named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Better Buses Campaign
Advocates for citywide bus improvements including all-door boarding, bus rapid transit corridors, and 20% speed increases through organizing, research, and public pressure.
Bus Lane Tracker
Monitors and holds city leadership accountable for promises to deliver at least 150 miles of new bus lanes by 2025.
Participatory Action Research
Conducts community-driven research, such as the Flatbush Avenue study, to document the impacts of transit service on economic, health, and social outcomes.
Riders Agenda
Annual policy platform calling for affordable fares, 6-minute service frequency, congestion pricing implementation, and system accessibility improvements.
activities · 1 group
What they do
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Transportation Policy Advocacy & Infrastructure Reform 9 activities
- Advancing citywide bus system improvementsCollaborated with city and state leaders to secure commitments for a citywide bus improvement plan, including the construction of a record number of busways, bus shelters, countdown clocks, all-door boarding, and the addition of 150 miles of new bus lanes by 2025. Tracks and reports publicly on the progress of these commitments.
- Advancing congestion pricing to fund transit modernizationSuccessfully advocated for and implemented the nation’s first congestion pricing program in New York City, established in 2019 and operationalized in 2025, which generates over a billion dollars annually for public transit improvements and reduces street congestion.
- Advocating for expanded Fair Fares eligibilitySecured a budget agreement expanding Fair Fares eligibility to over 1 million New Yorkers, including a targeted expansion enabling 340,000 additional low-income riders earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level to access half-price transit. This represents the largest expansion of the program since its inception.
- Advocating for frequent transit service (#6MinuteService)Advocates for subways and most buses to run at least every six minutes every day to improve reliability and access. Supports this campaign with policy proposals, including a call for up to $300 million in state budget investments to fund improved service frequency.
- Amplifying rider voices in public discourseSupports member leaders in publishing op-eds and sharing personal transit experiences to elevate rider perspectives in media and policy discussions.
- Conducting participatory research on transit rider experiencesConducted participatory action research with the Pratt Center for Community Development to assess the impacts of bus service on Flatbush Avenue and published personal stories from 50 New York City riders to highlight challenges with bus reliability and access.
- Hosting Grassroots Organizing FellowshipHosts a Grassroots Organizing Fellow through the Johnson Justice Fellowship Program to build capacity in community organizing and advocacy for public transit equity.
- Organizing grassroots transit advocacy campaignsLeads ongoing grassroots organizing efforts, including weekly rallies, meetings, and trainings, to mobilize riders and advance policy campaigns for equitable and reliable public transit. Engages community and labor groups in advocacy around transportation and social justice issues.
- Publishing research to support transit policy campaignsProduces and disseminates research reports, including “6 Reasons New Yorkers Need #6MinuteService,” to inform and strengthen advocacy for frequent and reliable public transit service.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.67M
Contributions & grants$2.44M92%
Program service revenue$216K8%
Investment income$78K3%
Other revenue$-68K
expenses
Total expenses$2.50M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$1.37M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.19M
Cash$298K
Investments$1.30M
Liabilities$262K
Net assets$1.92M
Liquid reserves7.7 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +21.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH BESTY PLUM | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $140K |
| CAITLIN GREER PEARCE | DEPUTY DIRECTOR | 40 | $125K |
| MOLLY GALVIN | DIRECTOR OF FUNDRAISING & | 40 | $120K |
| DANIEL DANNY PEARLSTEIN | POLICY & COMMUNICATION DIR | 40 | $119K |
board members · 12
- ASA JOHNSON — BOARD MEMBER
- BEN KABAK — BOARD MEMBER
- ELIZABETH PEREZ — SECOND BOARD VICE CHAIR
- ERROL COCKFIELD — BOARD VICE CHAIR
- JEREMY SOFFIN — BOARD MEMBER
- LIBERO DELLA PIANA — BOARD MEMBER
- MARCO CARRION — BOARD MEMBER
- MARK FOGGIN — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAEL FREEDMAN-SCHNAPP — BOARD MEMBER
- RICHARD ORAM — TREASURER
- THEODORE MOORE — SECRETARY
- TOLANI ADEBOYE — BOARD CHAIR
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- #6MinuteService coalition Coalition — Member of the #6MinuteService coalition advocating for frequent transit service.
