Transportation

Crucial Decision Time for the SPC in Transportation

2010-12-09T11:27:00.003-05:00

Policy Brief

An electronic publication of

The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

December 9, 2010 Volume 10, Number 67

Crucial Decision Time for the SPC

On December 13^th the board of the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission (SPC)—which consists of elected and appointed officials responsible for steering planning and transportation priorities for the ten county region—must decide whether it will once again approve robbing Peter to pay Paul.

The SPC board went on record this past July in a resolution saying they would no longer take money for highways and bridges and shift or “flex” it to the Port Authority (PAT) to cover its recurring budget shortfalls. In two pieces earlier this summer (Policy Brief Volume 10, Numbers 39 and 41) we pointed out the SPC had taken previous flex actions from 2003 through 2007 amounting to a total of $150 million taken from roads to close budget gaps for Allegheny County’s mass transit agency.

In 2005 the SPC noted in a resolution that “in the future our limited highway dollars should first be used to repair our existing roads and bridges, not close holes in the transit budget”. Previous flex actions were taken under the belief that temporary fixes would give officials in Harrisburg time to come up with a fix for mass transit, likely including new fees or taxes. After the Governor raised the possibility of flexing money again this past summer, the SPC took strong and swift action to convey their opinion that enough was enough.

So when the Governor came to Pittsburgh last week announcing that he had found $45 million to close the current operating deficit for PAT and avert service cuts and layoffs and all that was needed was SPC approval, there must have been consternation and disbelief on the part of some board members. To confuse the issue, the Governor has said the money will not come from highway funds, but economic development funding tied to discontinued projects. “We're not asking for dollars to be taken from highways to be paid into mass transit” was what the Governor said, even though newspaper reports have identified the dollars as very closely linked to road projects.

Presumably the idea was that the SPC board could save face by not having to once again dip into the limited pool of money for highways and bridges that are in bad shape but could instead tap this new unencumbered pool of economic development dollars to help PAT. In the July meeting minutes there are quotes from two commissioners that note roads in the region are “…already rated poor by the American Society of Civil Engineers” and that further ignoring roads would entail “scary effects”.

What the SPC board should do is take the Governor up on his offer and accept the money but insist on transferring it to the backlog of road projects where deterioration has occurred because of the money already “flexed” to PAT in an effort to keep the agency from facing its day of reckoning. If there is money at the Governor’s disposal requiring approval of the SPC, the board should make its case for correcting the infrastructure deficiencies that may have been exacerbated by giving money to PAT. The SPC should resist pleas to approve money for PAT that could be directed to highway work.

Perhaps a new Governor will offer the same money for needed road work if it has not been shifted to the PAT money pit.

The SPC has acquiesced to requests for helping out mass transit while the state has done nothing to address PAT’s monopoly or the right of its employees to strike and extract generous wage and benefit packages. Nor has it actively discouraged the addiction to building new projects or its severely out of line operating costs. Note that while PAT was slipping into its financial hole, it worked diligently to acquire money to build the North Shore Connector, which also required the SPC to approve shifting many millions more from its own projects. If ever there was an organization with the right to say it will no longer be an enabler of irresponsible behavior it is the SPC.

Besides, denying this latest effort to find yet another temporary fix will put the issue of the Port Authority front and center of the incoming Governor and General Assembly where they can look for real solutions for mass transit in Allegheny County.

Eric Montarti, Senior Policy Analyst Jake Haulk, Ph.D., President

For updates and commentary on daily issues please visit our blog at alleghenyinstitute.org/blog.

If you have enjoyed reading this Policy Brief and would like to send it to a friend, please feel free to forward it to them.

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South Hills 'transit-oriented development' could be first of many - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2010-11-17T12:33:00.000-05:00

South Hills 'transit-oriented development' could be first of many - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

PAT Bus System Still Very Expensive

2010-11-16T13:27:00.002-05:00

Policy Brief

An electronic publication of

The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

November 16, 2010 Volume 10, Number 63

There is s lot of hand wringing over the Port Authority’s (PAT) plans to cut bus service dramatically to deal with the agency’s nearly $50 million budget shortfall. While civic leaders, businesses, and riders are very concerned and are imploring the state to come up with more money, they ought to be focused on PAT’s outrageous cost structure and the lack of any real effort to address those costs—leaving major service cuts and layoffs as the only way to lower expenditures.

In a 2008 Policy Brief (Volume 8, Number 35), we looked at a sample of twenty transit systems from around the country using cities of varying sizes, including PAT, and compared their bus operating expenses per passenger trip. 2006 data from the National Transit Database (NTD) showed PAT to have the highest expense per trip at $4.30 and well above the twenty city sample average of $3.22 and much higher than larger cities such as Los Angeles ($2.09) and Chicago ($2.77).

Using recently updated 2009 data from NTD, we look at how PAT has fared relative to other transit agencies three years later. The table below shows the results.

Transit Agency	2009 Operating Expense per Trip	Transit Agency	2009 Operating Expense per Trip	Transit Agency	2009 Operating Expense per Trip
Indianapolis	$5.55	Kansas City	$4.25	Philadelphia	$2.95
Dallas	5.45	Denver	4.10	Baltimore	2.92
Houston	4.60	Cincinnati	3.66	Milwaukee	2.91
Pittsburgh	4.44	Minneapolis	3.58	Atlanta	2.84
Miami	4.43	Charlotte	3.53	Chicago	2.47
Cleveland	4.36	Louisville	3.46	Los Angeles	2.41
Columbus	4.26	Nashville	2.99	20 City Average	$3.76

PAT’s expense per trip ranking fell from highest to fourth. Almost all bus systems in the sample had increases in expenses per trip. Nashville and Chicago were the only systems with declines. PAT’s rise in per trip expense was just over three percent while others including Cleveland, Dallas, Houston and Indianapolis reported sharp increases. Keep in mind that PAT’s cost of $4.44 per trip is still much higher than the sample average of $3.76.

Chicago was the only transit agency with a decrease in total operating expenses from 2006 to 2009 (nearly five percent). PAT’s total expenditure increase was less than one percent while Indianapolis jumped the most at 32 percent followed by Atlanta and Baltimore at 27 percent each. The twenty city sample average increase was 14 percent. By paring service on routes with low ridership PAT has made some progress in slowing the growth in per passenger costs.

There were nine transit systems with drops in passenger trips during the 2006-09 period. Cleveland had the biggest slide at 34 percent followed by Dallas at 25 percent. Houston and Indianapolis dropped 17 percent each. PAT experienced a smaller decline of 2.5 percent. Of the transit systems with ridership gains, Nashville led with a rise of 33 percent.

Large increases in total operating expenditures (Indianapolis) and/or large decreases in passengers (Dallas, Houston, and Indianapolis) have caused these cities’ per trip expenses to leap over Pittsburgh in the 2009 ranking.

Eliminating the systems with very large drops in passenger service (15 percent or more—Cleveland, Indianapolis, Houston, and Dallas), lowers the sample average cost per passenger trip from $3.76 to $3.45. It also pulls Pittsburgh back to the top of the remaining sixteen city list as shown in the table below.

City	Operating Expense/Trip	City	Operating Expense/Trip	City	Operating Expense/Trip
Pittsburgh	$4.44	Minneapolis	$3.58	Milwaukee	2.91
Miami	4.43	Charlotte	3.53	Atlanta	2.84
Columbus	4.26	Louisville	3.46	Chicago	2.47
Kansas City	4.25	Nashville	2.99	Los Angeles	2.41
Denver	4.10	Philadelphia	2.95	Average	$3.45
Cincinnati	3.66	Baltimore	2.92

In short, PAT continues to operate an expensive bus system with per trip costs well above the levels in comparably sized cities such as Cincinnati, Charlotte, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee. Even though PAT has reduced payroll by over 200 positions and cut service by some 15 percent since 2007, which helped hold down the expenditure increase over the last three years, the agency’s employee compensation costs are still up slightly as result of rapidly increasing benefit expenses. The ratio of benefits to wages and salaries in 2010 stands at 91 percent ($128 million for benefits to $141 million in wages and salaries) and will reach 100 percent very soon. PAT’s unfunded liability for health care tops $560 million.

