Growing up near Albany, New York, this son of a public school teacher first became politically active in high school, where he advocated for increased school budgets and progressive school board candidates. A longtime activist and leader, he spent twelve years as the chair of the Watertown Democratic Town Committee. In 2016 he was elected to the Democratic State Committee, where he helped the party enact reforms to increase voter participation.
Representative Owens is applying his expertise as a longtime transportation analyst to deliver a public transit system that reduces traffic congestion, improves the state's carbon footprint, and benefits marginalized communities.
The MBTA needs state support in order to enhance service and tackle its extensive backlog of repairs, but it also needs to be held accountable to the citizens who both support and rely on it.
â— Increase service frequency. This will make the service more accessible and improve social distancing during the pandemic.
â— Make buses free. Buses account for only 15% of the MBTA’s fare revenue. Eliminating bus fares will speed up service, benefit high-poverty communities, and relieve drivers of their responsibility for fare enforcement.
â— Electrify bus and commuter rail lines. These capital projects will create good, green jobs while also reducing pollution and helping combat climate change.
â— Increase municipal bus and bicycle lanes. Buses run faster when they don’t need to compete with cars for the road.