Image Description: PPT members on a Bus Shelter Audit smile at the camera, wearing safety vests. Text reads, “Skill up with PPT’s organizing committee!”, and is decorated with yellow highlights and red starbursts.
Looking for a way to grow your skills with PPT? New to our work and want to join in the fight? Join us for one or more sessions in our 6-month Organizing Committee training series!
Each session will be taught by our staff organizers, and are designed to be accessible to all skill levels. Please note: this training series is designed for Pittsburgh-area residents, and will cover content connected to transit justice in the Pittsburgh region.
You can RSVP for our first session now, and we’ll update this page with links as they become available. Check out the descriptions below, save the dates, and keep a look out for registration links on our RSVP page!
Organizing Committee Syllabus for June 2025 – December 2025:
Bus Shelter Audit Training – As a follow-up to our 2024 Bus Shelter Campaign the Organizing Committee will be gearing up for a Bus Shelter 2.0 Campaign this summer. During this meeting participants will review Bus Stop Audit forms and perform a mock audit at a nearby bus stop. RSVP now!
July 29, 2025
Bus Shelter Audit Blitz – This will be an “in-the-field” meeting where four teams will travel to different locations throughout the City to assess bus stops to determine whether they meet the criteria for bus shelter placement. Space will be limited to a maximum of 16 people.
August 26, 2025
Review of PPTs Democratic Process – This meeting will touch on PPTs member led structure and explore different roles at meetings, such as facilitation, note taking, etc.
September 30, 2025
Group Canvass – Take a walk with the Organizing Committee and engage riders at bus stops to spread awareness about who PPT is and the Week Without Driving movement in Pittsburgh, ask them to pledge to participate, and get their elected officials to join in.
October 28, 2025
Phone and Text Banking – Phone calls and text messages are the backbone of many of PPTs actions and meetings. It’s how we engage transit riders on different campaigns, invite folks to our events and build community. In preparation for PPTs Winter Member Drive, come learn, or brush up on, your phone banking skills.
November 18, 2025
PPTs Membership Process – “How do I become a member?” Review what it means to be a member led organization, how to help someone become a member, and how to ask someone to become a member. Just in time for PPTs Winter Member Drive!
December 9, 2025
Review and Planning Session – This will be one big debrief of months of training and skill development. What should the Organizing Committee focus on in 2026? How can you help recruit new members to the committee?
What is PPT’s Organizing Committee?
PPTs Organizing Committee is responsible for the tactical execution of our strategic vision. This involves leading membership training, canvassing, phone banking, and direct action. We focus on building strong relationships and community among transit riders and workers, emphasizing peer-to-peer skill sharing and leadership development.
The Organizing Committee meets on the last Tuesday of every month, in person from 6pm – 7:30pm at PPTs accessible office at the Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For more information and how to get involved, email nicole@pittsburghforpublictransit.org.
Image description: big red keystone shape with the text “No Budget Without Transit for All”
Transit riders are pushing back against cuts that are being proposed across the state. We have put forward a legislative package that would expand transit in every corner of Pennsylvania. Now we need your help.
The time to TAKE ACTION IS NOW! Use this form to email your legislators and ask them to support the Transit for All PA! funding package!
Transit riders have put forward the Transit for All PA! legislative funding package that would EXPAND transit service across the state. The time is now to write your reps and sign on as a co-sponsor.
Whether the cuts that have been proposed in Pittsburgh, or in Philadelphia, or in other small towns across our state, transit riders are done with decline (if you’re from Pittsburgh and you want to get involved in fighting against the proposed cuts, check out our toolkit here). We organized throughout the spring to create a slate of ideas that would generate enough funding to expand service levels in Pittsburgh and every PA County. Then we organized and convinced our legislators to introduce them as bills in the House and Senate. Now we need to keep on organizing to make our dreams a reality.
Overview of Transit for All PA! funding package
Our goal goes beyond maintaining our current levels of austerity service. Instead, we at Transit for All PA are aiming to restore transit service statewide to 2019 levels, with an additional 10% service expansion in regions outside of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
To do that, we calculate that $537 million is needed in new funding for FY 26. We are looking to uplift Governor Shapiro’s proposal to increase the allocation of the existing sales tax to fund public transit,but also to expand on it with commonsense and achievable tax reforms to ensure that we can stabilize, restore and expand transit to meet all our communities’ needs.
In order to reach this goal, we need to propose funding sources that will meet this need and which will increase year over year to meet inflation. Moreover, these funding mechanisms should be:
Politically viable
Quickly enacted
Not disproportionately burdensome to marginalized, disabled or low income populations
Related to transportation
Ideally non-competitive to other basic needs through the General Fund, and dedicated to public transportation
To find a solution, we underwent months’ worth of research and held lengthy discussions with hundreds of stakeholders statewide. We believe we can meet our goal with three collective funding mechanisms, together with the Governor’s proposed sales tax ALLOCATION increase.
PRT’s proposed cuts. How we stop them and win service expansion:
If PRT doesn’t get this funding, they have proposedd that the entire system would see a 35% decrease in service and a 9% increase in fares. Paratransit service would be cut a staggering 62%, and fares would increase 20%.
We know that transit is a public necessity, connecting people across our region–no matter their neighborhood, income level, or ability–to jobs, healthcare, food, and community. The state government’s budget proposal will revoke access to these lifelines for thousands.
