Image description: PPT’s Year-End Campaign artwork designed by Pedro Ibarra. Three people gather under a bus shelter, two are standing, one is in a wheelchair. All are smiling and holding signs for transit justice. There are rain clouds and lightning outside the shelter with text that reads “we are the shelter we are the storm”
In 2021, PPT members brought both the SHELTER and the STORM! Join us to celebrate a year of successful (and hard-fought) transit organizing.
In 2021, PPT members brought both the SHELTER and the STORM.
This year was hard – the crushing effects of the pandemic, a transit death spiral, a transit funding cliff. Jobs and housing lost. PPT members had to organize together to provide shelter for our neighbors and communities. But we didn’t stop there.
Our organizing was a FORCE. We launched a statewide campaign for expanded transit funding. We built a base to put a pro-public transit mayor in office. We laid the groundwork for a low-income fare program. We continued our push to extend the East Busway and we WON MILLIONS of federal dollars that can make it all real!
Join PPT for our year-end celebration of this phenomenal storm of organizing energy. We’re partying on ZOOM, with awards, games, and music in the mix. You helped get us this far, now come party with us!
RSVP by December 7th and we’ll mail you a surprise party-pack of goodies that you can bring with you to the online celebration!
image description: photo of PPT members phonebanking in the spring of 2019. Text is overlaid atop the image that reads “Sign up to help wth PPT’s Year-End Phonebanks! Going on now through December 31”.
Use the Google Form below to help the organizing effort:
Image description: A view down PA-837 Duquesne Blvd near Kennywood Park of Port Authority’s vision for the Homestead to McKeesport Transportation and Pedestrian project. There are renderings in golden yellow of new street lights, benches, shelters, trash bins, and a ticket vending machine. There are red painted lines for possible bus only lanes, green sketches of trees on the Kennywood side and a pedestrian island in the center.
It’s GO Time. Homestead to McKeesport Transit Improvements are within reach!
Let’s make sure we see through to the finish line our demands for quality transit Beyond the East Busway: the Homestead to McKeesport edition.
The Context:
Years of organizing from riders led to the Port Authority’s recent adoption of the NextTransit long-range plan to build faster transit corridors with nicer transit stops beyond the East Busway. One of the top-line priorities that we have fought so hard for is the improvement of the 61C corridor in the Mon Valley, and now it’s happening! Port Authority is working on a Homestead-McKeesport Transit Improvement Project and will be holding virtual public meetings on
JOIN US. Tuesday, December 7th at 12:00-1:30pm and 6:30-8:00pm. Register to attend online or by phone at 412-566-5184.
What’s in the Current Proposal that will Affect Riders:
There are several changes that the Port Authority is asking for feedback on, that are included in their planning documents. Specifically,
Bus Stop Removal or “Consolidation” – The Port Authority is proposing to eliminate bus stops, which they argue will address safety, bus speed and reliability issues. We have serious concerns about these, particularly because many stops proposed for elimination in Homestead have high ridership and high numbers of wheelchair boardings (you can read more about PPT’s position on bus stop consolidation here). Some bus stops proposed for elimination are the stops at 8th Ave and West, 8th and Ann, 8th Ave and Dickson, 8th and Andrew, and Kennywood Blvd at #4000.
Rerouting of service – The Port Authority sees an opportunity to speed up buses along this corridor by shifting some bus service, but riders need to evaluate these proposals for their impact on transit access. Most notably, the Port Authority is considering moving the Duquesne section of the 61C from 2nd Ave to Duquesne Blvd, and to reroute 53L to stay on Amity Street rather than it’s current routing on Ann and McClure streets.
Bus stop improvements to select stops – The Port Authority is considering bus stop improvements to some stops like bigger station areas, benches, and better signage.
Walking/safety improvements – The Port Authority is proposing walking and safety improvements like pedestrian islands in the middle of the street to allow for shorter street crossings, crosswalks, pedestrian crossing signals and nearby bus stop sidewalk buildout.
Speed improvements – The Port Authority is proposing some street improvements to give buses priority over cars on the road. Some notable improvements include adding a transit queue jump at the Homestead Grays Bridge to keep buses from getting stuck at the light on 8th Ave, and adding some short bus only lanes on 8th Ave.
So what are some things we could be advocating for?
This is an incredible opportunity to make transit fast, comfortable, accessible, safe, and supportive of local development. We want to dream big. One way to think about what we want to see is by identifying what is wrong, so we’re asking you to think through these questions and bring your answers to Tuesday’s meeting:
Safety – Where are the places along this corridor that are unsafe for riders — getting to and from the buses? While waiting for buses? And what would make the access to transit more safe for riders? What does a safe stop look like? How will Port Authority ensure the safety of pedestrians and riders during the construction phase(s)? How do they plan to install the pedestrian islands when roads are already at the point where they cannot be wid ened further?
Bus Stop Amenities – What amenities do you see at other stops that you’d want to see at your stop? What would make the wait more comfortable at a stop? For example, would Port Authority install charging ports at renovated stops and new stations?
Speed – What is slowing down your bus trips? What would make the trip faster? (For instance, do you have issues with timely transfers? Buses stopping frequently to pick up passengers? Buses waiting at red lights or behind cars?)
Access – How will your trip be impacted if the proposed bus stop removals go through?
What places would you like to go or could be served more directly if the Port Authority shifted the routes along the 837 corridor? What locations would you like to be easier for you to get to in Homestead, Duquesne and McKeesport? If the project construction ends up rerouting the 59, which riders saved from service cuts, how would that impact you?
