Clevelanders for Public Transit’s priorities are determined by Voting Members who include transit riders and others who support safe, accessible, affordable, reliable, and sustainable transit.
Our Mission and Vision
Mission Statement: Clevelanders for Public Transit is a grassroots group of riders dedicated to defending and improving public transit in greater Cleveland. We educate, organize, and mobilize public transit riders, in all their diversity, for better transit for all.
Vision Statement: Clevelanders for Public Transit envisions a city where every person in every neighborhood has the freedom to choose convenient, dependable transit as part of a connected, vibrant community.
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CPT’s Coordinating Committee is elected by voting members during annual elections and executes decisions in support of CPT’s priorities as decided by Voting Members, as well as volunteering time in support of CPT’s day-to-day activities.
CPT’s Coordinating Committee (2025-2026):
Member-at-large
Sumare Davis joined the Clevelanders for Public Transit Coordinating Committee because she is passionate about making transit more accessible, reliable, and centered on the people who use it every day. She is looking forward to learning, organizing, and helping our community move forward—together.
Chair
Chris Martin has mixed emotions about the car he recently purchased. He’s happy that he will now be able to get to estate sales, dates, and day-trips more conveniently. Yet, he’s sad that he felt it necessary to buy a climate change-contributing, pedestrian-endangering, multi-thousand dollar expense to his life for these conveniences. Having grown up in Shaker Heights, which was built on transit, having lived in the City of Cleveland for almost two decades without owning a car, and having travelled the world from Singapore to Spain seeing how good transit can be, Chris thought Cleveland would be doing better already. Now he knows it will take all of us to win a transit system that works for each of us.
Member-at-large
Raúl Montejo is community organizer passionate about promoting quality of life and access to resources for all of Greater Cleveland’s residents. Find them on the bus or train when they’re not cycling around Cleveland Heights or the greenways in the flats.
Secretary
Joe Schwarten is a car-free, city enthusiast residing downtown After living in the SF bay area, Joe moved back to Cleveland believing it has great potential but needs better, more equitable public transportation and joined CPT over 3 years ago to help Cleveland be all it can be.
Treasurer
Isaac Shimsky-Agosto has been living car free in Cleveland since 2016. He believes in the necessity of reliable transit for people to live comfortable and dignified lives.
Member-at-large
Sam Smucny grew up in the east side exurbs and has moved back to downtown Cleveland after years of living in east coast cities and visiting others around the world. He has gotten used to the freedom to travel via transit, bike, or his own two feet without the burden of owning a car, and he joined CPT to be a part of the effort to make sustainable transportation choices in Cleveland a viable option for all.
Co-Chair
Jenna Thomas lives in the Jefferson neighborhood of Cleveland and hates driving a car. During her day job, she’s the Policy & Advocacy Manager at Bike Cleveland and is passionate about bikes and buses alike. Jenna believes that transit and bicycle advocacy are stronger when they work together and loves building partnerships across organizations and campaigns.