Today is National Transit Employee Appreciation Day

Today, March 18, is Transit Employee Appreciation Day. If traveling on BART, Muni, AC Transit or any another public transit system, take a moment to say "thanks" to the employees. 

Started in 2009 by transit passengers in Seattle, Transit Employee Appreciation Day was a national event that recognizes the skills and talents bus operators bring to public transit every day. March 18th was selected in commemoration of the first bus line in 1662 called "Carrosses à cinq sols." 

At BART, 629 daily weekday trains may technically run on clean electricity, but the agency notes they're really powered by our more than 4,000 amazing and impactful employees. The work BART employees do is significant, as BART plays a major role in keeping the Bay Area's economy humming, people flowing, and air clean. None of this happens without BART's employees. The "New BART" is on a roll right now, thanks to these employees. Rider satisfaction hit its highest mark in a decade.

AC Transit bus operators, mechanics, supervisors, maintenance staff, station agents, and customer service representatives keep communities moving. Show appreciation for the work of the agency's frontline employees. Submit specific commendations by thanking an operator when existing the bus, sending commendations using this form or post on social media and include #TransitEmployeeAppreciationDay and #RideACT. 

Thousands of Muni employees keep San Francisco moving: operators, station agents, maintenance and security staff, cleaners, ambassadors, engineers and many others. The creativity, collaboration, and commitment Muni staff bring to the job connects the public to work, school, appointments, communities and culture. Their work promotes equity and makes the city a more accessible place to live, work and play. 

In the North Bay, Golden Gate Transit & Golden Gate Ferry transit employees do it all—conduct pre-trip inspections, pick up riders, collect fares, keep equipment safe, answer trip-planning questions—all while keeping the public moving safely on weekday commutes and weekend adventures.

There are so many behind the scene transit employees who deserve recognition as well. These include mechanics, servicers, dispatchers, supervisors, terminal agents, vessel masters, customer service reps, and there are several ways to express gratitude and support. 

Also in the North Bay, Santa Rosa CityBus provides an impressive 1.5 million passenger trips, travels more than 780,000 miles, and helps students get to school with an average of 2,100 weekday student trips. Behind every one of those miles and moments is a dedicated group of drivers, mechanics, supervisors, customer service staff, and paratransit professionals who keep Santa Rosa moving with reliability, care and heart. CityBus transit employees make a real difference every single day. 

In the East Bay, Tri Delta Transit notes this time of year is calendared to recognize and honor all transit workers for day after day and year after year serving our residents, riders, and visitors throughout eastern Contra Costa County. Tri Delta Transit takes our hat off to each and every person who works hard so that the community has public transportation, from administration and accounting who secure grants and funding, provide customer service, planning, and more – to maintenance, parts and fuelers who maintain the fleet of buses and vehicles, over 600 stops, and the facility – to reservationists, dispatch, and safety for operations – and to drivers who assist the public in getting to the people, places and things that they love.