image description: photo of Bobbie Fan with caption “Bobbie Fan, PPT Member newly appointed to the PRT Board of Directors” next to text that reads “Congrats, Bobbie!”
County Executive Sara Innamorato appoints PPT Member Bobbie Fan to the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board of Directors! Congratulations, Bobbie!
On July 2nd, Allegheny County Council confirmed County Executive Innamorato’s appointment of Bobbie Fan to the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board of Directors. Check out the official vote here.
Bobbie Fan is a long-time member at Pittsburghers for Public Transit and an active transit rider. They have led our Research Committee for years and were instrumental in the publication of our many reports. Bobbie’s work and these reports have been the backbone of our campaigns and have led to some big victories like winning the new Allegheny Go low-income fare program, winning improvements to extend the East Busway, and defeating the Mon Oakland Connector.
It is a major win for transit riders to have Bobbie’s data-skills and deep belief in grassroots organizing added to the board. Getting riders and transit advocates appointed to the agency board was one of our core demands in last year’s County Executive Race. And because thousands of people organized with Pittsburghers for Public Transit during last year’s race to make transit a top issue, County Executive Innamorato promised to appoint riders and workers to the board. With this appointment, the Executive begins to make good on that promise.
After the County Council approved their appointment on 7/2, Bobbie said:
Pittsburghers for Public Transit has been pushing for years and years for the Pittsburgh Regional Transit board to be more representative of transit riders, workers, members of the disability community, advocates and communities of color. Joining the PRT Board as a nominee from Pittsburghers for Public Transit is just one step in continuing to make sure that rider voices and needs are heard and acted upon. I look forward to pushing for structural changes and improvements for a better transit system and more livable region that elevates the knowledge and visions of transit riders and workers.
We send huge thanks to Sara Innamorato and all County Councilmembers for the nomination an approval. This is a major win thanks to grassroots organizing. We encourage all to become a PPT Member today and grow our power!
Pittsburgh’s getting national recognition, and it’s not good.
Over the last two weeks, a chart has been circulating on social media showing the change in transit ridership from 2023-2024 as we emerge from the low-point of the pandemic.
Image Description: Bar graph showing Top 25 US Bus Agencies by ridership in the first quarter of 2023 and 2024, pictured in red and blue bars. Pittsburgh Regional Transit is the only transit system with lower ridership this year that last. Source was Federal Transit Administration, chart by Naqiy Mcmullen.
Notably, of the top 25 cities for bus ridership in the United States, allof them saw increases to transit ridership — except for Pittsburgh. (The New York City MTA is not represented on this chart, although it also saw increases to transit ridership over the past year.) On average, over the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) saw a daily weekday ridership drop of 9.4%.
“it’s good to be noticed by transit junkies in NY…there’s been a percolating story about ridership at the top 25 properties in the US and what’s going on in Pittsburgh. Looks like we have a data anomaly…and we’re looking at a couple different scenarios on reporting and tracking, and if there’s an adjustment to be made, we’ll be coming back out… there’s some administrative stuff we’re working on.”
PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman at May 2024 PRT Board Meeting
Amy Zaiss, a member of PPT’s research committee, pulled data from PRT’s Performance Metrics portal on their website from January, February, and March of 2023 compared to the same period in 2024, and looked at ridership changes by route. This data seems to confirm the statistics shared in the Twitterverse.
Notably, 57% of the total ridership loss over that period was due to significant drops in ridership on the 61D, 71A, 71C and 71D.
All of these routes used to go to Downtown, but in October 2023, they were permanently short-turned in Oakland. These service changes were implemented despite much vocal public opposition from PPT riders and workers.
In advance of these cuts, PRT argued that riders would shift to alternative routes, including 61A, 61B, 61C, 71B. While these routes did see a total average weekday ridership gain of 1173, it didn’t make up for the short-turned routes, which saw a ridership loss of 5231 in that same time period.
Other alternative routes that were floated included the 65, 67, 69, 82 and 87, but in total ridership fell by an average of 185 riders on weekdays over those routes as well. Therefore, it’s clear from the data that riders of short-turned routes did not switch to alternate routes but instead opted for other modes of transportation.
One of the other routes that experienced the steepest ridership percentage decline over the past year was the 89, where service changes cut off the Harriet Tubman apts. In addition, the 89 route no longer services the Kingsley Association and the library. This route experienced a 27% (or 56 average daily riders) drop between 2023 and 2024.
The Takeaways: PRT needs to trust riders and workers when we say what changes will make our transit worse. We’re calling for PRT to reverse the cuts on the 61 & 71s and proceed carefully with the “Bus Line Redesign” to increase ridership.