As we have argued in the past, PAT needs to begin a program of outsourcing routes or allowing other carriers to offer service on routes that are being eliminated. Furthermore, the state needs to provide an incentive for management to get concessions from employees by offering to match permanent pay and benefit concessions. The legislature should eliminate PAT’s monopoly status in Allegheny County so other service providers can operate in areas underserved by PAT. Finally, Harrisburg must take away the transit workers’ right to strike. That power is a major cause of the financial mess and will continue to plague the system if not removed.

Frank Gamrat, Ph.D., Sr. Research Assoc. Jake Haulk, Ph.D., President

For updates and commentary on daily issues please visit our blog at alleghenyinstitute.org/blog.

If you have enjoyed reading this Policy Brief and would like to send it to a friend, please feel free to forward it to them.

For more information on this and other topics, please visit our web site: alleghenyinstitute.org

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Filling In A Few Blanks

2010-08-09T16:47:00.000-04:00

Filling In A Few Blanks

Port Authority in a jam with high-tech fareboxes

2010-08-09T05:59:00.000-04:00

Port Authority in a jam with high-tech fareboxes: "The authority contracted with Scheidt & Bachmann USA, based in Burlington, Mass., for the farebox project. The new boxes are part of the authority's adoption of a smart card fare system in which many riders will use plastic cards with an embedded computer chip."

Gateway Center subway station to be demolished

2010-07-21T23:35:00.000-04:00

Gateway Center subway station to be demolished: "Gateway Center subway station to be demolished"

Latest bus route changes start Sunday

2010-06-11T09:11:00.000-04:00

Latest bus route changes start Sunday

Port Authority to adjust more bus routes in June, 2010

2010-04-27T07:55:00.000-04:00

Charges on longer rides are possibleTuesday, April 27, 2010 By Jon Schmitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

As it prepares to change 26 more bus routes in June, Port Authority also is considering charging a premium for service on longer commuter trips.

Authority CEO Steve Bland mentioned the possibility of premium pricing in an interview Monday in which he discussed the financial uncertainty facing the authority and other public transit agencies. He also pronounced the first round of route changes "a rousing success."

"Those longer commuter routes are very expensive," even if the buses are full, he said. "We're looking at it. This budget with the Act 44 stuff is so up in the air that everything's on the table."

He was referring to a $472 million hole in the state's transportation budget that followed the federal government's decision not to allow tolling of Interstate 80, a key component of Act 44, the funding measure approved by the Legislature in 2007.

Without remedial action, all of the state's 36 transit agencies will have their funding slashed July 1.

Mr. Bland did not specify how a premium for commuter buses might be structured or when it would take effect. The most likely time for any fare changes would be in January.

A recent consultant's study placed the cost of express bus service to the suburbs at $5.07 per passenger, compared with $2.81 per passenger on conventional radial routes.

Service on the AVN Allegheny Valley North Flyer, which was discontinued as part of a merger of five routes last month, cost $7.32 per passenger, according to the study. Service on the 28K Moon Express, one of the routes being revised in June, costs $6.39 per rider.

In contrast, service on the heavily traveled 86A East Hills urban route costs $2.16 per passenger.

The current cash fare for outlying areas is $2.75; riders closer to town pay $2.

Mr. Bland was scheduled to be in Harrisburg today to meet with lawmakers about the looming financial crisis, which could leave a $50 million shortfall in the authority's 2010-11 budget and force big fare increases and service cuts.

Gov. Ed Rendell has called a special session of the Legislature starting next Tuesday to tackle the transportation crisis.

"All of the stars are misaligned" for a solution, Mr. Bland said, noting that time is running short and it's an election year for the Legislature.

"I think it's going to be a real challenge. They understand the gravity of the problem, that people will genuinely be hurt if it's not addressed at the state level," he said.

The 26 routes to be changed on June 13 are 6B Spring Hill, 11E Fineview, 13G Thompson Run Express, 13U North Hills-Oakland Express, 16F City View, 28K Moon Express, 41B Bower Hill, 44U Mt. Lebanon-Oakland, 46F Baldwin Highlands, 46G Elizabeth, 51A Arlington Heights and 51C Carrick.

Also 53F Homestead-Lincoln Place, 55M Century III Mall, 56B Hazelwood, 56C McKeesport-Lincoln Place, 67A Monroeville, 67F Trafford, 67H Squirrel Hill, 68D Braddock Hills Express, 79D Mount Carmel, 86A East Hills, 86B Frankstown, E Elizabeth Flyer, HP Holiday Park Flyer and LP Lincoln Park Flyer.

The routes will be renamed, timetables will change and in some cases routes will be shortened or trimmed of their multiple variations.

The 46G, for example, is being renamed Y46 Elizabeth Flyer and all but two of its 36 route variations are being eliminated.

Brief summaries of the June changes will be posted on the authority's website, www.portauthority.org, starting today.

New schedules and route maps will be posted on the site May 5, and paper schedules will be out in mid-May, authority spokesman Jim Ritchie said.

Mr. Bland said the first round of changes, on nearly 60 routes with 79,000 riders, went "remarkably smoothly," with complaints coming from only 10 routes that serve 4,800 riders.

"Obviously there's a few routes that we need to work on," he said, mentioning the West Busway and Allegheny Valley routes that have generated the most complaints.

Among the noteworthy improvements, he said, were the addition of direct service from Downtown to Pittsburgh International Airport on the 28X Airport Flyer (which no longer stops at Robinson Town Centre) and new routes 64 Lawrenceville Waterfront and 75 Ellsworth.

He said about three-quarters of riders will see improvements during the two-year service overhaul. For the rest "it'll either be about the same or not quite as good."

The purpose of the revisions, he said, is to focus the agency's limited resources on places where ridership is highest.

"We never said from the beginning that everyone's going to love it."

Jon Schmitz: jschmitz@post-gazette.com. Visit "The Roundabout," the Post-Gazette's transportation blog, at post-gazette.com.

Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/10117/1053583-147.stm#ixzz0mIi9PZBV

The Bell Tolls for PAT: Do They Hear It?

2010-04-21T10:44:00.003-04:00

Policy Brief
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

April 21, 2010

Volume 10, Number 21

Without tolls on Interstate 80 (I-80) to generate funds for roads, bridges, and mass transit, the CEO of Port Authority (PAT) says that what was a $25 million deficit for the coming fiscal year will grow to $50 million.

This is obviously not what was envisioned three years ago when PAT wasted no time in increasing its budget after Act 44—the transportation funding law that contained the I-80 provision, as well as permission for Allegheny County to levy two new taxes on liquor and car rentals for transit funding—was signed into law. That initial increase has been compounded to the point where the operating budget is now 12 percent higher than it was intended to be for 2008. Recall that, as we pointed out in Briefs and Reports, PAT was already far out of line with peer operators on costs and performance indicators.

In June 2007, PAT instituted a 15 percent service reduction and laid off 203 employees. The PAT board passed an FY08 budget of $325.1 million that same month that contained an additional 10 percent service reduction and an additional 174 layoffs that was to go into effect in September of 2007.

The following month Act 44 was passed. The CEO heralded the fact that the law provided PAT with $55 million in new operating funds and $12 million in capital funds for FY08. The following week the Board rescinded the planned 10 percent service reduction, avoided the planned layoffs, and adopted a revised operating budget of $336 million for FY08. On the day the revised budget was passed the CEO stated “…we can begin the process of designing a system that allows us to realize every possible service efficiency and do the most with all available resources”.

Too bad that did not happen. For FY09, the Board passed an operating budget of $350.2 million (up 4% over FY08) that assumed the collective bargaining process with the Amalgamated Transit Union would produce “a minimum of $10 million in cost reductions”. Without that minimum threshold PAT’s CEO noted that “[PAT] will be forced to significantly cut service, raise fares, and layoff employees in 2009 and every year thereafter until transit service eventually becomes insufficient to adequately serve the region’s mobility needs”. Soon after, in July of 2008, the Federal Highway Administration wrote to the PA Turnpike Commission that the I-80 application was rejected. The contract settlement that followed contained virtually no immediate savings.