Alongside our partner coalition Transit For All PA!, we’re calling on our elected officials to find a stable, alternative funding source for public transit–one that restores transit funding and service to pre-2019 levels across the state, from Pittsburgh to Erie to Philly and everywhere in between.
Transit service is at risk in Pittsburgh and across PA. Pittsburghers for Public Transit is meeting this moment with phenomenal organizing. We are mobilizing advocates all over our state to fight for service, with no one left behind.
Will you join as a dues-paying member during our Mid-Year Membership Drive to build this movement?
I’m a retired educator fighting with PPT for my small-town bus service. Will you join me by becoming a dues-paying member?
My name is Joan Monroe. I live in Trafford, PA, a little borough east of Allegheny County. Public transit is important to me because it is the lifeblood of my community.
My community relies on public transit to access jobs, healthcare, family, and more – not to mention all those who take the bus to Trafford to shop and work! I started organizing Trafford to support transit in 2024, after Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s proposed Bus Line Redesign threatened to cut all our bus service. Then, in March 2025, PRT announced that without more funding from the state, it would have to slash all its service by 60% or more—with the worst cuts borne by senior citizens and people with disabilities who ride paratransit.
Even worse, since the funding crisis is statewide, every transit system in PA—including Westmoreland county transit—would have to make similar cuts, endangering their existence altogether.
I wasn’t about to let that happen. I’m a retired union member, so I know the value of public services—and I know that if we organize together, we can fight for them and win.
I knew I had to step up my organizing, and I knew PPT would help me do it.
With support from PPT’s statewide coalition, Transit for All PA!, I mobilized my community to contact our senator—who just so happens to be the PA Senate President Pro Tempore. Together, we even got a billboard put up in the middle of Trafford with her phone number!
Image description: photo of the electronic billboard that Joan was able to place in Trafford. It features a cartoon bus and bold text reading “Trafford’s bus route is on the chopping block”, alongside phone numbers for legislators.
This is why I am a member of PPT, and why I think you should join us.
Our Transit for All PA! Coalition is the only group that has proposed a real solution to this crisis—one that is realistic, achievable, equitable, and responsive to transit riders’ and workers’ needs. After just three months of organizing, we’ve sent 124,000 letters to our legislators urging them to protect public transit, and brought over 300 people to Harrisburg to rally with us for a better budget. I believe that, if we all pitch in, we can fight for transit funding that truly serves us.
That’s why I wanted to ask: will you support PPT by becoming a dues-paying member today?
It has never been more urgent to support PPT’s work. You can join for just $2.75—the current cost of a PRT bus fare! That money goes directly towards advocacy for a transit budget that moves ALL Pennsylvanians—whether they live in big cities, or smaller boroughs and towns, like me.
Everyone deserves access to public transportation. Will you help us make that dream a reality?
image description: graphic has a photo of Transit for All PA! advocates at a rally holding signs. Text reads “Harrisburg Rally & Lobby Day June 4th! Stand up for transit!
Transit for All PA! Rally and Lobby Day in Harrisburg!
Whether we live in big cities or small towns, public transit is a lifeline–it connects us to jobs, healthcare, community, and so much more. Public transit in Pennsylvania is under dire threat, but we can take action together to save and expand it.
Join Transit for All PA! for a day of rallying and meeting with state legislators to share our stories and tell them: Pennsylvania deserves transit that moves all of us!
before 10am: Travel to Harrisburg
10am-11am: Rally & Press Conference
Noon-1pm: Drop-in Lunch Hour
11am-3pm: Legislative Visits
Transportation
Transit for All PA! will be providing transportation from some communities to and from Harrisburg for this event.
Transportation from Pittsburgh
Buses to and from Harrisburg will be provided to attendees from Pittsburgh. Please meet at 4836 Ellsworth at 5:00 AM; the bus will depart at 5:30 AM. Stay tuned after registration for more details on how to reserve a spot on the bus.
Transportation from Philadelphia
Transit for All PA! will provide train tickets for attendees from the Philadelphia area. We will be taking the Keystone Line from the William H. Gray 30th Street. The train departs at 7:25 AM, so be sure to be there with plenty of time to board. Please stay tuned after registration for more details on how to reserve a ticket.
Transportation from Lancaster
Transit for All PA! will provide train tickets for attendees from the Lancaster area. The Keystone Line will arrive at the Lancaster Amtrak station at 8:42 AM, so be sure to be there with plenty of time to board. Please stay tuned after registration for more details on how to reserve a ticket.
Transportation from other communities
Transit for All PA! may also provide transportation from other communities in PA. We will determine which communities to charter buses to and from based on interest and funding, so please indicate if you would like transportation assistance when you fill out the form. Please stay tuned after registration for more details on how to reserve a spot.
Food
Everyone who RSVPs will receive a free lunch. Please let us know when you register if you have any dietary restrictions that must be accommodated. Reach out to info@transitforallpa.org if you have any restrictions that are not listed.
Accessibility
Please let us know when you register if you have any additional access needs (I.e., mobility devices, interpretation, etc) that must be accommodated, either during the rally or during transportation to and from Harrisburg. If you have accessibility needs that are not listed on the form, please reach out to info@transitforallpa.org.
Image Description: PPT Member Lorita Gillespie speaks at a rally to stop the cuts to the 61s and 71s.
Join the leadership team to coordinate the strategic direction of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. Nominations open until July 6th. Voting open from July 9th to August 13th.