Development – What kinds of things do you want to see built by quality bus stops along this corridor? More jobs, affordable and disability accessible housing, childcare centers, grocery stores?
RSVP for the meetings and advocate for change!
Port Authority has the opportunity to make this a beautiful and safe project that can serve everyone, but they will not do it on their own. The 61C is known as the most dangerous route with high ridership. Recently two people were struck by a driver near Kennywood, and one of the victims did not survive. Mobility is a human right, and we all deserve safe and accessible transportation! This means safe sidewalks, bus stops, and shelters near where we live and where we want to travel.
The only way major change will happen is when we organize together, speak up for our communities, and bring our blueprints to the planning table.
We need to help them realize the full vision of safe, accessible, and effective transportation. We have the ability to win everything we fought for over the past few years, but it will not happen unless we make it to the last mile and push this over the finish line.
JOIN US. Tuesday, December 7th at 12:00-1:30pm and 6:30-8:00pm.Register to attend online or by phone at 412-566-5184.
Image description: PPT Member Alisa Grishman, a white woman in a wheelchair with curly hair and a blue t-shirt, holding a sign that says “Disability rights are civil rights”. Text is overlaid on the image with a quote from her that says, “We have to care for our neighbors and be the shelter. We have to fight for them and be the storm.”
“We have to care for our neighbors and be the shelter. We have to fight for them and be the storm.” – Alisa Grishman, PPT Member
Your support for PPT will mean that more neighbors like Alisa will organize to win quality, affordable public transit in Allegheny County and across Pennsylvania.
Public transit is my freedom, it enables me. My name is Alisa Grishman and I am a disability activist, wheelchair user, public transit rider, and member of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. Like tens of thousands of people across the state, my life and my independence rely on access to affordable public transit.
But public transit in PA is in trouble. Although the new federal infrastructure bill will send millions to transit agencies, it only funds infrastructure. It’s the State of Pennsylvania that’s on the line to fund the transit workers to run the essential service, and this funding will sunset at the end of this year.
No politicians are coming up with ideas to keep our systems running, and that’s why our organizing is critical. Through the Spring, we worked with hundreds across the state to build this vision for transit that moves all Pennsylvanians. Then, after months of isolation from the rest of the world, we rallied on the steps of the state capital to launch the Transit for All PA campaign!
This campaign and vision are gaining momentum. In the last 6 months we have garnered the support of more than 100 elected officials, unions, and community organizations – now we need you! Public transit is not an urban vs. rural issue. It’s not a Democrat vs. Republican issue. It’s an everyone issue. Come to a meeting, give a donation, join the next rally, get involved in this organizing force! For all that things seem grim, remember we win when we organize together.
Join this community and give a gift of any amount—whether $5, $50, or $500—to push PPT towards our goal of raising $15,000 from 250 supporters!
Image description: Artwork made for PPT by artist Pedro Ibarra. Three people are smiling standing under a bus shelter in the rain. They have their fists raised and are holding signs for transit justice.
Image description: screen capture from WPXI report of PPT Treasurer Mayor Nickole Nesby speaking at a press conference with County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and State Senator Linsey Williams about what the Infrastructure Bill will do for public transit in Allegheny County.
New Infrastructure Bill will bring historic levels of funding to Port Authority for capital projects – but it will also mean historic levels of highway funding too… We need the Senate to pass the Build Back Better act for climate justice now.
For the last two years, PPT members have been calling for the federal government to step up their support for transit. We held a 300+ rider statewide town hall with Senator Bob Casey, a letter campaign demanding federal funding for transit operations, we published a report of what federal funding for transit service would do to expand job access for residents of Northview Heights and Braddock, we met with Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg himself to make the case (!) and we held a rally in front of Representative Lamb’s office; it’s no exaggeration to say that transit riders have been at the forefront of a movement for a federal infrastructure bill that meets our community’s needs and tackles the climate crisis.
President Biden and Congress recently passed a massive infrastructure bill. For the tens of millions of people who depend on public transit every day, this new law is an important victory, and will be a historic investment in public transit. But our work is not done. Transit riders will continue to organize and demand the Build Back Better Act to ensure that federal funding is made available for transit operating needs like service expansion in underserved communities and fare reductions, and not just for capital expenses.
Specifically, the funding in the Build Back Better and infrastructure bills will allow communities like Allegheny County to:
● Improve operations to ensure that buses and trains run frequently and reliably
● Help connect more lower-income residents to safe and reliable public transit options
● Purchase new buses, trains, and streetcars, and repair or replace ones that are out of service
● Improve public transit accessibility for seniors and persons with mobility impairments
● Expand transit options in rural and Tribal communities
● Invest in transportation solutions that reduce air pollution and help address the climate crisis
On November 17th, PPT Board Treasurer Mayor Nikole Nesby spoke at a press conference with County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and PA Sen Lindsey Williams laying out how the Federal Infrastructure Bill could provide funding to transform transit in the Mon Valley, and why we still need more.
Read her comments and see the press footage below:
“My name is Mayor Nickole Nesby and I am the Mayor of the mighty city of Duquesne, Pennsylvania. I am here today to celebrate the passage of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act because of the potential that it has for my community.
When I say the mighty city of Duquesne, I mean it, because for years our city has been passed over, disinvested, and left to fend for itself. We had to organize our own plans for how to improve our access to public transit, how to clean up our water, how to get internet access to kids who needed it to finish their homework.