Our region needs a transit system that grows service and ridership, one that should be an outlier in positive ways. We believe that Allegheny County can be a national leader with a vision and a plan for ridership growth.
Last year, hundreds of bus riders and workers spoke up with concerns about the impact of the 61 and 71 bus short-turns on the Downtown to Oakland Bus Rapid Transit corridor and called for PRT to amend its plan. With this data in hand, we call on PRT to reverse these harmful cuts and restore the direct connections between communities in the East End and Homestead to Uptown and Downtown.
As PRT continues with its bus line redesign, they must listen to riders and workers in decision-making around service changes because they are experts in their own needs and experiences. The bus short-turns in Oakland prove what the data already shows: riders prefer reliable schedules and 1-seat rides. According to PRT’s 2015 rider survey, 80% of riders don’t require a transfer when using the route they ride most often. The transit network has existed roughly in the same layout for decades. People have chosen where they live, work, and spend time with their friends and family based on this network. The haphazard plan to change some of the largest routes by ridership should be a signal to PRT to approach the Bus Network Redesign with a do-no-harm approach.
However, right now PRT wants a Bus Network Redesign plan to be cost-neutral, leaving some communities to gain better transit at the expense of others. While the plan is still in development, changes to the network will cause further disruptions and schedule unreliability, making it difficult for riders to plan their trips. Over the past year, this has severely hurt ridership levels.
PRT must not let this happen again. We need a bigger vision for the Bus Line Redesign, one that expands service and access to transit for all of Allegheny County. Even in PRT’s most ambitious plan, they only want to increase funding by 10%, which is less total funding than pre-pandemic levels.
We call on PRT to lead the charge by re-imagining what’s possible. They need to be more proactive with advocating for funds and develop strategies to regain ridership. They need to fix schedules and create real goals and metrics to hire workers. Most importantly, they need to put riders and workers at the forefront of their plans.
photo credit TribLive. image description: photo of pro-Palestine Cease Fire activists in Pittsburgh holding signs and a Palestinian flag\
People at the Pitt Solidarity Encampment are asking for you to support them with your presence on Bigelow between Fifth and Forbes. They are also looking for the following supplies:
Portable power banks
Water
Coffee
Snacks
Support students. Support ceasefire. Support divestment from war and investment in public goods – transit, housing, healthcare, education, and all that people need to thrive.
We at Pittsburghers for Public Transit support the Pitt community encampment against the genocide in Palestine and in favor of the divestment of institutional resources from this military action. Many of our members are leaders in this movement, and we honor the courage and moral leadership of the students who are standing for justice in this moment. We oppose the violent police and military response to these peaceful protests.
The participants in these encampments have a right to this city and to public space. We all have a right to have our public tax money serving our needs – for affordable housing, public transit, public healthcare, quality education, and more – and not being directed towards war and the killing of innocent families in Gaza.
Follow these local organizations leading this movement for the most up-to-date information:
Credit Evelyn Ulysse. Image description: 10 people smile while standing shoulder to shoulder in downtown Pittsburgh during May 2024 Transit Tour. Some hold children, others hold bags, and others wear PPT and Casa San Jose t-shirts.
Public transit connects communities and creates community. Pittsburghers for Public Transit and Casa San Jose take new Pittsburgh residents on a Transit Tour from Beechview to Downtown Pittsburgh.
Being new to town is not easy. Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) and Casa San Jose understand that. That’s why we teamed up to introduce members of the Latino community to our public transportation system. We believe that being able to get around independently can bring a sense of security and dignity to people’s lives, assuring that they can access important resources and events.
The group traveled from Beechview on the light rail, locally nicknamed the “T,” to downtown Pittsburgh, where they toured important destinations, like the passport and WIC offices and Pittsburgh Regional Transit Service Center. Along the way, participants learned how to purchase ConnectCards and use transit apps to plan their travels, as well as local transit etiquette, i.e. when to request a stop on the bus, or always use headphones when using your phone, etc. The tour ended at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Downtown, where participants received library cards and information about family programming. Faces were beaming with excitement and pride!
If you want to learn more about PPTs Transit Tours and how to bring one to your community, reach out to us at info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org
El transporte público conecta comunidades y crea comunidad. Miércoles 22 de mayo Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) y Casa San Jose organizaron un recorrido de transporte para nuevos residentes de Pittsburgh desde Beechview hasta el centro.
Ser nuevo a una ciudad no es fácil. Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) y Casa San José lo entienden. Por eso nos hemos juntados para orientar a miembros de la comunidad latina de Pittsburgh a nuestro sistema de transporte público. Creemos que poder desplazarse de forma independiente puede aportar una sensación de seguridad y dignidad a la vida de las personas, garantizando que puedan acceder a recursos y eventos importantes.