Pittsburghers for Public Transit is a grassroots union of transit riders, transit workers and neighbors. We fight for a public transit system that is expanded, reliable, accessible and affordable to all in Allegheny County, with no community left out. We operate as a member-led organization, which means its our members who elect our Board of Directors, develop and approve our annual strategic plan, and participate in our different committees to win our campaigns.
Our Board Election Season is a special time for PPT! We are looking for a new round of leaders who understand the importance of our work for transit justice in Allegheny County, and are looking to get more involved in directing the course of our campaigns, communications, and actions. Nominations are open until July 6th. If you think you know what it takes to lead our Union, nominate yourself or someone else! The nomination of transit riders, transit workers, Youth, Black people, Indigenous people, People of Color, LGBTQ People, People with Disabilities, Immigrants, and Women are strongly encouraged.
Nominate yourself or someone who inspires you with their leadership, vision, and commitment to transit justice.
More about nominations and voting: 6 seats are open for PPT’s General Membership to run for. 1 seat is open for a PPT Member who is a unionized transit worker.
This year, the board decided to open at least 4 seats for General PPT Members to serve on the board. These people will be elected to the seats currently filled by Bobbie Fan, Dean Mougianis, Gabriel McMorland, Mayor Nickole Nesby, Paul O’Hanlon, and Teaira Collins.
Our bylaws require that each year’s election reserves a seat for a union transit worker. This person will be elected to the seat that is currently being filled by Kevin Joa.
Nominations for these seats are open until Jul 6th. All current PPT Members are welcome to nominate themselves or another PPT Member. Outgoing board members are able to self-nominate or be nominated by another to serve another term.
PPT members are all those who support the Transit Bill of Rights, have participated in a PPT action or meeting, and have given dues of at least $2.75 cents within the last year (the cost of a single PRT fare).
PPT staff will confirm with each nominee whether they accept the nomination to be on the ballot. Each nominee will also be invited to submit up to 250 words about their background, experience, and vision for the organization. This can be submitted through the nomination form, email, or via phone and PPT staff will transcribe.
All nominee bios will be sent to PPT Members the second week of June and again the first week of July. Bios and photos will also be included in the ballot. Nominees will have 3 minutes to speak at the July PPT member meeting before votes are cast to highlight their vision for PPT and how their skills will help build the organization.
Voting in the 2025 Board of Directors election will open at PPT’s monthly meeting on July 10th, and remain open until the Summer Picnic on August 13th. PPT members cast their vote via an online form that will be shared at the July meeting and emailed, or by calling PPT’s Director.
PPT Board Structure and Expectations
Each July, PPT members vote for leaders to fill seats on PPT’s 5-15 member Board of Directors. Board Members serve a 2-year term. 2 seats must be filled by members of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 85 (the union that represents all of the Port Authority’s bus operators and maintenance workers) or another transportation union that represents workers in Allegheny County because strong community/labor solidarity is a central belief of the organization. The other seats are filled by members who have had previous experience with PPT’s work, and are looking to bring their involvement to the next level.
Members of the Board are expected to attend quarterly Board meetings and should also stay engaged with General Membership Meetings on the second Wednesday of each month. Additionally, Coordinating Committee members will need to maintain active lines of communication with PPT staff and other PPT members to advise and assist with the organization’s strategy, tactics, structure, and financial sustainability. Board Members should also serve on one of PPT’s three committees (Organizing Committee, Communications Committee, and Research Committee).
An excerpt of Article IV of PPT’s bylaws with full detail of the expectations and powers of PPT’s board is included at the bottom of this blog.
2025 PPT Board of Directors Election Schedule
Nominations are open until July 6th.
Bios and photos of current nominees will be sent to members before the June PPT meeting and again before the July PPT meeting. Bios will also be included on the ballot.
July 9th, 7pm: PPT Monthly Meeting with Board Nominee introductions and Elections, voting opens
August 13th, 11:59pm: Final deadline for PPT members to submit their ballots online or via phone
Submit nominations through the link below, or by calling PPT’s Director, Laura Wiens, at 703-424-0854:
Excerpt from Article IV of PPT’s Bylaws explaining expectations and operations of our Board:
Article IV – Board of Directors
Section 1: Board Role, Size and Composition
The PPT Board of Directors shall hereinafter be referred to as the Board.
The Board is responsible for managing the business affairs, property, and policies of PPT. The Board shall be composed of five (5) to fifteen (15) members representing diverse interests and areas of expertise that strengthen the knowledge base of PPT. A minimum of two (2) seats will be reserved for members of the Amalgamated Transit Union or any union representing mass transportation workers in the Greater Pittsburgh Region. One of these reserved transportation union seats shall be elected in every second year. The Board shall have charge of the proper, normal, and usual expenditures and other business of the corporation; they shall enforce the provision of these bylaws; they shall abide by the policies and procedures set forth in the Policies and Procedures Manual, and shall enforce the rules and regulations set forth for the management, care, and governance of the property and affairs of the corporation. The Board may employ or appoint such person or persons, or agents, as they deem necessary to further the business of the corporation and shall set and adjust the compensation of all persons or agents so employed or appointed.
The Board will hire an Executive Director who may hire such paid staff as they deem proper and necessary for the operation of the Corporation. The powers and duties of the Executive Director shall be assigned or delegated by the Board of Directors. The powers and duties of the paid staff, other than the Executive Director, shall be as assigned or as delegated by the Executive Director and/or the Board of Directors, in accordance with PPT personnel policies.