Last June the Board passed a $362.9 million operating budget, a 3.6 percent boost over FY09 and 12 percent higher than what was originally intended for FY08. The budget had a fare increase and no service cuts, but the CEO felt that the agency was “…taking money from crucial maintenance projects to plug gaps in our operating budget”. By this time the handwriting was on the wall that the I-80 plan was in deep trouble with the Federal government.

When the new presidential administration gave Pennsylvania the same answer on I-80 as the previous administration, here’s how the CEO reacted: “the failure to meet funding commitments under Act 44 would force Port Authority to consider sharp service cuts that could isolate neighborhoods and severely compromise regional mobility in the Pittsburgh region”.

So why is it that with the overhaul of transportation funding, two new locally-generated revenues, and a new collective bargaining agreement that the Authority still finds itself with a budget gap that is made worse by the I-80 rejection? Simply put, there was no real effort to move to smaller buses as a way to improve efficiency, no effort to commit to outsourcing as employees retired or resigned, and the cost savings from the union contract were not immediate enough to make a difference.

As we pointed out in a previous Policy Brief (Volume 7, Number 8) contract language spells out that small buses are limited to 3 percent of the total number of large buses in service and that they be limited to low density areas. There is some service to and from the trolley stops but the union’s preference for operating and maintaining large buses is quite clear. According to the FY10 budget there are 876 buses and 48 small transit vehicles in the fleet, the latter representing 5 percent of all vehicles.

In a subsequent Brief (Volume 8, Number 74) that summarized the 2008 ATU contract settlement, we noted that the language on small buses stayed the same, and the PAT board’s desire for 20 percent of operations to be outsourced was eliminated from the contract. Headcount has remained virtually unchanged since FY08 at approximately 2,750 employees. The agency did not outsource service based on the layoffs in June 2007. The savings that were squeezed out of the contract for post-retirement health care were minimal and long-term: not much was done for the immediate term. Employee benefits as a percentage of salaries and wages have grown to 90 percent, up from 81 percent in FY08. As we just noted earlier this year (Volume 10, Number 12) failure to achieve any meaningful cost reductions “is coming back to haunt [PAT]”.

There will never be enough money for the Port Authority, especially with the trajectory of pensions and health care benefits, the hammerlock the agency has on mass transit service in Allegheny County and the union’s right to strike. It is a combination destined to cripple PAT.

Eric Montarti, Senior Policy Analyst

For updates and commentary on daily issues please visit our blog at alleghenyinstitute.org/blog.
If you have enjoyed reading this Policy Brief and would like to send it to a friend, please feel free to forward it to them.

For more information on this and other topics, please visit our web site: alleghenyinstitute.org

If you wish to support our efforts please consider becoming a donor to the Allegheny Institute. The Allegheny Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible. Please mail your contribution to:

The Allegheny Institute
305 Mt. Lebanon Boulevard
Suite 208
Pittsburgh, PA 15234

North Shore April Fool's Day Field Trip

2010-04-16T06:43:00.002-04:00

I had a LTE in my local weekly (Plum) today (4/15/2010) about Pittsburgh's North Shore Connector. We've discussed this disaster in Libertarian Pittsburgh posts long ago, but a local field trip article encouraged me to write. I'm glad they printed it, but I didn't like their editing. Here's the LTE as-submitted with the omitted parts in [bold].

Mark

Plum Advance Leader
Connector a symbol for poor government spending
April 15, 2010

Dear Editor:

While there's merit exposing students to engineering projects ("Plum High School students go underground for a look at Connector", Karen Zapf, 4/1/2010), there's a cruel irony in that [April 1st] piece.

The Connector, an admirable engineering accomplishment, is a classic example of a misguided, wasteful use of public money.

Politicians from Tom Murphy to Rick Santorum to Ed Rendell promoted it. Costs increased from $363 million in 2003 to $552 million today. It consumed limited resources, denying better uses. ["Even Governor Rendell eventually admitted, "I guess you've got to finish it, but it's a tragic mistake."]

Other tragic mistakes -- insane wars, punishing success with taxes, rewarding failure with bailouts, and buying votes with walking-around money, federal earmarks and entitlements -- have far costlier consequences.

State and local governments are $3 trillion in debt. The national debt tops $12 trillion. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans' benefits and federal pension obligations exceed $100 trillion. The dollar's value fell 10% in the past 12 months and is going down.

The cruel irony is that when those students stood in that hole beneath the Allegheny River, it was an inescapable metaphor for the hole in which their generation was placed.

Mark Crowley, Plum

Federal officials again reject tolling I-80

2010-04-06T19:14:00.000-04:00

Federal officials again reject tolling I-80: "The federal government has once again rejected Pennsylvania's effort to place first-time tolls on Interstate 80.
As a result, Gov. Ed Rendell this afternoon called for a special sessions of the state Legislature to find a way to replace about $472 million in funds expected to be generated from charging tolls on the highway."

Federal transportation funding pipeline turned off

2010-02-26T20:57:00.000-05:00

Federal transportation funding pipeline turned off: "A stalemate in Congress will choke off the flow of federal transportation funding to states starting Monday and cause the furlough of thousands of employees on Tuesday, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee said this afternoon."

Panel on Pittsburgh's Transport Future [Bus-O-Matic]

2010-01-26T10:06:00.000-05:00

Panel on Pittsburgh's Transport Future [Bus-O-Matic]

Bike Bus

2009-12-13T10:28:00.002-05:00

High School Bike Bus from Keri Caffrey on Vimeo.

Ravenstahl removes head of Stadium Authority

2009-06-22T20:53:00.000-04:00

Lockstep boosterism looks like this.

Ravenstahl removes head of Stadium Authority A city Stadium Authority board member who criticized two North Shore land deals and an entertainment complex proposed by the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Columbus developer has been removed by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.
Board Chairwoman Debbie Lestitian said this morning in a brief phone interview that she had been told by the mayor's office that she was being replaced.
'I serve at the pleasure of the mayor and he has the right to replace me,' she said.
Joanna Doven, Mr. Ravenstahl's spokesperson, said she could not immediately confirm whether Ms. Lestitian would be replaced.
Ms. Lestitian tied her removal to her opposition to the sale of parcels of land to Continental Real Estate Cos., which is developing the land between Heinz Field and PNC Park, and the Steelers. They plan to build a riverfront entertainment complex next to Heinz Field.

Altmire suggests Pittsburgh-to-Cleveland rail line

2009-06-22T20:51:00.000-04:00

Altmire suggests Pittsburgh-to-Cleveland rail line: "Altmire suggests Pittsburgh-to-Cleveland rail line
Monday, June 22, 2009
By Jon Schmitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire said today that he will push to have a Pittsburgh-to-Cleveland line added to a national list of high-speed rail corridors.
The list of 10 corridors announced by President Barack Obama this year as part of his push to develop a network of intercity passenger rail lines included a Chicago-to-Cleveland line and one from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia.

This makes more sense, to go from Pittsburgh to Cleveland and then to Chicago and NOT to go to Philly.

Riders weigh in on bus changes

2009-06-04T11:11:00.000-04:00

Riders weigh in on bus changes: "Riders weigh in on bus changes"

If only it was so easy.

2009-05-31T00:24:00.000-04:00

Just push this button, and we'll get transit.

PAAC Transit Development Plan: Getting Involved

2009-05-04T13:33:00.000-04:00

PAAC Transit Development Plan: Getting Involved: "Getting Involved"

TV tour of tunnel

2009-05-01T19:24:00.000-04:00

A tour of the under-construction North Shore Connector tunnels, which will extend the Pittsburgh Downtown subway to the North Side in 2011, will be shown on the weekly television program, "Dave and Dave's Excellent Adventures" on Pittsburgh's WQED-TV 13.1.