El grupo de nueve viajaron desde Beechview en el tren, también conocido como el “T,” al centro de Pittsburgh, donde fueron a destinos importantes, como la oficina de pasaporte y WIC, y también al Centro de Servicio de Pittsburgh Regional Transit. A lo largo del camino, los participantes aprendieron cómo comprar ConnectCards (tarjetas de tarifas) y usar aplicaciones de transporte para planificar sus viajes, así como normas básicas, cómo cuándo solicitar una parada en el autobús. El recorrido terminó en la biblioteca, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Downtown, donde los participantes recibieron tarjetas de la biblioteca y aprendieron sobre programas familiares. Todos se emocionaron sobre sus nuevos conocimientos.
image description: PPT member Lorena shows how to use a Connect Card machineCredit Evelyn Ulysse. PPT Organizer Nicole Gallagher speaks to community members near the Red LineTour-goers waive and smile on board the Red LineCredit Evelyn Ulysse. Group walks through downtown Pittsburgh on transit tourTransit tour group all see how to use the Steel Plaza Connect Card machine
image description: PPT Members who attended the transit Rider Transit Worker Solidarity workshop pose after their workshop
PPT’s Spring Training was a SUCCESS! So much energy, so many workshops, so many members built build bonds together. Our organizing will be stronger because of it all!
It is with great joy that PPT members declare our first-ever day-long organizer training a HUGE SUCCESS! For the last two months a Planning Committee of 9 members have been hard at work preparing a big day of skills-building. The committee first surveyed the membership to find out what skills people were interested in developing. They then took those responses and created an agenda of 10 workshops to dive deeper into those topics. They recruited 18 other members with skills to lead those workshops. And finally, they promoted the event and got nearly 50 members to join for the day of!
If you joined us at the 2024 PPT Member Spring Training, please fill out a survey asap to let us know what to improve for next year!
image description: PPT Members smile during one of 10 member-developed workshops
Check out the schedule of amazing workshops that were all led by members! And keep an eye out – we’ll be sharing recordings in the coming weeks if you missed it.
A Vision for Equitable Transit Service, co-facilitated by Bo Fan and Amy Zaiss
How to Make Our Transit More Accessible, co-facilitated by Brian Hatgalatkas, Laura Perkins, and Margot Nikitas
Sustaining Yourself in Movement Organizing, co-facilitated by Fawn Walker-Montgomery and Samey Jay
Art Making for Movements, facilitated by Marcel Walker
Press Training, Amplifying our Voices Through the Media, facilitated by Patrick McGinty
Worker and Rider Solidarity, co-facilitated by Akshai Singh and Marcus McKnight
Creating Presentations, facilitated by Dean Mougianis
Power Mapping, co-facilitated by Aly Shaw and Gabriel McMorland
How to Be An Ally to our Disability Constituency, co-facilitated by Alisa Grishman and Monica Still
Canvassing at Bus Stops & on Buses, co-facilitated by Ms. Teaira Collins and Connor Chapman
Beyond our members from Allegheny County, we had attendees join us from our Transit Riders of the US Together (TRUST) coalition- coming to PGH from as far as Baltimore, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Columbus, Kansas City, and Denton, Texas!
You best believe we had a very happy Happy Hour celebration afterward!
Image Description: Marcus McKnight from Philadelphia and Akshai Singh from Cleveland smile with PPT Staffer Nicole Gallagher
Enormous THANK YOU! To all of the PPT members who led one of 10 amazing member-developed workshops!
Akshai Singh
Akshai Singh, or shay (they/he), is staff for Mobility, Opportunities, and Vibrant Economy Ohio (MOVE Ohio), and a union barista and member of Starbucks Workers United. Shay helped found Clevelanders for Public Transit and is on DSA’s Green New Deal Campaign Committee as well as a board member of Transit Members of the US Together (TRUST Riders).
Alisa Grishman
Alisa Grishman is a disability activist and founder of Access Mob Pittsburgh, an advocacy group that utilizes positive approaches to making change, such as education and economic incentives. A self-described shameless agitator, Grishman has also been arrested multiple times fighting for disability rights with ADAPT, a national advocacy group. Her work has been recognized locally and nationally in such outlets as the Rachel Maddow Show, NPR, Huffington Post, Esquire Magazine, KDKA News, and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Along with her direct advocacy work, Grishman co-runs Ballots for Patients and Care to Vote, sister efforts that respectively collect emergency absentee ballots from hospitalized peoples on election day and work with nursing and personal care homes to help residents register to vote and fill out ballots. In her free time, Grishman enjoys knitting and collecting antique books. She lives in the Uptown neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA.