Section 2. Qualifications for Board of Directors
Board members shall be elected from the eligible voting, dues-paying membership, and only dues-paying members are eligible to run in the elections. Candidates for the board must have been a dues-paying member for six (6) months prior to an election.
Section 3. Compensation
The Board of PPT shall serve without compensation. Board members may be reimbursed for pre-approved expenses reasonably incurred on behalf of PPT. Nothing in this paragraph is intended to preclude a Board member from receiving compensation for their service to PPT in some other capacity, provided that the transaction has been reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee in compliance with PPT’s conflict of interest policy.
Section 4. Recruitment and Elections
Nominations for new Board members will be made and publicized by the Board, Membership, and/or staff, at least two (2) months before the Membership meeting at which the election will take place. Elections for the Board shall take place every year, with five (5) seats elected in even years, and six (6) seats elected in odd years.
Elections shall be announced verbally at the two (2) immediately preceding membership meetings before the election.
Dues paying members in good standing are eligible to vote.
Bios and platforms of candidates shall be distributed by email to members one month in advance of the vote, and publicized on PPT’s website. Candidates will have three (3) minutes to address the general membership in advance of the election during the general membership meeting. Voting will be open for a minimum of one (1) week.
Section 5. Powers
The government of PPT, the direction of its work, and the control of its property shall be vested in the Board. The Board shall be authorized to adopt such rules and regulations as may be deemed advisable for the government of the Board, the proper conduct of business of PPT, and the guidance of all committees, officers, and employees. The Board shall be empowered to do whatever in its judgement may be calculated to increase efficiency and add to the usefulness of PPT; and to carry out the main purpose of this association provided such action is not in conflict with these bylaws.
Section 6. Limitations
PPT shall be non-partisan and non-sectarian in its activities.
Section 7. Term of office and Maximum number of terms
Directors shall be elected to a term of two (2) years. Board members shall serve a maximum of three (3) consecutive terms.
Section 8. Meeting Attendance Requirement
Board members must attend a minimum of three (3) out of the four (4) quarterly board meetings per year by phone or presence. Failure to fulfill minimum board obligations may be accepted by the board as a de facto or implicit resignation. The Board member will be informed before the publication of such de facto resignation to the members.
[Image Description: PPT Digital Organizer Clair Hopper smiles in front of a field of sunflowers on a sunny day]
Learn a little more about Clair by reading her bio and some interview answers below.
Clair Hopper is thrilled to join Pittsburghers for Public Transit in an official capacity! Clair has deep family roots in the area and moved to Pittsburgh in 2021 from Houston, Texas, where she first got involved with climate and transportation justice. Like many Houstonians, Clair’s first exposure to community organizing was through disaster relief, when Hurricane Harvey interrupted her junior year of undergrad and opened up the world of mutual aid and solidarity through crisis.
Clair made a career transition from arts education to climate and transportation justice when Houston’s worsening storms impeded her students’ ability to access education. At the same time, she joined Stop TxDOT I-45, a grassroots movement to prevent the expansion and relocation of 23 miles of Houston’s deadliest highway–a move that would displace thousands of Black and Brown Houstonians while irrevocably harming the region’s climate and environment.
With Stop TxDOT, Clair coordinated communications and assisted with direct action planning and research efforts. She also organized a walk and rally to build solidarity between communities affected by the proposed expansion, and in 2021, helped coordinate a large free food, water, and cash distribution effort in those communities after Winter Storm Uri collapsed Texas’s power grid. She will never forget the lessons learned during this terrifying and beautiful time: that even in the most destabilizing crises, beauty and transformation can be found in caring for our neighbors.
Clair came to Pittsburgh to pursue a master’s degree in Environmental History, writing a thesis on the past, present, and future of urban “renewal” and community development in Pittsburgh. Clair developed a chronic illness in 2019, and her organizing is deeply informed by her lived experience of inhabiting a sleepy, pained, disabled body. She knows that our ability to care for each other stems directly from our ability to care for ourselves: rest, sweetness, and intentionality are what build our communal roots strong enough to weather any storm.
The PPT team is excited to have you on board! What drew you to the work PPT is doing?
When I moved to Pittsburgh, I knew I needed to find a home in transportation activism, and PPT was right there from the beginning! I was so excited to find an organization that was rooted in not only transportation policy, but also disability justice, economic justice, racial justice, and environmental justice–in other words, a truly intersectional justice project. I am also so inspired by PPT’s longevity as an organization, and their commitment to decentralized, democratic organizing.
I had the opportunity to deepen my connection with PPT through a 2023 service term (administered by Repair the World Pittsburgh), where I helped design and administer a process for crafting a truly member-led strategic plan. It was thrilling to see how directly members can influence the decisions PPT makes, and I knew I wanted to make PPT my political home.
What work are you excited to do? What victories do you think you’ll help us win in the coming months?
I’m so excited to do communications work again–I love to write and design, and even better when I get to write and design for people and a cause that I love!
It’s been a hell of a first couple months with PPT–about 2 weeks after I first joined the staff, PRT announced its proposal for once-in-a-generation service cuts that could decimate our system if the state transit budget isn’t increased. It’s been an absolute whirlwind, and I’ve thrown down with the rest of the team to coordinate rallies, lobbying efforts, and community agitation around this critical fight. I’m shocked and delighted to see how much progress we’ve made in the past weeks; since I’ve joined, we’ve grown our network of supporters by about 10,000 people! So, to answer the question–I think we’ll win transit funding for all PA!