Let me tell you about our campaign to expand the East Busway into the Mon Valley & bring the benefits of affordable, rapid, public transportation to the residents of Duquesne. See, communities like mine don’t often get transportation plans made to improve them. In fact, in 2016, when the Port Authority started the Downtown to Oakland Bus Rapid Transit planning process, they included a proposal to cut our lifeline bus service in half, with increased transfers and costs. In a community like Duquesne, where 76.6% of the residents live below the poverty line, where unemployment is over 40%, that was unacceptable. But we the residents of the Mon Valley didn’t mourn, we organized. We protested and we spoke up and we stopped those service cuts. But our work didn’t stop there because just maintaining the status quo isn’t much of a win. Residents of Duquesne deserve more investment into quality transit. We put out the Riders Vision for Public Transit, and called for an expansion of the East Busway into Duquesne and beyond, allowing rapid access for our residents to job centers and healthcare and education hubs. Duquesne community leaders like Ms. Debra Green and Linda Warman went out and surveyed hundreds of transit riders in the on Valley to figure out the best alignment for this transit and the key destinations that our people need to get to. And now we’re bringing OUR PLANS from the small but mighty city of Duquesne, PA all the way up to Capitol Hill.
Now, the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act will be a historic investment to face the historic proportions of the issues we face. $39 billion for public transit. $55 billion for water & lead line replacement. $65 billion for broadband internet access. These resources can be life-changing, if they’re paired with the efforts and vision of residents like Ms. Debra Green and Linda Warman.
There’s no shortage of work to do. We still have mothers pushing strollers and dodging cars on the street because there’s not been money for safe and accessible sidewalks in Duquesne. We’ve got a serious lead problem with our water, and many folks don’t have the resources to pay for that water, toxic as it is. And there are many families that don’t have access to broadband in their homes, and this past year of remote schooling has left too many of our kids behind.
The federal infrastructure bill has the power to change this. We know now that the funds are available, that our visions, that our demands for mighty cities all across the United States like Duquesne can be realized with real dollars.
It’s so important to celebrate our wins. It’s a damn good first step. But we ALSO need the passage of the Build Back Better Act still in Congress to make this transformation complete. Investing in early childhood education, in paid sick leave, in transit OPERATIONS FUNDING, so that we don’t get left with great transit infrastructure but no bus service.
Let’s get to work. We know what we’ve got to do here in Duquesne– we’ve been doing it for years. We know that our residents that are experiencing these hardships are the best ones to design the solutions that should be funded.
To our elected leaders on Capitol Hill: thank you for this important infrastructure bill. It means a lot. We’ve been where you are, where we could’ve stopped just shy of the finish line– organizing just to stay afloat, to prevent the harm from expanding. But you’re mighty, just like we are. So let’s finish the job. Pass Build Back Better too, and you’ll have moved from passing what was necessary to doing something that will be truly transformative.
Image Description: Red Port Authority traveling in front of Bynum Theater in downtown PGH. Image from Flickr user: Can Pac Swire
Four times every year, the Port Authority adjusts its transit schedules and routes to account for construction, road closures, rider’s requests, ridership shifts, and/or all of the other unexpected changes that might affect Pittsburgh roads. These quarterly adjustments were dialed back because of the pandemic, but they seem to be back on track now that ridership is increasing.
Since 2019, PPT and the @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline have been publishing these blogs to spread the word about these changes and say what they mean for riders. Some quarters bring great changes (like Q4 2020 where we won weekend service on 95% of Local routes) some quarters are lackluster.
The @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline is a volunteer-run twitter account that gives riders updates on Port Authority’s daily happenings. The Hotline has no official connection to the Port Authority (again, it is a volunteer-run twitter account) but the updates they provide are helpful nonetheless. The Hotline is a big supporter of PPT, and an enormous advocate for public transit. We’re thankful for their support and happy to collab on these rider resources. Follow @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline on twitter for more grassroots transit updates.
See the Q3 and Q4 changes and what they mean for riders
This italicized text below each change are comments from the @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline. We’re playing some cat-up, so this blog is a two-for-one. It covers the Q3 changes that were made back in September and the Q4 changes that were made on the 21st of November. You can check Port Authority’s website to follow these quarterly service changes.
Q3 Service Changes: These changes are effective Tuesday, September 7, 2021.
O1-Ross Flyer– Schedules have been adjusted and some trip times have changed. Trips have been added, with service increasing to 15-minute frequency during morning and afternoon peak service hours and 20-minute frequency during off-peak hours.
These are positive changes. More frequency is great. But this is a Flyer route that on runs between 6-8am in the morning and 3-6pm in the evening. This means commuting patterns are returning to a pre-pandemic level. However, we would love to see an increased service span as a higher priority in coming changes. This is a great route that would service many of these north hills communities if it were to roll more frequently.
Red Line – Two-car trains will operate during weekday morning and afternoon peak service hours. Service will continue to follow current schedules (last updated 11/22/2020).
Blue Line – Two-car trains will operate during weekday morning and afternoon peak service hours. Service will continue to follow current schedules (last updated 11/22/2020).
Both of these were positive changes when they made them, but the decision was reversed mid-way through the quarter citing cost efficiencies, low ridership, etc. We need need a proactive strategy for bringing ridership back and increased capacity will play a big part in that. And its needed! As riders who’ve have been taking to twitter will gladly tell you: this car is geting crowded during the AM and PM commute.
