BART’S Link21 Program appoints 18 community members to newly formed Equity Advisory Council

Bay Area Rapid Transit’s Link21 Program has appointed 18 community members to the newly formed Equity Advisory Council (EAC). Serving up to a two-year term, members will be compensated for contributing their time, perspective and “lived experience” or professional familiarity in technical and/or policy areas such as passenger rail transportation and land use, housing, environmental, environmental justice, transit justice and economic development.

“Equity is integral to every aspect of Link21,” said Sadie Graham, Link21 program director. “We created the EAC to help shape the program’s planning of passenger rail improvements in the northern California Megaregion. The EAC will serve as an advisory body to the Link21 Program, providing input and guidance on key milestones. The EAC will provide a space for meaningful community collaboration to help advance equity throughout the development and implementation of the Link21 Program. We are committed to listening to and learning from the EAC members, and the community input they will contribute.”

Link21 received a robust response from people who were interested in serving on the EAC. From a large pool of dozens of applicants, Link21 selected members who represent the diversity of the 21-county northern California Megaregion, including low-income communities, communities of color and young people that have been most impacted by transportation inequities, as well as other communities that have historically been underserved.

The EAC will hold its first two meetings in January and February 2023, with subsequent meetings scheduled approximately every other month. Meetings will be held virtually and will be open to the public for brief comments with livestreaming. Information, agendas, and other materials will be available in advance of each meeting.

To view the members of the EAC, click here.