The program will be shown this weekend on digital channel 13.1 at the following times:

* Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 10:30 p.m. EDST
* Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. EDST

More program info: http://www.wqed.org/tv/daves/

Also, for a sneak preview of some of the things you may see in the television program, go to the following link to review photographs from the Allegheny County Transit Council's North Shore Tunnel Tour on 2008 August 7:

http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit/actc/pics/nstunnel/

President supports Pittsburgh-Harrisburg-Philly rail line

2009-04-16T23:02:00.001-04:00

President supports Pittsburgh-Harrisburg-Philly rail line: "President supports Pittsburgh-Harrisburg-Philly rail line"

It seems to me that it would be better to have a high speed line that went from Johnstown, Somerset, Hidden Valley, Monroeville, Pittsburgh, Robinson spur, Beaver, Youngstown, Canton, Cleveland, with stops in and around as fitting.

Furthermore, we need plain old rail, not light rail, to move around the city. How about the past when one could go from McKeesport to Sewickly with a stop at Station Square. The New Ken and Oakmont to Highland Park and L-ville and Downtown line is there. One goes to Butler too.

This region is rich in rail lines.

Going to Philly, --- not so much of a demand.

GM and Segway unveil new two-wheeled urban vehicle | 6abc.com - 4/07/09 - Philadelphia News - 6abc.com

2009-04-07T10:10:00.000-04:00

GM and Segway unveil new two-wheeled urban vehicle | 6abc.com - 4/07/09 - Philadelphia News - 6abc.com: "The companies announced Tuesday that they are working together to develop a two-wheeled, two-seat electric vehicle designed to be a fast, safe, inexpensive and clean alternative to traditional cars and trucks for cities across the world.

The Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility, or PUMA, project also would involve a vast communications network that would allow vehicles to interact with each other, regulate the flow of traffic and prevent crashes from happening."

Feel better about the underground tunnel to the North Side? or Not?

2009-03-20T09:44:00.001-04:00

Link:

Letters to the editor

2009-03-08T21:21:00.000-04:00

Letters to the editorLet the fungi have it

Let the fungi have it

Gov. Ed Rendell's recent announcement that the North Shore Connector was "a tragic mistake" was right on target. The project should have never been started by a number of politicians. The majority of the general public saw this project as not necessary and as a future debacle.

I recall a big push by Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato to take the government funding or lose it -- without regard to its future failure. Mr. Onorato's response to the tragic mistake was basically "we have gone this far -- let's finish it."

After thinking of a positive outcome for the North Shore Connector, the only one that makes sense is a mushroom farm. This unique place has all the qualities for a successful mushroom farm. It would be used 365 days a year, which is a lot more than eight Steelers home games. The employees could enter through the North Shore entrance to cultivate and the end product (mushrooms) could exit through the south entrance and onto the Strip District for worldwide distribution.

Mr. Onorato can promote this to his fungi (politician) friends. Pittsburgh has the potential to be the mushroom capital of Pennsylvania. Mr. Onorato should "we" do this?

Bob Mullen, Harmar

Work starts on Mon Wharf bike, hike trail

2009-02-25T11:00:00.001-05:00

Work starts on Mon Wharf bike, hike trail: "One of the more conspicuous missing links in the nearly completed Pittsburgh-to-Washington, D.C., bike trail will start to materialize on Monday.

Construction will begin on a 2,017-foot bike and pedestrian promenade at the Monongahela Wharf, Downtown. It is the first of three phases that ultimately will connect Point State Park with trails to Oakland, the South Side and points far beyond.

Work starts on Mon Wharf bike, hike trail

2009-02-25T11:00:00.000-05:00

Work starts on Mon Wharf bike, hike trail: "One of the more conspicuous missing links in the nearly completed Pittsburgh-to-Washington, D.C., bike trail will start to materialize on Monday.

Construction will begin on a 2,017-foot bike and pedestrian promenade at the Monongahela Wharf, Downtown. It is the first of three phases that ultimately will connect Point State Park with trails to Oakland, the South Side and points far beyond.

CTA pulling 200 articulated buses as safety precaution - Chicago Breaking News

2009-02-20T13:51:00.000-05:00

CTA pulling 200 articulated buses as safety precaution - Chicago Breaking News: "CTA pulling 200 articulated buses as safety precaution"

PolicyBlog: Is tolling I-80 dead?

2009-02-20T12:24:00.000-05:00

PolicyBlog: Is tolling I-80 dead?: "Is tolling I-80 dead?"

Agreeing With Rendell on Government Waste! | PAWaterCooler.com

2009-02-20T12:23:00.000-05:00

Agreeing With Rendell on Government Waste! | PAWaterCooler.com: "Agreeing With Rendell on Government Waste! February 20 2009

Filed under Cities - Pittsburgh, Issues - Fiscal by John Lewandowski

Even a broken clock is right twice a day:

The Port Authority’s North Shore Connector is a “tragic mistake,” Gov. Ed Rendell said Wednesday."

Based on stimulus, Port Authority moves ahead on connector

2009-02-18T11:21:00.000-05:00

Based on stimulus, Port Authority moves ahead on connector: "Based on stimulus, Port Authority moves ahead on connector"

City councilman proposes bike racks with advertisements

2009-01-28T10:15:00.000-05:00

City councilman proposes bike racks with advertisements: "City councilman proposes bike racks with advertisements"

I'd love to have one or four of these.

2009-01-27T08:15:00.003-05:00

These would work and sell well in Pittsburgh.

Efficient transit: PennDOT can raise the bar for all systems

2009-01-03T17:57:00.000-05:00

Efficient transit: PennDOT can raise the bar for all systems: "It's one thing to claim having an effective transit system -- one that relies on state and local funds, plus passenger fares. But when the veil is lifted, the reality around Pennsylvania could be very different. We're glad Act 44 will bring scrutiny to this essential service and that PennDOT is on the case."

A Plug-In Hybrid Goes on Sale, in China - Wheels Blog - NYTimes.com

2008-12-18T22:48:00.000-05:00

A Plug-In Hybrid Goes on Sale, in China - Wheels Blog - NYTimes.com: "BYD Auto began selling the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid car in the world.

Unlike conventional gas-electric hybrids, the F3DM can be charged from a wall outlet. It has a range of about 60 miles on a full battery charge. Its lithium-ion batteries can be fully recharged in as little as seven hours, said BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams. And the batteries can be 50 percent recharged at a special station in 10 minutes.

The car also has a 1-liter gas engine, which, according to media reports (Treehugger and Autoblog Green), recharges the batteries to extend the range.
BYD AutoBYD Auto only began building cars in 2003. (Ryan Pyle for The New York Times)

For those of you keeping score, BYD Auto has beaten General Motors and Toyota in bringing a plug-in hybrid to market. The Chevrolet Volt goes on sale at the end of 2010. Toyota is planning a plug-in hybrid, also for 2010."

Pune Car Free Day 2008 - Government Wiki - a Wikia wiki

2008-12-16T11:31:00.000-05:00

Pune Car Free Day 2008 - Government Wiki - a Wikia wiki: "September 22nd, the world car free day, was celebrated in Pune with a bicycle rally."

Signed, sealed, delivered, -- and much richer too

2008-12-15T11:34:00.002-05:00

This morning, the Port Authority of Allegheny County Board of Directors officially and unanimously approved the 4-year labor contract, which was
earlier overwhelmingly approved by the rank-and-flle of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85. Again, this link provides the details of this labor agreement:

http://www.post-gazette.com/downloads/20081202atu_doc.pdf

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato has indicated that, following approval of the labor contract by both the Union and the Authority, the $27 million annual county transit subsidy would be forwarded to PAT by the end of the year.

In comments at the meeting, PAT CEO Steve Bland also indicated that there would probably be a transit system fare increase by next Summer, to keep pace with inflation. Flat revenue from state and county sources, due to the ongoing recession, were also cited as reasons for the need to bring-in more revenue from the fare-box.

Here is a short article, from the on-line version of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, regarding this morning's PAT Board meeting:

http://post-gazette.com/pg/08350/935314-100.stm

Expressway to a battleground - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2008-12-08T09:59:00.000-05:00

Expressway to a battleground - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: ".

'You don't see traffic. Nobody uses it. It's basically a road to nowhere now,' said Chasko, 51 of Clairton, as she pumped gas into her car near the Jefferson Hills entrance to Route 43. 'It's hardly ever traveled on because it does have missing links.'"