Current overhead infrastructure along the Silver Line-Library prevents the addition of two-car trains to Silver Line service. Work to improve this infrastructure is expected to begin in mid-2022.
Q4 Service Changes: These changes are effective Sunday, November 21, 2021.
2-Mount Royal – Detour routing at The Block Northway that first began in March, 2021, due to the closure of the access road between the upper mall parking lot and Browns Lane will become permanent. See below for stop details. Trip times will not change and riders should continue to reference current schedules.
This is a very good change for people going to the mall or the shopping center on the perimeter of the mall.
12-McKnight – Detour routing at The Block Northway that first began in March, 2021, due to the closure of the access road between the upper mall parking lot and Browns Lane will become permanent. See below for stop details. Trip times will not change and riders should continue to reference current schedules.
Similar to the 2, this is great change that adds more access to jobs and shopping at these malls.
The following stops will be discontinued effective Sunday, November 21, 2021:
Browns Ln at Chapel Hill (stop # 22548) – Served by the outbound 2-Mount Royal and the inbound 12-McKnight.
Browns Ln opp Chapel Hill (stop # 314) – Served by the inbound 2-Mount Royal and the outbound 12-McKnight.
Browns Ln opp Northway Mall Dr (stop #22566) – Served by the outbound 2-Mount Royal and the inbound 12-McKnight.
Although these are three stops eliminated, we don’t think that riders will notice too much. Much of the service on Browns lane was eliminated back in 2010 during PAAC’s huge round of cuts. Service was restored on Browns lane sometime around 2016, but it was cut again just before the pandemic. So this off and on again pattern hasn’t established a consistent ridership.
The following alternate stops will become permanent effective Sunday, November 21, 2021:
The Block at Northway at Northway Apartments (stop # 22751) – Served by the outbound 2-Mount Royal and the inbound 12-McKnight.
The Block at Northway opp Northway Apartments (stop # 22752) – Served by the inbound 2-Mount Royal and the outbound 12-McKnight.
Again these are nice changes. They get riders closer to some of the other shopping destinations from jobs and goods access.
Stay tuned for the next set of quarterly changes, expected in March of 2022
And be sure to give your feedback & suggestions by reaching out to Port Authority Customer Service by phone or over twitter:
Port Authority Customer service phone number: 412-442-2000 Hours: Weekdays 5a to 7p, Weekend + Holidays 8a to 430p
And if you want to get in touch with the volunteer-run @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline, you can give them a call at 412-759-3335 ONLY When PortAuthority Customer Service is Closed/unavailable or via Twitter anytime @PGH_BUS_INFO
The PGH Bus Info Hotline will be back on PPT’s blog in September for Q3 changes and takeaways. See ya then!
On November 2nd, Pittsburghers elected Representative Ed Gainey to become their next mayor. In the leadup to this election, PPT’s Director Laura Chu Wiens and Member Emily Howe published an op-ed in the Trib to outline how this next mayor needs to center public transportation in their plans to build an equitable Pittsburgh for all.
With Gainey’s inauguration approaching on January 3rd, this piece is more relevant than ever. Read their piece below, and sign-on to support a public transit-first approach to mobility and affordable housing.
Recent Census numbers tell us that more than 50,000 Pittsburghers — more than 17% of our city’s population — use public transit to commute to work every day. Add students, the unemployed and other noncommuters, and the number of transit riders is much higher. In fact, 23% of Pittsburgh households do not have access to a private vehicle.
In a city that suffers from huge income, health and other racial disparities, public transit is critical to improving mobility, housing affordability, economic prosperity, air quality and quality of life.
So, as the Nov. 2 election approaches, we must ask ourselves, what can the mayor do to improve public transit?
1. Support public transit over venture-backed private mobility companies.
In “All Transportation is Local,” the TransitCenter, a foundation that advocates for improved public transit across the county, explains how “(Local government) controls how the street is used and how new development connects with transportation systems.” The same is true in Pittsburgh.
Year after year, we’ve seen the outgoing mayor bend over backward to hand over our streets and sidewalks to private mobility companies. These include self-driving car companies; $23 million to fund the Mon-Oakland Connector shuttle road for Almono LP; private sidewalk delivery robot companies; and private electric scooter companies.
It’s time for our city to prioritize people over corporations by investing public resources into public transit and infrastructure.
2. Commit to connected, comfortable, accessible, affordable and safe pedestrian and bike connections to transit.
All transit riders begin and end their trips as pedestrians or cyclists. We need pedestrian and bike connections for transit to be accessible.
The City of Pittsburgh can use its capital budget to improve transit facilities and maintenance. This includes transit-accessible and dignified features like covered bus shelters with benches; connected sidewalks and accessible curb cuts; safer pedestrian intersections with signals and traffic calming; bus bump-outs; more protected bike lanes; nonslip crosswalks; street lighting; public restrooms and water fountains located near transit; and more Healthy Ride stations co-located with transit, bike sheds and bike parking.
3. Make transit faster and more effective.
Buses carrying 40-60 passengers should get priority on our streets over gas-guzzling, congestion-causing single-occupancy vehicles. To do so, the mayor can implement policies like expanded bus rapid transit lanes; traffic signal priority for buses; peak-only bus lanes that could be used in tight spaces like Carson Street and Butler Street; and far-side stops. These innovations would help keep buses from idling at traffic lights and increase their speed and safety.