What’s your experience with transit? What routes have you ridden during different parts of your life? How has the experience varied between cities where you’ve lived and visited?
I’ve been in too many bad car crashes and know too much about climate change to want to drive if I can at all avoid it. My disabled body loves the bus–it is such a relief to have a lift when I’m too nauseous or in pain to walk, bike, or drive to work (or the store, or the doctor’s, or wherever). I also love getting to know my neighbors, and every city looks its best when seen through a bus window!
In Houston, the bus system is excellent–despite lots of systemic walkability issues, the buses are frequent, reliable, easy to decipher, and can get you across a city almost the size of Rhode Island for $1.25. The bus helped me explore my city, learn my way around, and grow my independence as a college student. It was also a radicalizing experience to navigate Houston, a place with massive four-lane streets even in residential neighborhoods, as a pedestrian. I was often the only person walking on the sidewalk, sweating profusely and praying a driver didn’t squish me. No better way to learn the life-or-death consequences of the built environments we choose to make! Even though we don’t face the same type of challenges in Pittsburgh, I learned that it’s easy to organize for a better city when you live the shortcomings firsthand.
What inspires you? What gives you energy that you want to share with others?
This might sound counterintuitive, but the thing that gives me the most energy and inspiration is rest.
When I first got sick in 2019, I had to learn the hard way to slow down–walk slower, do fewer things, say no to opportunities. This was such a painful lesson to learn. But it came with a beautiful lesson, too. If you’re not running at a thousand miles an hour, you notice what makes your corner of the world wonderful. If you walk slowly through Frick Park, you notice that there’s mushrooms everywhere, and you start to wonder what their names are, and then you start to learn more about the natural world that sustains you. If you introduce rest into your organizing, you have time to reflect on what’s working well, what patterns your work is reinforcing, and importantly, which directions you can grow in. That’s the energy that makes life delicious to live, and that’s the energy I aim to bring to my work.
What is your favorite pump-up song?
Molasses by Haitus Kaiyote–Makes me want to dance when I’m sick. Reminds me that life can be gorgeous even when it’s painful!
Image Description: a crowd of transit supporters, advocates, and elected officials gathers behind PPT Executive Director Laura Chu Wiens, who chants into a microphone. The crowd holds homemade and printed signs reading “Transit Moves Us”, “Transit For All PA!”, and more. Text over the crowd reads “Save Our Service: Rally Recap”.
High school students, small business owners, disability advocates, the mayor of Pittsburgh, state senators and representatives, the CEO of Pittsburgh Regional Transit, the president of Pittsburgh’s Amalgamated Transit Union local, and advocates from across Allegheny County: all of these people stood under the same banner on the afternoon of April 29th, calling for expanded, equitable transit funding that moves all of us–from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between.
In the face of massively insufficient funding from the state budget, Transit for All PA!, Pittsburghers for Public Transit, and Mobilify Southwestern PA hosted a rally in Downtown Pittsburgh in support of expanded, equitable funding for systems across the state, including PRT. Speakers included PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman, ATU Local 85 President Ross Nicotero, Mayor Ed Gainey, State Rep. Lindsay Powell, State Senator Lindsey Williams, and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. Also present were high school students from nearby City Charter High and Creative and Performance Arts School (CAPA), disability advocates from across the county, and transit riders who gave public testimony about the ways PRT helps their communities thrive.
Credit: Allegheny CountyCredit: Allegheny CountyCredit: Allegheny CountyCredit: Allegheny County
The rally rounded out a day full of vocal support for PRT, including comments made by PPT members, Transit for All PA! supporters, students, and more. Read more about the rally and hearing in some of the media covering the event. Mayor Ed Gainey summed up the impact of PRT’s proposed cuts with a strong message to Harrisburg: “Don’t take our lifeline. Fund our lifeline. Invest in our people.”
After months of sustained pressure from the public, including over 100,000 letters sent to state elected officials on this issue, members of the PennsylvaniaSenate and House have released memos proposing the passage of a Transit for All PA funding solution, which would protect and expand transit funding for all systems across Pennsylvania.
Transit for All PA! Will be hosting a rally and lobbying day at the state capitol on June 4th in support of these funding measures.
Image Description: 10 PPT Members and transit advocates smile at the camera, sitting in the back of a PRT bus. Some are wearing red PPT shirts and yellow PPT pins, and one is making a peace sign.
On April 25-26, 2025, Pittsburghers for Public Transit hosted our 2nd annual National Transit Advocacy Spring Training with nearly 100 attendees from across the country.
It was powerful, y’all! PPT has made an annual commitment to hosting the National Transit Advocacy Spring Training because we know that it will take all of us to address the rising tide of fascism, to overcome hopelessness and fear and isolation, and to win more abundant transit and not merely manage decline. Grassroots community organizing is our power, and we’re committed to growing that power, together.
Image Description: 13 PPT Members and transit advocates smile at the camera, some raising their fists in victory, some making a peace sign. The group, including 2 power chair users and a service dog, stands outside the PPT office on a sunny day.
Developed as a “Labor Notes” style organizing training with 6 interactive workshops, a transit and a walking/rolling tour, Opening Plenary and storybooth, Spring Training was a full two day Convening! Transit riders and workers shared skills and built community across geographies, age, race and ability.
Develop and share organizing skills among the transit rider and worker rank-and-file
Create leadership opportunities for transit riders and workers locally and across the country through workshop and panel facilitation and storytelling
Build community: there is no substitute for being together in person to learn, to build relationships, and to party!