Union: A firm 'yes'

2008-12-08T09:12:00.000-05:00

Union: A firm 'yes': "Union: A firm 'yes'
4-year contract hikes pay, trims benefits"

Time to hold on -- we're going to have a ruff ride

2008-11-24T13:16:00.000-05:00

The Transit Strike in Pittsburgh looms large. Time to hold on. Notice how Erik holds onto the handle in the subway train. Here he is in Hong Kong. The handle is with a Mickey Ears design.

Police say school bus driver braked to topple student

2008-11-21T11:13:00.001-05:00

Police say school bus driver braked to topple student: "Police said they plan to charge an Ambrige Area school bus driver with endangering a 10-year-old by braking suddenly so the boy would fall down.
Police in Harmony, Beaver County, aren't identifying the driver who was upset because the boy would not remain in his seat. Police said the bus driver told the boy 'If you do it again, I'll knock you down.'
When the boy moved around again, police said, the bus driver hit the brakes and knocked the boy down. A surveillance video shows the boy was knocked to the floor out of camera view and another student was seen flipping over a seat.

Police say school bus driver braked to topple student

2008-11-21T11:13:00.000-05:00

Bike Pittsburgh � Bike the Strike!

2008-11-21T09:23:00.000-05:00

Bike

Pittsburgh - Bike the Strike!: "There’s a very real possibility that bus and T service will come to a screeching halt in the next month or two if the Local 85 transit union decides to strike. This will be very difficult for the thousands of folks who rely on transit everyday to get to work, run errands, visit friends and family, or just to go out for a night on the town. Bike Pittsburgh is not taking sides in these negotiations between the transit operators and Port Authority management. We’re just here to help you get to all the places you did with transit, but under the power of your own two feet."

Port Authority service adjustments start Sunday

2008-11-20T19:41:00.000-05:00

Port Authority service adjustments start Sunday: "The Port Authority has announced quarterly bus-trolley service adjustments to take effect on Sunday, but it's the smallest number of changes in many years.
Only seven bus routes are affected, most of them reducing service to Century III Mall in West Mifflin. For example, 59A West Mifflin-North Versailles weekday trips will now terminate at Wal-Mart but won't continue onto the mall while 51C Carrick service to the mall bus shelter will be reduced to 24 trips.

McDonalds delivers in Beijing

2008-11-05T14:22:00.001-05:00

This is a work bike. McDonalds' does 24 hour delivery in Beijing, China.

Time for a bus

2008-10-27T19:41:00.000-04:00

Fix It

2008-10-10T11:05:00.001-04:00

Watch to the end!

McCain: ‘It’s a Google.’

2008-09-16T21:58:00.000-04:00

Think Progress - McCain: ‘It’s a Google.’ Today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was fundraising in Richmond, VA, and joked about how he vets prospective VP candidates:

“We’re going through a process where you get a whole bunch of names, and ya … Well, basically, it’s a Google. You just, you know, what you can find out now on the Internet. It’s remarkable, you know.”

Onorato: Let union members vote � Latest Transit News

2008-09-16T17:36:00.000-04:00

Onorato: Let union members vote Latest Transit News: "Onorato: Let union members vote"

Free travel on Beijing's Subway with tickets to an event that day

2008-08-10T13:02:00.001-04:00

Pittsburgh planners eye areas for transit investment - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2008-08-08T02:32:00.000-04:00

Do transit -- not parking.

That sounds like going on a diet and eating pounds of ice cream at the end of the day when the food choices were healthy.

Pittsburgh planners eye areas for transit investment - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Transit Revitalization Investment Districts -- could begin thriving from expanded mass transit, parking and curbside amenities such as street lights, benches and sidewalks."

Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times Online - News

2008-08-03T15:09:00.000-04:00

Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times Online - News: How to save on transportation

By Tom Fontaine, Times Staff
Published: Friday, August 1, 2008 9:36 PM EDT
Port Authority of Allegheny County riders can save $7,569 a year by taking the bus or using the “T” subway system instead of relying on driving, according to a study by the American Public Transportation Association.

Onorato's Port Authority plan backfires - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2008-04-20T22:12:00.000-04:00

Onorato's Port Authority plan backfires - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Onorato's Port Authority plan backfires
By Jim Ritchie
TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato's attempt to force cost cuts at Port Authority by withholding the transit agency's annual subsidy is having the opposite effect.

More Unsettling Confusion Emanates From the Port Authority

2008-04-15T10:11:00.000-04:00

Policy Brief

An electronic publication of

The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

April 15, 2008 Volume 8, Number 25

More Unsettling Confusion Emanates From the Port Authority

With all the talk about the need for a City-County merger so the region can speak with one voice, it seems the County government might be hearing multiple ones inside its own head. That’s the only explanation making any sense when the County Executive said in Executive Order 2007-1 that Allegheny County is legally required to provide the Port Authority (PAT) with annual funding while at the same time vowing to withhold state required local match funds until PAT’s unions make substantial concessions. Now, to further complicate the picture, the County has, as of this writing, voiced no opposition to the revelation that PAT is making plans to borrow the money necessary to receive state funds and keep the transit system unions on the job.

The issue was brought to light over the weekend by way of a brief mention in a newspaper article discussing labor negotiations. PAT’s Executive Director indicated “the Authority plans to borrow $27 million to trigger about $183 million in state subsidies”. If that happens with no opposition from the Chief Executive, all the talk about making PAT a leaner organization is exposed as rhetoric.

Recall that the County had been sending PAT $20 to $25 million annually to support its mass transit operations with money that came from real estate taxes. The Executive, going to great lengths to show that other regions around the country did not use real estate taxes to fund transit, worked to convince County Council to authorize new levies on alcohol drinks and car rentals under authority granted by the state under Act 44 of 2007.

At the same time, in an effort to show he wanted to get tough with PAT while creating new taxes, the Chief Executive issued the Executive Order concerning the “Distribution of Revenue Derived from Act 44 of 2007…” The Order stated that the County wanted to move its distribution to PAT from real estate taxes to the Act 44 taxes but that these funds “must be withheld until and unless certain additional fiscal reforms are implemented by the Port Authority…” Specifically, the Executive Order wanted to see two things happen: first, the restructuring of costs for union employees similar to non-union employees who have taken cuts and restructured their benefits, and second, a reduction in legacy costs, especially pensions and health care costs for retirees.

That restructuring has not yet been agreed to during the negotiations for a new contract to follow the one expiring on June 30. Predictably, the transit union will resist strenuously any effort to reduce benefits acquired in previous negotiations. Bringing PAT’s union benefits more in line with non-union benefits or even like those of its sister agency in Philadelphia will entail dramatic changes in how much employees pay for health care, how long they get health benefits after they retire, and even the age at which they can retire.

The biggest bargaining chip the Executive and the PAT Board had in this scenario was the revenue from the new taxes. “Change, or forget about the money” was the argument. But now PAT’s plan to borrow matching funds seriously alters the dynamics of this game.

Where does the Executive stand on this? He obviously feels that the Authority needs to change and has made the point that no change means that none of the new tax money will be forthcoming. Did he also mean that the Authority can’t seek its own alternative way around the withheld money? If he is opposed to the borrowing, is he ready to ask for the resignation of any board member who votes to authorize issuing debt to keep the agency going? And how will he explain to an angry public and business community that the drink tax was absolutely essential to keep mass transit operating if PAT is able to get around his plan to withhold the matching funds?

And what about PAT’s borrowing plan? In the first place, will the Commonwealth permit the agency to borrow matching funds? How can funds borrowed by the Authority be deemed a local match? Then too, for an agency teetering on the brink of financial ruin without the state’s increased funding, what revenue stream can it pledge as repayment of the debt? It certainly can’t be the drink and car rental tax revenues inasmuch as the Chief Executive has stated that not a penny of those funds will be remitted to PAT until dramatic concessions are in place.

These questions notwithstanding, if PAT is allowed to and is able to borrow the $27 million, and the state money continues to flow, the unions will be freed from any pressure to make concessions and can offer to work under the terms of the old contract for as long as necessary. Any new contract will almost certainly contain concessions they do not want to make.

And lastly, what message does all this send to the unions? It will prove once again that when it comes time to blink in labor negotiations, the Authority management or powerful elected officials will do the blinking.

