all with universal fareless transit.
Universal fareless transit is a simple solution that would represent a sea change, breaking with the status quo to move us to a transit system that allows everyone to get to where they need to go.
What effect will a universally open LA Metro system have on today’s workers? What effect will it have on those who want to visit more museums and parks but can’t afford to under the current model? What effect will it have on the harried moms who can’t remember if they loaded their TAP card and end up driving instead of taking the train?
LA Metro is for moving us all, and we can shift the system. Join us this Thursday, July 27 as we rally for a universally fare-free Metro - info at go.act-la.org/072023.
* Some text from the above is adapted from "The Road to Transit Equity: The Case for Universal Fareless Transit in Los Angeles", a report by @saje_southla and @actlosangeles.
Los Angeles can take a bold step towards creating mobility for all with universal fareless transit.
Universal fareless transit is a simple solution that would represent a sea change, breaking with the status quo to move us to a transit system that allows everyone to get to where they need to go.
What effect will a universally open LA Metro system have on today’s workers? What effect will it have on those who want to visit more museums and parks but can’t afford to under the current model? What effect will it have on the harried moms who can’t remember if they loaded their TAP card and end up driving instead of taking the train?
LA Metro is for moving us all, and we can shift the system. Join us this Thursday, July 27 as we rally for a universally fare-free Metro - info at go.act-la.org/072023.
* Some text from the above is adapted from "The Road to Transit Equity: The Case for Universal Fareless Transit in Los Angeles", a report by @saje_southla and @actlosangeles.
Over twenty organizations have signed onto our open letter calling on @metrolosangeles to immediately pursue universal fareless transit.
Universal fareless transit has far-reaching benefits for all Angelenos:
Economic relief for our working class,
Addressing our urgent climate crisis,
Increased safety on transit for riders and operators,
and much more.
We will be presenting this letter on July 27, at the first Metro Board Meeting where @mayorofla—who campaigned on the promise of a universal fareless Metro—will lead Metro as their new Board Chair.
Organizations are asked to sign onto the letter! Please visit: http://go.act-la.org/farelessletter
Over twenty organizations have signed onto our open letter calling on @metrolosangeles to immediately pursue universal fareless transit.
Universal fareless transit has far-reaching benefits for all Angelenos:
Economic relief for our working class,
Addressing our urgent climate crisis,
Increased safety on transit for riders and operators,
and much more.
We will be presenting this letter on July 27, at the first Metro Board Meeting where @mayorofla—who campaigned on the promise of a universal fareless Metro—will lead Metro as their new Board Chair.
Organizations are asked to sign onto the letter! Please visit: http://go.act-la.org/farelessletter
Universal fareless transit relieves our most burdened working class families from the costs of commuting to jobs, school, and activities, so that they may spend more on food, healthcare, and other essential expenses.
According to Metro, adopting a fareless transit policy in Los Angeles would reduce emissions by 16,389,997 metric tons, which is the amount produced by 3.5 million gas-powered cars in a year.
A study of Kansas City’s fareless program post-implementation found that security incidents declined by 39% and incidents per 100,000 riders fell by 17%. The majority of riders (80%) surveyed felt the program increased their overall sense of safety.
Metro cannot afford not to go fareless.
Join us as we rally on July 27 for fareless transit: go.act-la.org072023
Organizations, sign onto our universal fareless transit letter: go.act-la.org/farelessletter
Universal fareless transit relieves our most burdened working class families from the costs of commuting to jobs, school, and activities, so that they may spend more on food, healthcare, and other essential expenses.
According to Metro, adopting a fareless transit policy in Los Angeles would reduce emissions by 16,389,997 metric tons, which is the amount produced by 3.5 million gas-powered cars in a year.
A study of Kansas City’s fareless program post-implementation found that security incidents declined by 39% and incidents per 100,000 riders fell by 17%. The majority of riders (80%) surveyed felt the program increased their overall sense of safety.
Metro cannot afford not to go fareless.
Join us as we rally on July 27 for fareless transit: go.act-la.org072023
Organizations, sign onto our universal fareless transit letter: go.act-la.org/farelessletter
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