To fulfill our obligations as a community union of transit riders to our member-ratified 2025 Strategic Plan
The workshops included sessions on “Developing Strong Transit Worker-Rider Alliances”, “MI, MD and PA Case Studies: Statewide Funding Fights for the Transit Service We Deserve”, and “How to Facilitate Excellent Community Meetings and Navigate Conflict in the Moment.” Facilitators in all the sessions shared valuable organizing tools and examples from the front of the room, then opened space for discussion, small group scenario workshopping, and individual campaign reflections.
We are thrilled about seeing so many of our transit organizing siblings from around the country! Shoutout to transit riders who travelled and offered their wisdom from:
Disability Rights Washington
Seattle Transit Riders Union
Detroit Transportation Riders United
Kansas City Sunrise Movement
Richmond Rapid Transit
No Boundaries Coalition (Baltimore)
Bike Durham
Labor Network for Sustainability
Philly Transit Riders Union
Transit Columbus
Clevelanders for Public Transit
TransitCenter
Transit for All PA (Central PA)!
Lastly, we are an Access-Centered Community, and believe that accessibility is a learning process. We really want to hear from all the folks that joined us for this year’s National Transit Advocacy Spring Training, to know what resonated for you and how we can improve on the content and accessibility next year!
image description: graphic has group of transit activists holding “Transit for All PA!” signs with fists up and text atht says “Save our Service! Rally for transit funding to serve our communities April 29 1:30-2:30 955 Penn Ave, 15222”
SOS! Stop the cuts! Stop the fare hikes! It’s time to SAVE OUR SERVICE and win transit funding to move us all!!
Devastating cuts of up to 35% of our bus and T service and 62% of ACCESS services have been proposed to take effect in Allegheny County if the Pennsylvania state legislature fails to pass new funding for transit for next year. The impact of these cuts would be staggering- for riders, for our economy and businesses, for our region’s road congestion and air quality. Bus lines are lifelines, and our lifelines are on life support.
Riders, transit workers and Allegheny County elected officials are standing together to say, “NOT ON OUR WATCH!”
On the first day of Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s first public hearing on the funding crisis, Transit for All PA!, Pittsburghers for Public Transit and Mobilify Southwestern Pennsylvania are cohosting a rally and press conference outside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Join transit riders and workers, County Executive Sara Innamorato, Pittsburgh Regional Transit CEO Katherine Kelleman, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and the Allegheny County Pennsylvania state delegation to show that we are united in the fight for state funding, for the transit service we deserve!
On April 29, Denise, Grace, and I attended the Pittsburghers for Public Transit’s Save Our Service Rally at the corner of Penn Avenue and 10th located near the entrance to the convention center. It started at 1:30pm. We arrived a little bit early with our signs we made specifically for the rally. The City of Pittsburgh was setting up a platform, podium, and sound system for the speakers. A PRT bus and driver were parked in front of the rally location.
Soon the corner filled up and the parking lot where the rally was taking place was full with people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, races, and abilities with their own signs and t-shirts supporting public transportation and opposing the cuts from the state. Plenty of news cameras and reporters were there to record the speakers and interview people in attendance.
Elected representatives from the local to state level were in attendance to support the people and public transportation lending their voices and power to prevent the severe cuts to public transportation that is being proposed by the state. I saw Mayor Ed Gainey and his challenger, Cory O’Connor, Pittsburgh Councilwoman Barb Warwick, County Ex. Sara Innamaroto, and Rep. Moseley.
PPT ED, Laura kicked off the rally laying out the issues and followed up later with the solutions. She was followed by speakers from a variety of sectors including elected government representatives and private industry development.
Like all PPT events the people who are most impacted were the majority and made their concerns and demands heard. It was a great example of coalition building and solidarity across various levels of power and positions.
Image description: Graphic has a bus outline with the text #VoteTransit Candidate Responses” with color photos of candidates who responded to our candidate survey and black & white photos for those who did not respond.
Read what the Candidates running to be PGH’s next Mayor & City Council Representatives have to say about public transit. Take our #VoteTransit Pledge to commit to electing Transit Champion!
With Election Day around the corner on May 20th, city residents will have the chance to choose who should be Pittsburgh’s next Mayor & City Council representatives. We at Pittsburghers for Public Transit know that there is a lot that City and municipal leaders can do to improve access to public transit – from improving sidewalks, to building bus shelters, to creating land use and employee policy that support transit access – even though the Mayor & City Council don’t have direct control over the transit agency itself.
This year, we put together our #VoteTransit 25/25/25 Goal for candidates running to lead our city–and we want them to commit!
Pittsburghers for Public Transit’s Transit 25/25/25 Goals:
Mayoral and City Council candidates must pledge to:
Close 25% of the City’s Sidewalk Network Gaps
Install 25 New Bus Shelters Per Year
Ensure 25% of the New Housing Units Built Near Our Best Transit Assets are Deeply Affordable
Pittsburghers for Public Transit held a Mayoral Forum on April 9th (which was attended by all candidates except Corey O’Connor).
We also issued a short two-question #VoteTransit Candidate Questionnaire to every candidate running in the races for Pittsburgh Mayor and City Council. In the Mayoral race, responses were submitted by Democrats Mayor Ed Gainey and Cory O’Connor, and Republican Thomas West. In the Pittsburgh City Council races, responses were submitted by Councilperson Erika Strassburger, who’s running to continue representing District 8.