Jake Haulk, Ph.D., President Eric Montarti, Policy Analyst

Please visit our blog at alleghenyinstitute.org/blog.

If you have enjoyed reading this Policy Brief and would like to send it to a friend, please feel free to forward it to them.

For more information on this and other topics, please visit our website: alleghenyinstitute.org

NYC lesson and actions

2008-04-01T21:02:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, New York City Council approved a plan to charge most motorists $8 to drive south of 60th Street in Manhatten. The money from this plan would go toward improving public transit, particularly in underserved areas.

This "congestion pricing" plan cannot go into effect without approval of the New York State Legislature. It is unclear when the State Legislature will take up the
issue, although New York City officials are hopeful of eventual passage. However, city officials would like State passage of the plan by April 7, otherwise they may lose $350 million of Federal money slated for start-up costs.

Click the following link to read more about this plan, from news articles in New York City's four daily newspapers:

http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit/#transitnews

Onorato touts coalitions - PittsburghLIVE.com

2008-03-28T13:15:00.000-04:00

Onorato touts coalitions - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Building coalitions in southwestern Pennsylvania has, and will continue to be, the key to advancing transportation and economic development.

That was the message delivered by Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato during the keynote address at during the Mon Valley Progress Council's 43rd annual dinner Thursday at the Willow Room in Rostraver Township.

The Greater Pittsburgh Airport corridor is the best example of such cooperation, Onorato said. He said the corridor cuts through Allegheny, Beaver and Washington counties. Commissioners from the tri-county partnership work to brining development to the region.

'Any development in that circle is airport development regardless of the county,' Onorato said."

The Daily News - Onorato touts regional bus system to MVPC

2008-03-28T13:14:00.000-04:00

The Daily News - Onorato touts regional bus system to MVPC: "Onorato touts regional bus system to MVPC
By ERIC SLAGLE, Daily News Staff Writer
03/28/2008
email this storyEmail to a friendpost a commentPost a Commentprinter friendlyPrinter-friendly
When Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato spoke at the Mon Valley Providers Council's 43rd Annual Dinner about the importance of finishing the Mon/Fayette Expressway to Pittsburgh, one could say he was preaching to the choir."

Letter to editor in Trib - Tunnel of taxes

2008-02-27T09:39:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, February 26, 2008
I read with interest your story on the North Shore Connector and how the price -- $435 million -- is already $70 million higher than first planned ("Rising costs for light-rail tunnel spark concern," Feb. 24 and PghTrib.com).

My own projection is that this is a gross underestimate of the final total underbudgeted for this taxpayer-funded travesty.

I find it ironic that the bridges go unmaintained to the point of almost collapsing, but money seems to exist for this white elephant. But the people of Allegheny County have no reason to worry. The Port Authority of Allegheny County will have its tunnel, and its way, even if it means County Executive Dan Onorato's pouring tax on liquor needs to be increased to 20-plus percent.
Pardon my cynicism, but I have seen too much waste of the taxpayers' money -- and there does not seem to be an end in sight.

Wake up, people! Vote with your wallets!

George Silowash, Irwin

Gateway Center T-Station to close for 2 years to save money

2008-02-22T11:50:00.000-05:00

The PAT Board Meeting revealed that the Gateway Center T stop will close for two years to save money.

kdka.com - Port Authority Officials Say They Are Doing Well Despite A Recent Fare Hike And Service Cuts

2008-01-25T21:18:00.000-05:00

kdka.com - Port Authority Officials Say They Are Doing Well Despite A Recent Fare Hike And Service Cuts Port Authority Doing OK Since Fare Increase

Wilkes-Barre and Northeastern PA News from the Associated Press | timesleader.com - The Times Leader

2008-01-19T19:41:00.000-05:00

Wilkes-Barre and Northeastern PA News from the Associated Press | timesleader.com - The Times Leader: "Pittsburgh's Port Authority braces for $23 million budget deficit

(AP)

Pittsburgh's Port Authority says it will have a $23 million budget deficit for the fiscal year ending in June.

Port Authority officials say the deficit results from the county's intention to withhold $3 million of a $27.5 million annual subsidy. Withholding the money means the authority will also not receive a matching $20 million state subsidy.

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato has repeatedly vowed to withhold tax revenues generated for transit if the Port Authority and its union fail to agree to cut labor costs.

A contract for 2,200 drivers and mechanics expires on June 30. Officials say contract negotiations have not been productive so far."

Mass Transit Funding -- windy burgh

2008-01-17T20:26:00.000-05:00

Chicago mass transit funding has been in peril. Just like funding in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Illinois legislators just passed legislation to provide more transit funding for Chicago AND provide free rides to senior citizens! See the following forward:

Subject: Mass-transit bill approved

State lawmakers have approved Gov. Blagojevich's plan to give free rides to seniors as part of a package to prevent major service cuts and some fare increases for Chicago-area public transit riders.

Full coverage:

http://link.chicagotribune.com/r/TWOAU6/92NG/42KXQP/ZBTQ/CDBDO/N9/t

$1.2M will widen East Carson, making it safer and ease congestion - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2008-01-14T12:56:00.000-05:00

$1.2M will widen East Carson, making it safer and ease congestion - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter and Bob Casey this morning announced a $1.2 million federal grant to widen the two-lane stretch from 25th Street -- just a block down from the South Side's Double Wide Grill -- to 33rd street, about a mile down the road.

This was promised a long time ago.

The road is going to be wider by the shops -- but -- it will narrow again. There will still be a bottleneck.

Dan Onorato says that roads has limited the growth of the South Side Works. Wrong. How about population loss? How about high taxes?

County officials drop bid to use Clean Air Fund for road project

2008-01-10T08:52:00.000-05:00

Thank goodness.

County officials drop bid to use Clean Air Fund for road project County officials drop bid to use Clean Air Fund for road project

Onorato: Port Authority Transit subsidy on hold - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2008-01-08T12:23:00.000-05:00

Onorato: Port Authority Transit subsidy on hold - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato on Monday put in writing a pledge he made in July to cut mass transit costs."

So, let's get this straight.

New taxes. New taxes to raise millions. New tax is to fix transit. But, new taxes won't go to transit problems. So, the new taxes just take money out of the economy and sit in the government's treasury.

Some smells very bad.

Transfer: Off the one bus and onto another. Philly's struggle on fair fares

2007-12-15T20:45:00.000-05:00

Glenn reports with a recap of transfers in Philly.

On Friday, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, by a 6-1 decision, dimissed the appeal of Philadelphia's Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), in SEPTA's continuing attempt to eliminate paper transfers from the transit system.

The City of Philadelphia had successfully obtained an injunction, in Common Pleas Court in August, that prevented SEPTA from eliminating transfers. SEPTA appealed the case to Commonwealth Court.

Due to the fact that, in the intervening time, SEPTA had raised the price of a transfer from 60 cents to 75 cents, Commonwealth Court ruled that SEPTA's appeal was now moot.

More details via GAW's summary page

Peak Direction: The best option for funding transit

2007-12-03T18:00:00.000-05:00

Peak Direction: The best option for funding transit: "The best option for funding transit The head of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development writes in today's P-G about the proposed drink tax and rental car tax to raise money to support the Port Authority. The ACCD is a private-sector organization to 'provide civic leadership to execute a focused agenda for regional improvement,' according to their site."

Letters to the Editor: Oct 31 - Nov 7 - Views - Incoming - Pittsburgh City Paper - Pittsburgh

2007-11-01T07:02:00.000-04:00

Letters to the Editor: Oct 31 - Nov 7 - Views - Incoming - Pittsburgh City Paper - Pittsburgh Ginning up another bad idea

Re "Whisky Rebellion II" [Oct. 24]: Last year, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and his entourage took a trip to Charlotte/Mecklenburg County (you know, the new US Airways hub) to see how a real city operates. Perhaps public transportation was not a discussion topic?

The 10-percent drink tax is yet another textbook shell game that has been played on this region's taxpayers for several decades. Wait a minute! The smoking ban in Allegheny County could not be enforced because that law lacked a "statewide" consistency. Hmm, does that mean there should be a 10-percent drink tax imposed on all other counties to bail out Port Authority customers and its payroll? Quite a paradox if you consider it! Pittsburgh/Allegheny Co., better known as the "bizarro world" of public finance, need to adjust down the payrolls of all public-sector entities to match the economic climate of this region.

