Recently, a number of the candidates for the office of Allegheny County Executive office took up Pittsburghers for Public Transit’s offer to ride a bus route and hear about the issues that transit riders experience daily. PPT invited every candidate for the county executive office to join in the bus ride-along. Four of them, Attorney David Fawcett, State Representative Sara Innamorato, Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb and Allegheny County Treasurer John Weinstein, were able to participate.
On their trips, they were able to speak with PPT members and partners, along with several people enrolled in the low-income fares pilot currently underway in the county. Each candidate was able to hear personal stories from different perspectives. The rides were long enough – an hour or more – to give PPT Organizer Cheryl Stephens time to touch on all the transit issues facing Pittsburgh riders.
This was a great opportunity for riders to connect with the candidates and for those candidates that participated to learn first-hand about the challenges our transit system faces. The incoming county executive, whoever he or she will be, will make the decisions, appoint the Pittsburgh Regional Transit board members, and set the policies that determine the future of public transportation here in Pittsburgh.
Candidates had the opportunity to respond to questions at the end of the ride.
March 27 Ride-along: David Fawcett – 12 McKnight
Candidate David Fawcett and his aide, Ally Derubeis, met with PPT at the McCandless Park-and Ride.
David spoke with PPT Member Sherai Richardson, who is participating in the reduced fare pilot program. Ms. Richardson outlined how this program has changed her day-to-day life – allowing her to save money, have far easier access to healthcare for herself and her family, see new opportunities and experiences available to her children, and enjoy significantly more independence. Sherai made a powerful case for having the program become permanent at the end of the pilot.
Sue Scanlon, Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus operator and PPT Board Member spoke to David in detail about the worker shortage and scheduling issues affecting the transit system. Sue has a unique perspective on how these issues hamper drivers like herself and riders as they navigate the transit system. She made it clear that these concerns are among the most serious to faced by transit workers and riders alike that need to be addressed quickly.
PPT Member Alisa Grishman, regular transit rider and head of Access Mob Pittsburgh, a disability rights organization, highlighted the shortcomings in infrastructure and service that limit the mobility of so many in Pittsburgh’s disability community.
End of ride wrap-up
PPT: “What was your impression of today’s ride-along?”
David Fawcett: “That’s a great experience…really informative, particularly the explanation of the importance of bus ridership for low income families. It’s a priority to increase ridership and users of the bus system. We really should be having free fares for people with lesser means…There’s many, many creative options that allow the funding for this sort of program.”
PPT: “Was there anything new that you learned on today’s ride?”
David Fawcett: “This experience reinvigorated me, increased my drive that I already had to improve public transportation…the critical need of public transportation and principally for people of lesser means and in communities where they might not simply need to get to town, but need to get to a job site or get to a doctor’s appointment.”
March 28 Ride-along: Sara Innamorato – 82 Lincoln
Candidate Rep. Sara Innamorato along with aide Olivia Settle met up with the delegation from Pittsburghers for Public Transit at the Lincoln Loop for the ride downtown.
Rep. Innamorato also had the opportunity to hear from Sherai Richardson about the life improvements she and her family have seen from the low-income fare pilot. Ms. Richardson underscored the importance of making the program permanent and how it would improve the lives of so many of her neighbors.
PPT members and long-time transit riders Ms. Verna Johnson and Ms. Teaira Collins were both able to give their perspectives on how the transit system has changed. Ms. Johnson, who lives in Larimer, described how transit functions as a lifeline to her entire community.
Transit Supervising Instructor Sasha Craig filled Rep. Innamorato in on the difficulties and limitations presented by the worker shortage as well as how drivers are stretched to the limit by scheduling.
End of ride wrap-up
PPT: “What was your impression of today’s ride-along?”
Rep. Sara Innamorato: “You really see the difference from neighborhood to neighborhood in terms of availability of shelters, quality of sidewalks…We need to make sure that we’re investing in this really great public asset…That’s not only an economic development tool, but it is a lifeline for people. This is a valuable resource we need to prioritize investing in.”
PPT: “Was there anything new that you learned on today’s ride?”
Rep. Sara Innamorato: “I really appreciated hearing directly from one of the bus drivers on how to get more people into the workforce. The next county executive [needs to work] creatively on how they can partner.”
March 29 Ride-along: Michael Lamb – 61C Homestead-McKeesport
Candidate Michael Lamb met part of the PPT delegation at the McKeesport transportation center. The other members were delayed when ripple effects from an accident on the parkway east snarled traffic throughout the east end. We met the 61C en route at one of the more dangerous bus stops in the county. A lesson about our car-centric transportation system in itself.
Ms. Teaira Collins and Ms. Clara Weibel, riders and PPT members, gave Mr. Lamb a thorough understanding of how bus service has declined over the years in that area. Ms. Teaira also demonstrated the strong community nature of transit when she greeted so many friends who happened to be on that bus.
The bus operator who was part of the PPT delegation was able to inform Candidate Lamb about the difficulties in addressing the driver shortage.
As the bus rode through Homestead, which has the largest percentage of transit dependent riders in the state of PA, Candidate Lamb got to see how the bus filled to overcrowding.
End of ride wrap-up:
PPT: “What was your impression of today’s ride-along?”
Michael Lamb: “We saw today bus overcrowding…through all these river towns from McKeesport all the way up to Oakland and the critical need that it (transit) serves. Also just the discussion we had around infrastructure, around access and even just basic sidewalks. I think was a great conversation.”
PPT: “Was there anything new that you learned on today’s ride?”
Michael Lamb: “Obviously we knew there was a manpower need. What I didn’t realize was the lack of communication and marketing around hiring…getting out there and recruiting new drivers, new operators, new employees”
April 4 Ride-Along John Weinstein – 61C Homestead-McKeesport
Candidate John Weinstein along with his aide, Amanda Horn, met with the group from PPT at the McKeesport Transportation Center.
The candidate had an opportunity to hear from rider Antonia Guzman about the positive effects the low-income fares pilot has had in the life of her and her daughter. She was also able to make candidate aware of the multi-language translation shortcomings in the transit system has.
Operator Instructor Supervisor, Sasha Craig, made the case for better worker recruitment to address the driver shortage.
Ms. Teaira Collins, long-time rider and PPT member, gave Mr. Weinstein the benefit of her multi-decade experience with public transportation in that specific area.
End of ride wrap-up:
PPT: “What was your impression of today’s ride-along?”
John Weinstein: “This was a fantastic experience. I’m 100% committed to our infrastructure and public transit. It takes understanding the plight of people and being able to help them. Everyone should be safe first and foremost. The bus stop should be safe. The sidewalks, the infrastructure.
PPT: “Was there anything new that you learned on today’s ride?”
John Weinstein: “I learned about the main lines and how accessible they need to be for people. We need more drivers. We need more maintenance people. We need more people to take care of the bus shelters and the sidewalks and the infrastructure. This was a very enlightening opportunity”