Read on to learn what each candidate said about our goal to build more bus shelters, better sidewalks, and more deeply affordable housing near great transit. And join more than 2,000 people who’ve taken the #VoteTransit pledge to vote for *Transit Champions* on Election Day! How can you get ready for Election day? Check your polling place here! and pledge to #VoteTransit below!
#VoteTransit Questionnaire Responses from Democratic candidates for Mayor of Pittsburgh:
1. Do you agree with the #VoteTransit 25/25/25 Goals? If not, what targets would you set as Mayor in this coming term around sidewalk network gap closure, new bus shelter deployment, and the development of more units of affordable housing by the busways, T and our frequent service corridors?
Mayor Ed Gainey
I agree with these goals. From the beginning of my administration, I have stood with transit riders, bike/ped advocates, and everyone in our community who has a vision of how to make equitable mobility a reality in our city. These goals are a powerful next step that have been created by people directly impacted by these issues and I look forward to working with you to implement them.
Corey O’Connor
Yes, I agree with the goals above. Closing sidewalk gaps, adding additional bus shelters, and building more deeply affordable housing near transit would all work together to make our city a safer, more accessible, and more pleasant place to live.
2. For the targets that you are proposing, what are your specific plans to fund and implement the sidewalk network gap closure, install the new bus shelters per year, and ensure housing by transit is affordable? What are the obstacles that you see in meeting your goals, and how would you overcome them?
Mayor Ed Gainey
Sidewalks: When it comes to sidewalks in our city, we have an archaic system that places responsibility for sidewalk maintenance with the property owner. This means that property owners in wealthier communities are better able to keep their sidewalks in good repair than people in lower-income communities. My administration has begun to address this issue with a pilot program that uses city resources to replace large sections of sidewalk – which is more cost effective than having a single property owner replace their own sidewalk – then bills that back to the property owner at cost, and on a payment plan as needed. Not only is it less expensive for the property owner, it allows large sections of sidewalk gap to be repaired at once and increases equitable access to ccessible sidewalks.
Because of this system, as well as the City’s funding constraints over the next two years, closing 25% of the sidewalk network gap will require creativity, persistence, and partnership. Cities like Denver, with its sidewalk fee, are coming up with innovative ways to repair sidewalks and fill gaps. I’d like to work with Pittsburghers for Public Transit, the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, and City Council to consider solutions to come up with the revenue necessary to close this gap over the next four years.
Bus shelters: One way to potentially identify the revenue necessary to create 25 new shelters per year would be for the city to take over shelters from Gateway and start bringing in that ad revenue ourselves – then using that to install more shelters.
Affordable Housing: We can only achieve the goal of 25% of new units near our best transit assets being deeply affordable if we create deep partnerships between the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the Housing Authority, and our other affordable housing partners. My administration has modeled how this is possible by creating and preserving 2,000 units of affordable housing in our first term and beginning a process to reshape the Housing Authority. My administration also has bills currently before the Planning Commission and City Council both for transit-oriented development as well as Inclusionary Zoning, which would require that 10% of all housing built in our high-density zones, including transit corridors, be affordable. It’s proving to be a battle because many of our market-rate developers and their allies on City Council simply don’t want to participate in that – no matter how many tax breaks and density incentives we offer to let them build more and make more money. We’ll continue to move toward this goal using all our resources; from organizing ordinary Pittsburghers in every neighborhood to continuing to demonstrate the effectiveness of our affordable housing development. In a second term, I hope to partner with PPT to select a set of transit stations or neighborhoods with best-in-class transit to create flagship projects that demonstrate to the city what a transit-oriented future will look like.
Corey O’Connor
Meeting these ambitious goals will require a combination of local investment, state grants, and innovative funding mechanisms, as obtaining federal funds under the current administration will be challenging. For sidewalk gap closures, I’d prioritize city capital funds and public-private partnerships, focusing on high-traffic areas. A major obstacle will be private property owners’ reluctance to take on legal responsibility, as the city must sign agreements with each owner before making improvements. Bus shelter installations can be streamlined by working with transit agencies and leveraging private sponsorships or advertising revenue. To ensure affordable housing near transit, I support investing in site preparation, making permitting easier, and expanding financial incentives to accelerate construction. The key obstacles are funding constraints and bureaucratic delays, which I’d address through more efficient permitting processes and targeted investment strategies.
#VoteTransit Questionnaire Responses from Democratic candidates for Pittsburgh City Council:
1. Do you agree with the #VoteTransit 25/25/25 Goals? If not, what targets would you set as Mayor in this coming term around sidewalk network gap closure, new bus shelter deployment, and the development of more units of affordable housing by the busways, T and our frequent service corridors?
Erika Strassburger, PGH City Council District 8
I support PPT’s 25/25/25 goals. We need bold goals such as these to help Pittsburghers shift from a car-centric culture to one that prioritizes public transportation and last-mile modes such as biking, walking, and rolling. In some communities, the barriers are physical – dangerous sidewalks or no sidewalks, uncomfortable and unwelcoming bus shelters or bus stops with no shelter. In other communities, the barriers are more psychological – the amenities might exist, but the buses are perceived to be or are too unreliable or too infrequent to encourage easy use. Denser housing around transit corridors and stations would help drive the usage of those lines, and more affordable housing in these areas would go a long way to ensuring that all residents can live in neighborhoods with excellent amenities and that they can travel to work, school, or other neighborhoods with ease.
