The document discusses transportation justice and the work of On The Move (OTM), a Boston-area transportation justice coalition. It defines transportation justice as the right to affordable, safe, and meaningful transportation choices. OTM advocates for fixing public transit, funding equitable transportation, and including community voices in decision-making. The document outlines OTM's accomplishments and vision for continued base-building, advocacy, and ensuring transportation decisions benefit marginalized communities.
2. On The Move (OTM):
The Greater Boston
Transportation Justice Coalition
3. Background
•On The Move—Who We Are-Accomplishments-Next Steps
•What is Transportation Justice?
•What is missing in the Transportation Agenda
•OTM 21st Century Principles and Vision
4. Who is OTM?
On the Move (OTM) is a coalition of
nine community based
organizations in greater Boston that
came together in 2002 to advocate
for transportation justice. Our core
constituency is Greater Boston’s
low income communities and
communities of color and our focus
www.bostononthemove.o on regional transportation and
smart growth.
rg
On the Move’s supporters include
environmental justice,
environmental, community
development, affordable housing,
tenant’s organizations, public
health, and other neighborhood
groups
5. OTM COALITION MEMBERS
OTM COALITION MEMBERS
(Steering Committee)
(Steering Committee)
Transit Riders Union (TRU) ACTION! For Regional Equity
MASSPIRG Livable Streets Alliance
The Arborway Committee Washington Street Corridor
Bikes Not Bombs Coalition
The Greater Four Corners Action Sierra Club
Coalition
Our five-point Platform for Transportation Justice and Livable
Communities, endorsed by 50 organizations includes the following
demands:
Fix Our Transit System So It Works
Clean Buses So We Can Breathe
Give Us Our Fair Share of Transportation Funds
Give Us a Seat At the Table for Transportation Decision Making
Link Transportation Improvements to Affordable Housing and Livable
Communities
6. OTM Accomplishments and Strengths
OTM, under the guise of Clean Buses For Boston, has won
campaigns for cleaner buses and bus monitoring systems
Free bus-to-bus transfers in the MBTA system, many service
improvements
Fare Hikes defeated in 2003 and 2007 with significant OTM
presence
MBTA Rider Oversight Committee which several OTM Steering
Committee members serve on.
Solid Base of Committee and Coalition Members
7. What is
Transportation Justice?
What is Transportation Justice?
Transportation Justice is the right and
access to affordable, safe and
meaningful transportation choices and
opportunities for all communities in the
neighborhoods and areas where we live,
work, play, learn, and pray.
8. Why is Transportation an
Environmental Justice Issue?
• -
Burdens on Community Pollution, Costs, Impacts (Physical), Amenities
• New Transit Development Projects—For Who? Greenbush Line
• History—Orange Line, Silver Line
• Decision Making and Access
10. Concerns around Transportation Process in Greater Boston
The Missing Community
Base
Churches
Youth
Small Businesses
Senior Citizens
Immigrants/Foreign Nationals
Public Housing Residents
Mentally/Physically Impaired/Paratransit
Homeless/Indigent Residents
Communities of Color
11. Why Has Our Transportation Message Become So
‘Wonky’?
Lesson One--Thomas The Tank Engine
The Tale of the Wonky Whistle
The Tale of the Wonky Whistle
"Workmen, fix that whistle. The whistle is clearly wonky!" — Victor
"Workmen, fix that whistle. The whistle is clearly wonky!" — Victor
12. Base-Building and Advocacy (Arrow and Circle)
Building Power
Reacting to Fare Increases
Developing
Voice Crafting Legislation
Setting Terms Working Within
Government
Making Change
Compromising via Political
Culture of process
Community
Culture of Elected Officials
Less Wonk- and Politicians
Real Talk
Base-Building Political Advocacy
Developing Relationships Legislative Democracy
Grassroots Organizing Grasstops Organizing
13. Arrows—OTM Base-Building
Building Power
Developing Voice
Setting Terms
Strategizing Making Change
Action
Collaborative Problem Solving Culture of Implementation of Strategy
Community
Identifying Strengths and Sharing Stories
Weaknesses
Achieving Change
Relationship Building
Empowerment
Storytelling
Building A Voice
14. OTM Arrow Projects
Base-Building and Grassroots Organizing
(Arrow Projects)
•OTM VOICES! Campaign-Storytelling and
Relationship-Building/Strategy/Action
OTM •Formation of Transportation Equity Caucus within core
Arrow partnerships, including Transportation For Massachusetts
(2011)
Projects •OTM Transportation Equity Summit (proposed event—
2012 and annual)
“Build The Base” •OTM Member Organization Recruitment (Identify Core
Principles—Target Labor, Public Health, Social Justice,
Faith-Based Institutions, Immigrant Groups, Youth and
Seniors)
•OTM & Organizing Opportunities (Events, House
Parties, Tabling at Partner Events, etc...)
15. OTM Circle Projects
General Advocacy
(Circle Projects)
OTM Legislative Advocacy (On-Going Policy
Campaigns w/ MBTA/MassDOT and State
Circle Legislature)
Coalition Campaigns—Green Justice
Projects Coalition and Transportation for
Massachusetts (State Advocacy Committee;
General Coalition)
“Accountability of Elected MBTA Projects (Green Line Extension,
Leaders and the System” Fairmont/Indigo Line, etc…)
OTM Transportation Summit (proposed
event—2012 and annual)
16. Transportation-EJ and Sustainability
Environmental injustices that we’ve been fighting and struggling against are caused by the same factors in the
economy that have generated these obscene inequalities in wealth. Environmental injustice has always been
connected to economic injustice in that respect. We don’t think that sustainability and justice can be
separated; that you can achieve one without the other.
Penn Loh,
Professor at Tufts University; Former Executive Director at ACE (Alternatives to Community and Environment)
17. OTM Future Opportunities
Rebuild Momentum and Base around Transportation Justice by
collecting ‘Transportation Stories’ from Target Communities and
Neighborhoods around Greater Boston.
Support OTM Coalition Member Organizations on Transit Justice
Campaigns through Coalition (Project $$$ Funds, Coalition
Leadership, Opportunities, Media Campaigns)
Work with Statewide Coalitions on Long-Term Transportation
Funding Campaigns and Advocacy for 2012-2013.
Develop Base-Building Targets around Labor, Faith-Based
Institutions , Immigrant Groups, Youth and Seniors.
Look for opportunities with MPO and MAPC around Transportation
Equity Caucus and Decision-Making Seats
18. OTM Vision
• Base-Building-Who are the Voices of Public
Transportation?
• Challenging Culture and Class
(De-Wonking the Process)
• Government Accountability!
• Impacting Circles…Developing Transportation Solutions; Dictating
the Terms
• Creating the Arrow…Changing the System and Creating
CHANGE!