The California High School Transit Alliance (CalHSTA), an alliance of high school clubs and student organizations focusing on issues of transportation and mobility, is proud to announce that SF Transit Riders and Seamless Bay Area have honored the Alliance with a Transit Month Riders’ First award for its work keeping students informed and engaged with the world of public transit.

“We couldn’t be prouder of all our member clubs who work around the clock to promote transit to students, support student riders, and build a stronger transit community and transit culture across the Bay,” according to CalHSTA Vice President Ben Mangiafico. “At the Carlmont Transportation Club, we’ve launched an innovative student-centered wayfinding and signage pilot program, so no student has to worry about which routes stop on which side of the street. Our friends at the Schurr Transit Club have held tutorials in trip planning for students, while Transit @ SMHS members helped plan CalHSTA’s Transit Month BART speedrun, which broke speedrunning attendance records and became one of the most popular Bay Area Transit Month events. We’re excited to keep doing this important work many years into the future, and we thank SF Transit Riders and Seamless Bay Area for this recognition.”

“California’s public transit systems are vast and ever-changing, filled with passionate planners, operators, riders, and advocates who keep us moving every day. I’m so honored to have our organization included in their ranks,” according to CalHSTA President David Rabinovich. “It feels like yesterday that we started the Alliance, and it's so inspiring to see all the clubs, new and old, who have joined us to connect their communities, even at a time when California’s transit agencies face historic crossroads. The journey continues, and we don’t know where it goes next, but we're so grateful to the riders who nominated us, and the panel that selected us for this award."

CalHSTA President David Rabinovich and Vice President Ben Mangiafico were joined by several Bay Area transit advocates and other CalHSTA club members to accept the award last week. A picture can be found attached to this release.