Kim Salinetro, Candidate for PGH City Council District 2
[Kim Salinetro did not respond to PPT’s #VoteTransit Candidate Questionnaire]
Anthony Coghill, PGH City Council District 4
[Anthony Coghill did not respond to PPT’s #VoteTransit Candidate Questionnaire]
2. For the targets that you are proposing, what are your specific plans to fund and implement the sidewalk network gap closure, install the new bus shelters per year, and ensure housing by transit is affordable? What are the obstacles that you see in meeting your goals, and how would you overcome them?
Erika Strassburger, City Council District 8
Funding is the largest barrier to reaching all three of these goals. First, any deal with our major five non-profits to receive non-taxable income should include a line item for sidewalks and bus shelters. Workers, students, and visitors to all five of our largest eds and meds institutions rely on public transportation, so their dollars would be going directly toward improving the accessibility of the people using their services. Second, the City could set up a special trust fund for sidewalks and bus shelters. The trust fund could be funded through several methods – advertising on city amenities, increased permit fees for various activities or events, or even a special voter referendum-approved tax. The trust fund would help ensure a constant stream of funding that remained separate from the general fund. This would allow the city to continue the work it has initiated to build and repair sidewalks on whole city blocks around City-owned property that is currently vacant or abandoned and not yet churning through our Land Bank.
Funding for the affordable housing near transit corridors is also an obstacle, but in a different way. As transit-oriented development zoning overlays are proposed and rolled out, affordability should be a requirement. That said, given the soaring cost of the development of housing units, housing is not likely to be built (with affordability) without some way to close the financing gaps. Whether the Housing Opportunity Fund can shift to create a line item for these transit-oriented development areas, or whether tax abatements such as LERTAs or TIFs might be the answer, there needs to be some way to provide a carrot along with the stick. Additionally, for deeply affordable units (30% AMI and below), there must be a partnership with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services to ensure the appropriate wrap-around services are available and are funded.
Kim Salinetro, Candidate for City Council District 2
[Kim Salinetro did not respond to PPT’s #VoteTransit Candidate Questionnaire]
Anthony Coghill, City Council District 4
[Anthony Coghill did not respond to PPT’s #VoteTransit Candidate Questionnaire]
Pittsburghers for Public Transit’s #VoteTransit Questionnaire, as answered by Republican candidates for Mayor of Pittsburgh
1. Do you agree with the #VoteTransit 25/25/25 Goals? If not, what targets would you set as Mayor in this coming term around sidewalk network gap closure, new bus shelter deployment, and the development of more units of affordable housing by the busways, T and our frequent service corridors?
Thomas West
I agree with the intent behind these goals — making Pittsburgh safer, more connected, and more affordable for working families — but I also believe in setting realistic, fiscally responsible targets that reflect our city’s current budget constraints and economic challenges.
Sidewalk Network Gaps: Sidewalks are not just about safety — they’re a fundamental part of our city’s infrastructure and directly impact quality of life. I support the goal of closing 25% of network gaps, but more importantly, I believe we must prioritize neighborhoods with the highest need first — particularly those with schools, senior populations, and high pedestrian traffic. These communities can’t afford to be left behind.
Bus Shelters: With PRT facing financial instability and possible service cuts, our first priority must be preserving access to reliable, functional transit. Once that stability is addressed, I would support a goal of installing up to 25 new shelters annually, but only if we can ensure each one is placed where it’s actually needed — not just to hit a number.
Affordable Housing Near Transit: I do not support mandates that dictate where or what type of housing must be built. I believe in incentivizing development and creating conditions where affordable housing can thrive organically — not through one-size-fits-all policies. We need to focus on neighborhood revitalization that drives private investment, job creation, and ultimately, homeownership — not just rental units stacked by transit stops.
Tony Moreno
[Tony Moreno did not respond to PPT’s #VoteTransit Candidate Questionnaire]
2. For the targets that you are proposing, what are your specific plans to fund and implement the sidewalk network gap closure, install the new bus shelters per year, and ensure housing by transit is affordable? What are the obstacles that you see in meeting your goals, and how would you overcome them?
Thomas West
Sidewalks: The City of Pittsburgh has mismanaged millions in taxpayer dollars over the years — it’s time to get back to the basics. As Mayor, I will audit current infrastructure spending and identify waste to reallocate funds to critical priorities like sidewalks. I will also pursue public-private partnerships and state/federal infrastructure grants — but every dollar must be accountable. No more throwing money at problems without a plan or a result.
Bus Shelters & Transit Support: With PRT facing a fiscal cliff, I will be a vocal advocate in Harrisburg and Washington. Philadelphia has a seat at the table — Pittsburgh needs one too. But while we fight for funding, we must also ensure that current transit dollars are used efficiently. Every shelter should be placed based on data — ridership, need, and accessibility — not political pressure. We must stop chasing headlines and start chasing results.
Affordable Housing: We don’t need more top-down mandates. What we need is economic opportunity in every corner of the city. That starts with cutting red tape for small businesses, investing in workforce development, and supporting local entrepreneurs. When you bring jobs into underserved neighborhoods, you create demand for housing — and that’s when developers step in. My goal is to create environments where affordable housing is a market-driven result of growth, not a politically dictated outcome.
Tony Moreno
[Tony Moreno did not respond to PPT’s #VoteTransit Candidate Questionnaire]
May 20 is Election Day! Make sure you’re registered to vote and take the #VoteTransit pledge to elect Transit Champions on Election Day!