4. Pass legislation and zoning that supports transit use.
Zoning is one of the most powerful tools at the mayor’s disposal, but candidates often overlook it when thinking about improving transit. Transit riders are being displaced out of the City of Pittsburgh every day. Without funding and policies to ensure that our city has affordable housing located near quality transit lines, riders will have even less access to basic needs. Almost all cities invest money in transit operations by funding transit directly and purchasing transit passes for their employees. The City of Pittsburgh can do the same while also incentivizing or mandating that other large employers and corporate landlords purchase bulk bus passes for employees and renters.
Whether through the budget, staffing and direction of City departments, working with City Council, or using the bully pulpit to advocate for public transit riders and workers, Pittsburgh’s next mayor must support faster, more affordable, dignified and connected public transit throughout our region.
With all of the benefits that transit presents for climate, racial, gender and economic justice, it should be a no-brainer for the Pittsburgh mayoral candidates to make transit a key priority in this election. But we need your help.
Then sign the #VoteTransit pledge to show that you care about our transit and want to see action from our city to make it better.
Have more ideas about how the mayor can support public transit in the first 100 days? Let us know. Together, we can build reliable, environmentally sustainable and affordable transit that is accessible to all.
Local transit initiatives have the power to map Pittsburgh’s future cityscape, and along with it, improve housing equity and economic growth for all residents.
While federal transit funding makes headlines as a hot-button issue in national politics, the power of local governments to bring big improvements for transit riders should not be underestimated. According to the TransitCenter, a nonprofit that works with transit agencies and advocates across the country, local government has substantial power over public transit:
“[Local government] controls how the street is used and how new development connects with transportation systems,”
Our #VoteTransit campaign will work to educate elected officials on these powers and organize with residents to push for our four priorities; we support public transit instead of venture-backed mobility companies, we want safe and accessible connections to public transit, we want faster and more effective transit, and we want zoning and legislation to support transit use.
Strong public transit needs to be at the center of any Mayoral plans to improve housing affordability, economic prosperity, public health, and quality of life. We reviewed the transit promises and policies of candidates Ed Gainey (D) and Tony Moreno (R) so voters can make informed decisions about the future of transit and pressure the future mayor to keep their promises. See what they’re saying below.
If public transit access is important to you, sign up here and pledge to #VoteTransit.
How can you #VoteTransit & bring improvements to PGH’s public transit?
First things first, if we want to get a transit advocate into the Mayor’s office we must register to vote. The registration deadline to vote in the General Election is October 18th. Submit your easy online voter registration here. Continue to read up on the candidates and make your plan for how you’ll get to the polls on November 2nd. Polls are open between 7am & 8pm. Find your polling place here. Voting from home? You can request a mail-in ballot until October 26th at 5:00pm and return it to the county board of elections by 8:00pm on Election Day.
Next, sign the #VoteTransit pledge to show that transit will be on your mind when you go to the ballot box on election day. Stand with riders to say that we want elected officials who will do all they can in office to build better public transit systems for all.
Our organizing can’t stop at the ballot box. Pittsburghers for Public Transit is building out our platform of specific policies that we want our mayor to implement in their first 100-days, and we need your ideas. From sidewalk investment to affordable housing, to new bus shelters; there is a lot that the Mayor’s office can do to improve transit for city residents. Take this quick survey to add your ideas for how the Mayor can improve transit and join us for our next campaign meeting every other Tuesday.
And finally, before you go, PPT members put together a presentation on what the City can do to improve Public Transit. We’re bringing it around to different community groups, churches, and neighborhood organizations to host discussions about how we can organize together for better transit. If you want PPT to come talk with your members about public transit organizing, fill out this form and we’ll be in touch!
Let’s look at how mayoral candidates’ promises to transit riders stack up to PPT’s #VoteTransit priorities:
Pittsburghers for Public Transit is a non-partisan 501c3 non-profit organization. We are not endorsing or supporting either candidate. We work to make public transit work for all Pittsburghers.
Even though our transit system is operated by the county, there’s actually a lot that the City of Pittsburgh can do to improve (or harm) Pittsburghers’ access to public transit. Pittsburghers for Public Transit has identified these 4 areas where the Mayor of Pittsburgh has significant ability to improve transit and stand up for our #VoteTransit priorities:
1. We want Mayoral support for public transit over venture-backed private mobility companies.
2. We want comfortable, accessible and safe pedestrian and bicycle connections to public transit.
3. We want infrastructure to ensure effective and faster public transit.
4. We want legislation and zoning that supports transit use.
PPT analyzed comments that both candidates made through the spring primary and fall general election seasons to see how both candidates view public transit, affordable housing, walking, and biking, (The bottom of this blog has a full list of the sources we reviewed. As a note: Tony Moreno switched his party to run again in the General Election, but his platform and talking points remained the same, so we are including them both in this overview).
Compared to Moreno, Gainey seems to have a better grasp of the scope of issues related to transit and has made some significant promises like bus stop improvements, bus bump-outs, and sidewalk improvements. Moreno sees car infrastructure as better for business than pedestrian or bike infrastructure, stating “bike lanes save lives, but not at the cost of ruining commerce.”
Both candidates have room for improvement and could be more specific about the policies they would promote and enact in office.