- Central American Legal Assistance Partner — Executive Director serves on the Board of Directors.
- Council Member Crystal Hudson Government — Championed the Fair Fares expansion in the City Council.
- Council Member Shaun Abreu Government — Championed the Fair Fares expansion in the City Council.
- Department of Transportation (DOT) Government — Secured commitments from DOT to implement bus service improvements such as shelters, countdown clocks, and all-door boarding.
- Governor Government — Holds the Governor accountable for equitable use of congestion pricing revenue to improve subway service.
- Governor Hochul Partner — Collaborated with Riders Alliance to announce a citywide bus improvement plan.
- Johnson Justice Fellowship Program Partner — Partnership to host a Grassroots Organizing Fellow.
- MTA Government — Engages with MTA board through member advocacy and public testimony.
- MTA Government — Holds the MTA accountable for equitable use of congestion pricing revenue to improve subway service.
- MTA Government — State agency responsible for bus operations, collaborates with Riders Alliance on service improvements.
- Mayor Mamdani Government — Engaged in advocacy efforts resulting in a budget agreement expanding Fair Fares eligibility.
- Mayor Mamdani Partner — Collaborated with Riders Alliance to announce a citywide bus improvement plan.
- Mayor of New York City Government — Engaged in advocacy efforts that led to commitments on busway construction and service improvements.
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Government — Secured commitments from MTA to implement bus service improvements such as shelters, countdown clocks, and all-door boarding.
- NYC DOT Government — Partner agency in transportation planning and implementation of bus improvements.
- New York City Government — Advocates with city officials to expand funding and access for low-income transit programs.
- New York City Civic Engagement Commission Government — Board member Murad Awawdeh serves as Commissioner.
- New York City Council Government — Collaborated with Riders Alliance to finalize a budget agreement expanding Fair Fares eligibility.
- New York Immigration Coalition Partner — Shared leadership and collaboration between staff and board members; multiple individuals have held leadership roles at both organizations.
- New York University Family Health Centers Partner — Board member Murad Awawdeh serves as a Trustee.
- Pratt Center for Community Development Partner — Collaborated on a participatory action research project assessing bus service impacts on Flatbush Avenue.
- Riders for Affordable Transit Coalition Partner — Coalition partner that organized alongside Riders Alliance to expand transit affordability.
- Speaker Menin Government — Championed the Fair Fares expansion in the City Council.
- Speaker Menin Government — Engaged in advocacy efforts resulting in a budget agreement expanding Fair Fares eligibility.
- Transit Alliance Miami Partner — Digital Strategist previously engaged with this organization, indicating a professional connection and shared advocacy focus.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Accountability for Public Systems and Fundingmethodology: accountability_advocacyBy demanding coordinated action and transparency from city and state agencies, the organization ensures transit investments deliver measurable improvements in speed, reliability, and accessibility, because holding institutions accountable transforms funding into real rider benefits and prevents wasteful or symbolic reforms.
- Participatory Action Research for Policy Changemethodology: participatory_action_researchBy engaging community members directly in research to document transit conditions and needs, the organization generates credible, lived-experience-based evidence that drives policy recommendations, because participatory methods build power while producing data that decision-makers cannot ignore.
- Rider-Led Grassroots Organizingmethodology: grassroots_organizingBy centering transit riders—particularly from working-class communities of color—in campaign leadership and agenda-setting, the organization builds collective power that produces more effective and equitable policy outcomes, because member-driven movements generate authentic demands and sustained accountability.
- Transit Equity as Racial and Economic Justicemethodology: racial_and_economic_justice_in_transit_advocacyBy framing underinvestment in bus service as a racial and economic justice issue, the organization advances policy change that improves access for marginalized communities, because naming systemic inequities strengthens advocacy and redirects public resources toward those most impacted by neglect.