Every year, the Port Authority steals millions of desperately needed federal highway dollars that should be spent improving pitiful local roads and infrastructure. The 10-percent drink tax + the ludicrous amusement tax + the county tax + the wage tax = an exodus of 9,000 customers every year from the "bizarro world" of public finance! Yeah, I know: It's Harrisburg's fault. It's "fill in the blank's" fault.

Here is a simple solution: Let the people who use the service pay for it. Charge a Port Authority customer, per trip, the same cost of operating an economy car commute to work five days a week. Then, tack on a surcharge for all of the rutted secondary roads in this region caused by Port Authority buses.

-- Gordon Fucho, Edgewood

19 wheels replaced on light-rail cars

2007-10-10T14:27:00.000-04:00

19 wheels replaced on light-rail cars: "19 wheels replaced on light-rail cars"

Getting Around: Officials need lessons in local transportation history

2007-10-07T05:53:00.000-04:00

Getting Around: Officials need lessons in local transportation history: "Complicated, expensive, major public transportation projects cannot be turned off and on at the whim of every newly elected politician."

The Wabash Tunnel needs a pedestrian and bike way within it. I'd turn that on. That isn't complicated. It isn't expensive.

But, the tunnel can't be put to good use, despite its expense, its complicated re-build, its whim of a bad idea.

Politicians can often fund, but can't never control demand for silly projects.

Incumbent Ravenstahl's backers tout progress made - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2007-09-23T05:40:00.000-04:00

Luke is going to officially kick off his campaign on Monday.

I'm going to officially kick off my campaign on Thursday at 3:30 pm at Carol's Restaurant at 410 S. Main Street in the West End.

Incumbent Ravenstahl's backers tout progress made - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The test will ratchet up a notch Monday, when Ravenstahl officially kicks off his general election bid to win the two years remaining on the unexpired term of the late Bob O'Connor.

Light-rail extension to displace SportsWorks

2007-09-22T22:26:00.000-04:00

Didn't they know this before? Are they also going to need to knock down Heinz Field too?

I do know that they will need to make drastic changes and move the WEST END BRIDGE if they ever want to get Light Rail to the west and on its way to the airport, as over hyped in broken promises.

Light-rail extension to displace SportsWorks Port Authority of Allegheny County's extension of its light-rail system to the North Shore will displace more than tons of earth.

The transit agency revealed yesterday it will buy and demolish SportsWorks, the Carnegie Science Center's interactive exhibition about the science behind sports.

Pending approval by the Port Authority board at its meeting next week, the agency will spend $5 million for the facility on the North Side. Part of the T station at the end of the new line will occupy the site, as will a set of rails.

Lance from Trib about tunnel

2007-08-31T09:13:00.000-04:00

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Lance: To Greater Pittsburgh's General Assembly delegation. Deftly tucked into Act 44, the latest state transportation bill, is a measure that will cover cost overruns for the Port Authority of Allegheny County's North Shore Connector. That's the boondoggle of a subway extension under the Allegheny River that's worthy of a federal investigation. How outrageous that those who vowed 'No more state money!' for the project didn't raise a public peep about this sop to 'public-purpose' waste."

Bridge trouble knows no boundaries

2007-08-28T07:41:00.000-04:00

Bridge trouble knows no boundaries Bridge trouble knows no boundaries Tuesday, August 28, 2007 Allegheny County has more bridges than surrounding counties, but bridge decay knows no boundaries.

We should fix bridges, and other existing elements of our public infrastructure. We should repair and rehab rather than make new expenditures.

Do not build the tunnel under the river to service the North Shore stadiums when there are other projects that need billions of ongoing investment. And, that project is going to be a drain for decades to come.

A rallying cry for Mon-Fay?

2007-08-28T06:23:00.000-04:00

A rallying cry for Mon-Fay?: "The 15-member State Transportation Commission holds statewide hearings every two years as part of updating the Transportation Improvement Program, a document that prioritizes projects and assigns billions of dollars of funding for them."

The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat: Cult of the MFX

2007-08-28T06:08:00.000-04:00

The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat: Cult of the MFX: "Cult of the MFX"

A rallying cry for Mon-Fay?

2007-08-27T09:50:00.000-04:00

A rallying cry for Mon-Fay?

Cry is right. We'll be crying if this road comes into Pittsburgh's city neighborhoods.

Leave a message and kicking up some dust

2007-08-25T17:24:00.000-04:00

Get your own at Gizmoz.com

Transit free all day for seniors

2007-08-01T23:06:00.000-04:00

Transit free all day for seniors Technically, the senior citizens sitting on the Port Authority bus this morning aren't riding for free. The truth is that you helped pay for their rides when you bought a lottery ticket last night.

Transfers on trains go poof in Philly

2007-08-01T17:48:00.000-04:00

Tuesday evening, a Common Pleas Court judge in Philadelphia temporarily stopped the elimination of transit service paper transfers on all trains, trolleys, and buses of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority [SEPTA}. One of the changes that had been approved by the SEPTA Board in June was the complete elimination of paper transfers effective August 1.

The City of Philadelphia went to court to obtain an injunction against the implementation of the transfer eliminations, stating that such an action is "discriminatory" because students and low-income riders will suffer the most.

Common Pleas Court Judge Gary DeVito approved a temporary injunction, effective until Monday, while he studies the City's request for a permanent injunction.

Click this link to read newspaper stories, from Philadelphia's three daily newspapers, regarding this injunction:

http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit/septa/#2007crisis

Remember in November of '08 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2007-07-31T22:43:00.000-04:00

Remember in November of '08 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: There was never a single public hearing on the massive transportation bill that will reshape spending on roads, bridges and transit for decades. Legislative leaders carved a $27.5 billion budget in secret meetings in the final days of a 16-day impasse.

Not a single public hearing --- that stinks.

iheartpgh.com talks about bus art

2007-07-30T07:45:00.000-04:00

iheartpgh.com: "Anyone can submit a design for the 2007 project - they are looking for transit themed art. Submission deadline is August 14, 2007. More info on the project and pictures of last years work are available at ArtInTransit.org."

Pittsburgh Art in Transit: "Call For Artists 2007: Transit & Our Neighborhoods

The Pittsburgh Art in Transit project is kicking off its second year and we're looking for local artists to submit work for display on transit vehicles of the Port Authority of Allegheny County."

State's rural stretches carrying the banner against I-80 toll plan

2007-07-27T18:38:00.000-04:00

State's rural stretches carrying the banner against I-80 toll plan: "State's rural stretches carrying the banner against I-80 toll plan"

Port Authority rescinds cuts, extends university service

2007-07-27T18:35:00.000-04:00

Port Authority rescinds cuts, extends university service Port Authority has extended for two months its discounted service agreements with the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, which will each pay 15 percent more per month.

Port Authority's Web site down a second day

2007-07-12T15:13:00.000-04:00

Port Authority's Web site down a second day: "The Port Authority of Allegheny County's Web site is down because of a server problem, and technicians hope to have the matter resolved today."

Lances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2007-07-06T06:44:00.000-04:00

Laurels & Lances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Lance: To the North Shore Connector project. Ah, yes, the fallout from this boondoggle continues. Construction of the subway extension that was oversold, will be underused and will strap an already strapped Port Authority even more has snarled North Side traffic for weeks. Now, the Golden Triangle gets its turn: Part of Stanwix Street has closed for the next five months. We're paying now and we'll pay later for this warped ode to 'serving' the public."

SEPTA Follows PAT Approving Fare Increase & Sept. Service Cut

2007-06-29T21:39:00.000-04:00

From Glenn A. Walsh

After a month's delay, due to the two Philadelphia representatives on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) temporarily vetoing proposed service cuts and fare increase, the proposed changes were approved on Thursday afternoon by a 13-2 vote of the SEPTA Board (the two representatives from Philadelphia continuing to vote no).