Ed Gainey (D):
1. Rep. Gainey has consistently supported funding public transit over venture backed private mobility companies:
Opposes privatized transportation systems, including the Mon-Oakland connector. (VEEEM Q&A; Gainey’s website)
Wants to partner with community stakeholders on transit issues, including Allegheny County and Port Authority. (City Paper; BikePGH; Just Harvest)
Believes the city lacks transit funding, and wants to make funding more available (City Paper); also wants to ensure Port Authority funding. (Just Harvest)
Would fight for fair funding by joining allies in Harrisburg. (BikePGH; Gainey’s website)
He is against private transportation, and said that “transportation [should be] free.” (Pittsburgh United)
Wants to educate the community about environmental racism. (City Paper)
Will pursue continued investment in electric fleets for buses and city vehicles. (Pittsburgh United; BikePGH)
2. Rep. Gainey has committed to making pedestrian and bike connections to transit comfortable, accessible, and safe:
“I’ll work to create safe pedestrian corridors for kids that connect schools and childcare providers to parks and school bus/transit stops.” (BikePGH)
Plans to make bus stop improvements, bus bump outs, sidewalk improvements. (BikePGH)
States that his top priorities for infrastructure investments are to make things easier for people with mobility impairments, or people that use wheelchairs and strollers. (BikePGH)
“I believe that everyone […] should have one or more safe, affordable, and enjoyable ways of getting to work, school, parks, grocery stores, doctors offices, and other basic necessities without needing to rely on a car.” (BikePGH)
Promised bus stop improvements, bus bump outs and sidewalk improvements. (BikePGH)
Wants to “maintain the City’s commitment to Vision Zero to eliminate transportation fatalities and serious injuries” which includes reducing police presence. (Gainey’s website; BikePGH)
Will create pedestrian corridors at schools/childcare facilities. (Gainey’s website)
3. Rep. Gainey appears to support effective and faster transit, but has not made substantial commitments:
Wants “neighborhoods with the greatest need [to] receive mobility improvements that better connect residents to opportunities.” (BikePGH)
Wants to be on top of transportation disruptions due to utility improvements or new development. (BikePGH)
Supports high-speed transit, statewide, i.e. Harrisburg to Philly. (City Paper)
Will collect resident feedback through the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure. (Gainey’s website)
Will work to ensure that city services are effective. For example, ensuring that the City of Pittsburgh Public Works Department has proper equipment for snow plowing. (WESA)
4. Rep. Gainey’s position on legislation and zoning that supports transit use emphasizes connections between housing, jobs, and transit:
Identifies “Transit accessibility, food access, and proximity to educational, recreational, and employment opportunities” as “critically important” to developing affordable housing (Design for Pittsburgh)
Wants to create better transit to job centers. (City Paper)
Wants to set up transportation infrastructure from “urban areas” to where job markets are, specifically commercial centers with service jobs like Robinson. (City Paper, PGH United Forum)
Wants to demand community benefit agreements with developers. (Gainey’s website)
Wants to expand affordable housing, particularly into transit-rich neighborhoods, and protect neighborhoods from predatory development. (Gainey’s website)
Will increase affordable housing where there is existing transit. (BikePGH)
Wants to center equity in transit investments (Gainey’s website) and promises to work with community development in the neighborhood to make sure development is working with the fabric of the neighborhood, and not just gentrifying it. (WESA)
Tony Moreno
1. Moreno is against the Mon-Oakland Connector, but whether he generally supports public transit over venture-back private mobility companies is unclear.
Against the Mon-Oakland Connector because it would worsen class divides and drive gentrification in Hazelwood and Greenwood. (The Homepage)
At the same time, Moreno consistently prioritizes infrastructure for cars in the city over bike and public transit infrastructure; also supports fossil fuels and fracking. (PublicSource)
2. Moreno has commented that he wants to increase pedestrian connections to transit, and amenities at bus stops. However, he has been a staunch opponent of expanding bike connections to transit stops & jobs:
To improve food access, “Target stops for improvement of, or construction of, bus shelters” and “Repair city steps closest to bus stops first, then follow-up with all others city-wide.” (Just Harvest)
Discussions of transportation do not include transit: “The need for transportation options must include all venues from private vehicles to walking must be taken into account.” (Design for Pittsburgh)
Sees bike lanes as competing with commerce: “I’ll say it as many times as I can: bike lanes save lives, but not at the cost of ruining commerce. There’s some areas where you don’t need bike lanes…There’s no reason to lay a bike lane down Penn Avenue, when there’s nobody that’s riding their bike to any of those restaurants there.” (City Paper)
Believes bike lanes are not about safety, and are about removing the motor vehicle from inside the city. (Casa San Jose)
3. Moreno seems to have a limited understanding of current transit infrastructure difficulties. When asked directly about how he would address transit infrastructure, he commented on lessening downtown traffic. He proposes making bus-only lanes by bringing in more police to patrol the streets:
Seems to view transit optimizaiton more about reducing traffic for drivers. Part of his proposal: “you put those bus routes on a circular pattern around those same four streets that I said (Grand Street, Stanwix, Boulevard of the Allies, and Fort Duquesne) and make those run on a steady basis with the police officers they’re allowing those buses to go through and creating a bus lane that is a true bus lane only.” (City Paper)
Believes traffic police officers are also key to reducing traffic. (City Paper)
To improve food access, wants to “Utilize the community leaders and target underserved neighborhoods for improved bus access.” (Just Harvest)
4. Moreno identifies gentrification as an issue, but he does not bring forward many zoning policies or propose legislation to address affordability & increase transit use.
Concerned about making the city convenient for private cars to get into and out of the city than improving infrastructure for bikes and transit: “You can’t get rid of vehicles. We know that for sure. They’re not going anywhere.” (City Paper)
Does not mention anything about public transit or affordable housing in his “Plan for Pittsburgh” published on his campaign’s website. (Tony Moreno’s campaign website)
2021 Mayoral candidates on Pittsburgh policies: Ed Gainey and Tony Moreno by Ryan Deto at City Paper. Published April 2nd & April 6th, 2021.
