HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 03-05-2026; 8-e - Try Transit Week and Transit Employee Appreciation Day Proclamation 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 5, 2026
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-e
SUBJECT: Try Transit Week and Transit Employee Appreciation Day Proclamation
DEPARTMENT: Orange County Transportation
Services
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation Jamael Wiley, Transit Planning and
Operations Manager, 919-245-2006
PURPOSE: To adopt a proclamation recognizing the week of March 16, 2026 as Try Transit Week
in Orange County and March 18, 2026 as Transit Employee Appreciation Day.
BACKGROUND: Orange County Public Transportation (OCPT) provides essential fixed-route,
demand-response, rural mobility, and ADA-complementary paratransit services that connect
residents to employment, education, healthcare, nutrition sites, and other vital community
resources. These services support broader community outcomes, including economic
opportunity, environmental sustainability, reduced traffic congestion, and overall quality of life.
Try Transit Week encourages residents to explore public transportation as a convenient,
affordable, and accessible travel option, while highlighting the role transit plays in daily community
life.
The proclamation also recognizes the essential public service provided by OCPT employees,
including operators, dispatchers, maintenance staff, customer service, and administrative staff,
whose work ensures safe, reliable, and equitable service delivery across Orange County's urban
and rural areas.
From Monday, March 16, 2026 through Friday, March 20, 2026, OCPT will host a week of rider
and community recognition activities in coordination with the Department of Aging.
• Monday, March 16: Try Transit Week Kickoff Day — promote trying one trip on transit.
• Tuesday, March 17: Transit Info Pop-up — quick Questions & Answers, maps, and route
help at major stops
• Wednesday, March 18: National Transit Employee Appreciation Day
• Thursday, March 19: Thank-You Card Spotlight — seniors write cards; share photos of
cards/staff interactions and reactions.
• Friday, March 20 — Community Partnership Day — highlight on transit collaboration with
local partners
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with adopting the proclamation.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
2
• GOAL 4: MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION
OBJECTIVE 2. Increase community awareness of all modes of transportation including
transit, bike and pedestrian, vehicle, and all other modes.
• GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE 2. Expand access to quality, affordable healthcare services. (e.g., Crisis
Diversion facility, Medicaid expansion, crisis response, healthy living campaign).
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt and authorize the
Chair to sign the proclamation recognizing the week of March 16, 2026 as Try Transit Week in
Orange County and March 18, 2026 as Transit Employee Appreciation Day in Orange County.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 3
PROCLAMATION
TRY TRANSIT WEEK
and
TRANSIT EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY
WHEREAS, Orange County Public Transportation (OCPT) provides essential fixed-route,
demand-response, rural mobility, and ADA-complementary paratransit services that connect
residents to employment, education, healthcare, nutrition sites, and vital community
resources; and
WHEREAS, public transportation plays a critical role in supporting economic opportunity,
environmental sustainability, traffic congestion reduction, and overall quality of life throughout
Orange County; and
WHEREAS, OCPT transit employees— including vehicle operators, dispatchers, maintenance
staff, customer service representatives, and administrative personnel — are essential to
ensuring the safe, reliable, and equitable delivery of public transportation services across both
urban and rural areas of the County; and
WHEREAS, Try Transit Week encourages residents to explore public transportation as a
convenient, affordable, and accessible travel option while highlighting the essential role transit
plays in daily community life; and
WHEREAS, National Transit Employee Appreciation Day, observed annually on March 18,
recognizes the dedication, professionalism, and public service commitment of transit
employees who often work early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and in challenging
conditions to keep the community connected;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED by the Orange County Board of County
Commissioners that the week of March 16, 2026 is hereby recognized as TRY TRANSIT
WEEK in Orange County, North Carolina;
BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED that March 18, 2026 is recognized as Transit Employee
Appreciation Day in Orange County, and we encourage the residents of Orange County to
express their gratitude to OCPT transit employees for their continued service and dedication;
and
BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED that residents are invited to participate in Try Transit Week
by riding public transportation, learning more about local transit services, and recognizing
public transit as a vital community asset that helps keep Orange County connected.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners has caused
this Proclamation to be adopted this 5th day of March, 2026.
Jean Hamilton, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST:
Clerk to the Board