Thus, beginning July 9, SEPTA will institute an average 11 percent increase in fares. While the two-dollar base fare (and $1.30 for tokens) will not change on July 9, transfers will be eliminated on August 1. Weekly and monthly passes will be increased
for subway, trolley, and bus riders, as well as for Regional Rail commuter train riders.

The SEPTA Board on Thursday also approved a "doomsday" plan, which calls for a 24 percent fare hike and 20 percent service cuts effective September 2, if SEPTA does not receive $100 million from the Pennsylvania General Assembly, by that time.

This follows 15 percent service cuts in Pittsburgh's Port Authority Transit (PAT) system, which took effect on June 17. PAT officials plan a fare increase on January 1, although the extent of the increase has not yet been decided. And, if further State funds are not made available, PAT will also institute service reductions of another 10 percent, effective September 2.

Summary of SEPTA July 9 Fare Increase: http://www.septa.org/fares/July2007

SEPTA News Release on Fare Increase: http://www.septa.org/news/press_releases/062807.html

2007 Philadelphia Public Transit Funding Crisis: http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit/septa/index.html#2007crisis

Summary of PAT June 17 Transit Cuts: http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/tabid/369/Default.aspx

Most recent news articles on PAT transit service cuts: http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit/pat/2007fundingcrisis.html#news

Calendar of Upcoming Hearings, Meetings, and Events Regarding PAT Transit Proposal: http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit/pat/2007fundingcrisis.html#calendar

PAT announces study to revamp entire transit system: http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/tabid/143/newsid465/281/mid/465/Default.aspx

2007 Pittsburgh Public Transit Funding Crisis Web
Site: http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit/pat/2007fundingcrisis.html

State wants say on Port Authority board

2007-06-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

State wants say on Port Authority board: "State wants say on Port Authority board
Harrisburg Republicans complain of subsidization without representation"

I've been worried about the fact that these boards are hand-picked and never accountable for years. But I want the boards to be accountable to the citizens, the voters, the public. The fat-cat legislatures want the accountability to reside with them. They want power in their pockets.

Nuts to them.

Make Authority Boards, all of them, subject to "retention votes."

Upon appointment to a board, the board member begins service. At the next election, that person needs to win more than 50-percent approval to retain the seat.

In two years time, that person comes up for another retention vote. Then the bar is raised and that person needs to get a 70% vote for retention.

In two additional years, at four years, that vote needs to be at 80% for retention vote.

In two additional years, at six yeas, that vote needs to be at 90% for retention.

Every year after, the board member needs a 90% -- a super-doper majority -- to retain his seat.

Transit-plank-Commonwealth-Foundation - PittsburghPlatform

2007-06-27T06:06:00.000-04:00

Transit-plank-Commonwealth-Foundation - PittsburghPlatform Step One: Require agencies to competitively contract services.

Mass Transit Reform from Commonwealth Foundation

2007-06-26T06:02:00.000-04:00

Reducing costs, improving performance through competitive contracting

HARRISBURG, PA - Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released a policy brief, Mass Transit Reform: Lessons for Pennsylvania, which examines how other states and cities have reduced costs and improved performance of their mass transit systems through "competitive contracting" of services.

"Unfortunately for Pennsylvania taxpayers and transit users, the near-total focus by lawmakers on revenue will not solve transit's seemingly endless series of financial crises," said Nathan Benefield, director of policy research at the Commonwealth Foundation. "Policymakers in Harrisburg must reform the current mass transit systems before sending them another taxpayer dollar."

Costs for mass transit have consistently outpaced the rate of inflation, increasing at a far faster rate than they would have in a competitive environment. As the experience of other cities demonstrates, competitive contracting holds the promise of ending Pennsylvania transit agencies' annual "budget crisis."

Mass Transit Reform describes competitive contracting of mass transit in San Diego, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas-Fort Worth, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, and Denver and offers principles for competitive contracting in Pennsylvania. Grant Gulibon, Research Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation and author of the policy brief, writes, "Only when services are competitively provided will transit users and taxpayers in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and points in between finally obtain the quality of service and cost efficiency that they deserve."

"Throwing more money into existing bureaucracies will not solve the problems with transportation in Pennsylvania," said Benefield. "No additional money should be awarded to transit agencies without substantial reform in how services are delivered. Competitive contracting can ensure the greatest effectiveness in transportation solutions at the least cost to taxpayers."

# # #

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Policy Brief, Mass Transit Reform: Lessons for Pennsylvania, is available online at mail.commonwealthfoundation.org/PB19-03.pdf

The Commonwealth Foundation (www.CommonwealthFoundation.org) is an independent, non-profit public policy research and educational institute located in Harrisburg, PA.

Port Authority cuts 150 jobs, 10% more bus service - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2007-06-23T05:30:00.000-04:00

Port Authority cuts 150 jobs, 10% more bus service - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "The Port Authority of Allegheny County on Friday decided to cut more service and jobs, but the transit agency had to drain $44.6 million in reserves to come up with a balanced budget."

Transit survey to ask riders for opinion of Port Authority

2007-06-11T07:19:00.000-04:00

Transit survey to ask riders for opinion of Port Authority

Onorato, transit leaders lobby Harrisburg - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2007-06-04T20:46:00.000-04:00

Onorato, transit leaders lobby Harrisburg - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Begging breeds envy and hopelessness.

If Harrisburg is responsible for the transit mess, why does Dan Onorato so strongly support Ed Rendell?

Mass transit is not a top priority of Onorato as it never was a priroity. It is a talking point -- but nothing else. He let PAT flounder for years when he was the Controller of Allegheny County and when he was in his first term as Chief Executive.

Onorato never talked about transit when he ran for County Executive. He needs transit to be a focus because when he ran for the job he presently has he said he'd fix the assessment mess -- and he has failed at that task.

Jackass, Donkey, Dem Party Mascot

2007-05-23T18:39:00.000-04:00

Allegheny Institute Blog The transportation reporter then ended the piece by interjecting his editorial opinion by labeling the state legislature a “jackass” simply because it won’t do what the reporter, the director, and the transit activists want by just throwing more money around.

Jackass, Donkey, Dem Party Mascot...

Turnpike matters from the A.I.

2007-05-23T18:28:00.000-04:00

Allegheny Institute Blog The Governor has proposed three solutions to the transportation funding crisis facing the Commonwealth’s roads and bridges. The first solution, and the one favored by the Governor, involves the long-term leasing of the Pennsylvania Turnpike to private investors; the second has at its crux the creation of a new tax-exempt authority to allow for the private management of the Turnpike; and the final alternative would follow the Turnpike Commission’s plan of raising existing tolls as well as tolling Interstate 80.

Quiz: What is going on with this sign?

2007-05-23T07:08:00.000-04:00

I saw this sign in New Zealand and thought of the leadership in Allegheny County.

Can you tell me what's going on with the message of this sign? Put your answer in the comments of this blog.

Port Authority Web site has details of transit cuts

2007-05-22T07:31:00.000-04:00

Port Authority Web site has details of transit cuts Riders, anxious to know whether their bus trips would be eliminated, can finally get the good, or bad, news

Another giant transit deficit expected

2007-05-19T03:50:00.000-04:00

Another giant transit deficit expected $50 million shortfall forecast despite cuts in spending, service

Just as you can't tax the city to prosperity, one can't expect to cut services and thrive.

US Airways ends flights from Pittsburgh to 5 cities

2007-05-17T05:25:00.000-04:00

US Airways ends flights from Pittsburgh to 5 cities ... number of flights eliminated by US Airways since late 2001 to 415, a 76 percent drop-off, and leaves Pittsburgh International Airport with only 127 daily flights from its largest carrier.

Laurels and Lances: Transit is important as long as someone else pays

2007-05-11T21:29:00.000-04:00

Laurels and Lances: Transit is important as long as someone else pays: What is troubling over Onorato's actions of late is that he is talking out of both sides of his mouth. On one hand he states that public transit is important then on the other hand he's trying to weasel out of the paltry small amount of funding the county does provide to PAT.

Security, Traffic Plans Released For US Open - Sports News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

2007-05-11T21:26:00.000-04:00

Security, Traffic Plans Released For US Open - Sports News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh: "Security, Traffic Plans Released For US Open"