“Responses to the BikePGH Questionnaire” by BikePGH. Ed Gainey submitted answers. Tony Moreno did not respond. Published ahead of the May 18th, 2021 primary.
image of three PPT members canvassing at a table. One is holding a handwritten sign that reads “Ready to Ride!”
Riders’ Voices Were Heard! Riders are successful in uplifting priorities in Port Authority’s first-ever long-range plan.
(Pittsburgh, PA) Friday, September 24th – Transit Riders in Allegheny County celebrated this morning as the Port Authority Board of Directors voted to adopt its NEXTransit 25-year long-range plan. The plan directly incorporated riders’ feedback around increasing fare affordability and creating dedicated transit corridors to the Mon Valley & Eastern Suburbs. This is a win for transit riders who have long been making these demands.
Throughout the last two years, riders have identified specific policy and infrastructure improvements that the Port Authority has now prioritized in their long-range plan. Riders helped the agency pivot their outreach to ensure that marginalized riders’ concerns were heard. The plan that was adopted today shows that the Authority listened to riders’ feedback and named their concerns as top priorities for the next phase of the agency’s development.
Transit riders’ organizing paid off. Although initial versions of the NEXTransit plan did not address some of rider’s highest priorities, especially around fare affordability and dedicated transit corridors beyond the East Busway, transit riders continued to leverage public meetings and public feedback to uplift their goals. Their efforts were successful. Specifically:
Around fare affordability – Port Authority’s transit fares are some of the highest in the country. Riders organized the #MakeOurFaresFair campaign in 2018 & the #FairFares policy platform in 2020 which all laid out policy ideas to guide the agency in this direction. The final version of the NEXTransit plan added more substantial language, efforts and actions toward implementing low-income fare programs at the Port Authority, not merely increasing access to fare payment mechanisms as earlier versions had focused on. An “Affordable Fares Program” was identified as the 2nd highest policy priority and program in the final NEXTransit plan.
Regarding dedicated transit corridors Beyond the East Busway – Residents, businesses and elected officials in the Mon Valley have been working hard to extend the East Busway’s benefits into their communities. Pittsburghers for Public Transit’s Beyond the East Busway campaign worked with 16 community organizers from the Mon Valley to survey nearly 600 residents in these communities to create a vision for how to make this possible. The outcomes of the Beyond the East Busway survey, which were supported by dozens of Mon Valley and Eastern Suburb community leaders, are directly in line with the NEXTransit’s Priority Projects #4, #5, and #7. These three NEXTransit projects would create transit priority corridors that would serve the communities of Homestead, Duquesne, McKeesport, Rankin, Braddock, East Pittsburgh, Turtle Creek and Monroeville, and are intended to advance within the next five years.
Transit riders are experts in the transit system they use every day. Their feedback needs to be centered. It is encouraging that the Port Authority recognized this in their release of the NEXTransit 25-year Long Range Plan. Now riders will continue to organize to turn these plans into action.
Demand accountability. With no public input, Mayor Peduto & City Council rushed to approve their spending plan for Pittsburgh’s $335 Million of COVID relief funding in less than 3 weeks. They have already passed bills that speed up their proposed timeline, leaving less for our next mayor and the public to influence.
Write your councilperson today to demand accountability for our city’s COVID relief funds.
On August 31, 2021, Councilman Lavelle introduced four bills to allow the City of Pittsburgh to enter “agreements” or contracts with various departments outlined in spending plans for the city’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA provides federal relief money to state and local governments to respond to COVID-19 related emergencies. The federal money is intended to flexibly “meet local needs” and to support “households, small businesses, impacted industries, essential workers, and the communities hardest hit by the crisis.”
Yet, while federal guidelines encourage governments to determine ARPA allocations through community engagement and public processes, the current Pittsburgh ARPA spending plan was developed behind closed doors, with a commission of just 3 Council members and the Mayor’s administration. The plan was subsequently approved by council with minimal revisions in less than 3 weeks. Despite outcry from hundreds of residents and community organizations like PPT on the lack of community input and transparency in the allocation process, the ARPA spending plan bills passed City Council on July 20, 2021 with a vote of 8-1. Some City Council members claimed that plans could be amended even after being passed, and planned a few listening sessions for early August.
These after-the-fact listening sessions unsurprisingly had little impact on slowing or amending the predetermined ARPA allocations; in fact, the four bills introduced on August 31 by Councilman Lavelle include an additional $24 million in Year 2 & 3 projected spendingsto the Year 1 allocation in the budget approved by Council on July 20, 2021. Moreover, while the July vote proposed a multi-year spending plan, these bills would send the full allocation out the door immediately, and away from public oversight. These bills will allow the city to transfer money over to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) for up to $74,878,811 (Bill 2021-1806); the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) for up to $17,500,000 (Bill 2021-1805); $2,500,000 to Bill Peduto’s private organization OnePGH (Bill 2021-1803); and $80,000 to the Pittsburgh Parking Authority (PPA) (Bill 2021-1804).
This faster timeline means that almost $100 million or almost 30% of the city’s $335 million of ARPA funds will be transferred, all at once, with no City oversight or accountability to the public about how that money will be spent.
While we can lament specific allocations in these bills like $80,000 for a parking lot in East Liberty, and $2.5 million to a new non-profit (OnePGH) that is essentially run by the Mayor and his staff, the core issue is that the Mayor and most members of City Council have eschewed their responsibility to engage residents and constituents about their needs. Councilman Burgess has even claimed that public outcry against the closed-door allocations are about “limiting council, in trying to overthrow our right and responsibilities as the fiscal watchdogs.” In fact, the latest set of bills aimed at accelerating these payments out of Council control would do precisely what Councilman Burgess is describing, by undermining the City’s power as a fiscal watchdog and not allowing Year 1 investments to play out and be evaluated on their merit and impact.
Ensuring that remaining city ARPA funds are allocated and spent in a transparent, participatory and equitable manner will remain a struggle. However, PPT and the coalition of community organizations we work with know that power is in the people. We will continue to organize for a transparent, public process to identify and fund the needs of residents, particularly those most impacted by COVID, and to demand that our City does not write enormous checks to non-City, unaccountable entities.
“The Pittsburgh Food Policy Council is calling on City Council to follow the approved spending plan and stagger payments to external entities,” says Dawn Plummer, Executive Director.
TAKE ACTION TODAY
We are calling on you to reach out to your Pittsburgh City Council member to ask that they amend the bills authorizing transfers of American Rescue Plan funds. Don’t know your City Council member? Find them here.
Here’s a script:
“Dear Council Person [Insert Your Council Person’s Name Here]
Hello, my name is _______ and I am a resident of [insert neighborhood here]. I am contacting you today regarding the proposed legislation to allocate $95 million of the City of Pittsburgh’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds.
I urge you to only allocate the funds budgeted in the first year of the City’s ARP spending plan. There is no need to rush another $25 million out the door, especially when details about how funds will be used have not been provided.
Moreover, I echo the following recommendations first made to you by City Controller Michael Lamb and encourage you to include them in the final vote on these transfers to ensure proper public accountability:
Incorporate language to mandate that agencies receiving large ARPA Trust Fund transfers of $1,000,000 or more must submit the following as requested by the Pittsburgh City Controller: a. Quarterly Progress Reports on activities b. Quarterly Financial Reports on activities c. Other information, as required.
Authorize and direct the Pittsburgh City Controller to have auditing authority over all agencies receiving ARPA funds, pursuant to the powers outlined in the Home Rule Charter.
Write separate contracts for each project funded with ARPA funds. This would require each ARPA project go through the rigorous process of legal review from the Department of Law and the Controller’s office.
Mandate each ARPA project to have separate tracking in city budgeting processes. This increases transparency and would allow the public to better understand how each dollar was allocated and subsequently spent.
Further Detail about the four bills from 08/31/2021 meeting:
Bill
Information about project(s) being funded
Information about organization
2021-1803: $2.5M to OnePGH
Of the $2.5 Million allocated to OnePgh to fund the “Universal Basic Income Pilot,” only $1.25 Million will be given out in cash payments to the families participating (assuming it is in accordance with the previously detailed proposal, in 2020.) “As for the OnePGH funding, Gilman said it is the only way the city can legally fund a pilot program to provide a basic income subsidy to low-income Black women to see if such a program helps. The city is among several experimenting with universal basic income that are proposing use of American Rescue Plan funding to do so, Gilman said.” (Trib article, 06/30/2021) “The money used to start the program will come from funds Dorsey gave that is allowing Pittsburgh and 15 other cities to help those who are struggling during the economic crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. “A number of people in the city of Pittsburgh will be chosen to be able to receive a monthly stipend, basically a debit card,” Peduto told local CBS affiliate KDKA. He did not specify how many people would qualify, but he did outline the criteria he would look at. Peduto said that he wants to give the monthly payments to those who are currently struggling and who would be able to improve their lives with it. He is also looking to award the money to people of different backgrounds and demographics so that a study can be conducted to analyze how it works. “This is one tool to close the wealth and income gap, level systemic race and gender inequalities, and create economic security for families,” Dorsey tweeted about the program earlier this month.” (Fox Business 08/03/2021)
Oversight: “Since 2005, the city has received a total of $34 million from nonprofits, Peduto said. And those contributions have been received and spent without oversight.“There is no accountability and there is no outcome from it,” he said. As a nonprofit itself, OnePGH will be required to make its spending public and Peduto said its operations will be transparent.” (Trib article, 04/29/2021)
Mission and purpose OnePGH seen as a reactionary response to the fact that Peduto admin dropped lawsuit about UPMC’s tax exempt status Brings together city’s largest nonprofits: Pitt, CMU, UPMC, Highmark Health, and supported by Heinz Endowments, Hillman Family Foundations and the Richard King Mellon Foundation. (source and amounts contributed by each org here) “This groundwork over the next five years will be an experiment in urban partnerships for the 21st century,” [Peduto] said.” 141-page prospectus that details the plans that will be pursued by OnePGH
2021-1804: $80k to Pittsburgh Parking Authority
“Addresses the lost revenue of the Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh” City press release The bill itself says that it will fund the “Kirkwood Avenue lot project,” which is in East Liberty.
2021-1805: $17.5M to PWSA
“$20 Million for removal of lead from our water and paint.” City press release
2021-1806: Nearly $75M to the URA
$7 million (~10%) for Avenues of Hope (source) “$2 million [2.5%] for other development in Homewood; $1 [1.2%] million for the Jasmine Nyree Campus in Sheraden that helps people with special needs and $1 million [1.2%] for the Gladstone School affordable housing development in Hazelwood.” (source)