Aly Shaw
Aly Shaw is a Research Analyst working in the state power mapping program at LittleSis. She works with activists and base building groups around the country to conduct power research on corporations, billionaires, and rightwing groups. Based in Pittsburgh, she previously spent 8 years as an environmental justice organizer at Pittsburgh UNITED and labor organizer at UFCW Local 1776. Over the years she has led campaigns to prevent the privatization of Pittsburgh’s water system, to make drinking water safer and more affordable, and organized grocery store workers to win higher wages and safer working conditions during the COVID 19 pandemic. She received her BA in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and her Master’s in Public Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.
Amy Zaiss
Amy Zaiss has been a transit rider and cyclist all of her life, having lived car-free for the past fifteen years in five major cities. Her strong belief that better public transportation improves the quality of life for everyone led her to join Pittsburghers for Public Transit shortly after moving to the area in 2021. She contributed to PPT’s Represent Our Routes Report – a comprehensive analysis of the state of transit in Pittsburgh at the district level. Though it was her first introduction to speaking with elected representatives, it was not her last. She continues to stay involved with PPT and holds a leadership position in Pro-Housing Pittsburgh. When she’s not volunteering, you might spot her around town riding her e-bike.
Bo Fan
Mobility data worker turned advocate. They are a community researcher with Pittsburghers for Public Transit, Abolitionist Law Center, and the coveillance counter-surveillance collective. They are now the Pittsburgh Data Justice Project Coordinator at Urbankind.
Brian Hatgelakas
Brian has been an ACCESS and PRT transit user since his college days. He believes that we can improve on-time transit and strengthen ACCESS services by allowing riders to make same-day trips. Brian has been a PPT member since 2022.
Connor Chapman
Connor Chapman is a PPT member and is an active member of PPT’s organizing committee. Connor is graduate worker pursuing a PhD in sociology at the University of Pittsburgh and is also a volunteer labor organizer on the Pitt Grad Union campaign.
Dean Mougianis
Dean Mougianis has been a media producer for fifty years and an educator for thirty years. As a producer, writer, video editor and motion graphic artist, Dean has worked with a wide range of projects and clients, both commercial and non-profit. In the nineteen seventies was among the group of people who put community radio station WYEP on the air and served as an early station manager As an educator Dean has taught courses and workshops in various aspects of video production from beginner to advanced for Pittsburgh Filmmakers, as well as local colleges and unviersities. An early convert to digital media, Dean now specializes in teaching motion graphics and animation.
Fawn Walker-Montgomery
Fawn Walker Montgomery is a community leader, healer, activist, and consultant who is deeply committed to supporting her community, advocating for social justice, promoting Black Liberation, and advancing racial equality. She’s the principal consultant at Fawn Walker Montgomery Consulting and CEO/Co- Founder at Take Action Advocacy Group (TAAG). Fawn has extensive experience in public service and human services. She served two terms as a councilwoman in McKeesport and made history as the first Black woman to run for a State seat in the Mon Valley without a major party endorsement. Fawn’s mental and physical health suffered significantly as a result of years of hard work. After bravely facing a life-threatening battle with endometriosis in the public eye, she decided to start a blog. The purpose of her blog was to raise awareness about holistic natural remedies, such as herbalism, and the healing power of ancestral connections. Additionally, she shed light on the injustices faced by Black women in the medical field. She has a strong belief in using community organizing to push for change.
Gabriel McMorland
As Casa San Jose’s Human Rights Organizer, Laura Perkins is on-call 24/7 to respond to immigration and police detentions in southwest Pennsylvania. With the goal of a Pittsburgh region that is safe for all immigrants, Laura runs monthly new arrival orientations, Know Your Rights sessions, a jail visitation program, and legal clinics. She coordinates the Fondo Solidario, which pays immigration bonds and loans money to victims of workplace violations. Before working at Casa San Jose, Laura did human rights work in Honduras and Nicaragua, throughout two political crises. In her free time, you can find Laura legally observing protests, playing ultimate frisbee, and looking for window cats.
Laura Perkins
As Casa San Jose’s Human Rights Organizer, Laura Perkins is on-call 24/7 to respond to immigration and police detentions in southwest Pennsylvania. With the goal of a Pittsburgh region that is safe for all immigrants, Laura runs monthly new arrival orientations, Know Your Rights sessions, a jail visitation program, and legal clinics. She coordinates the Fondo Solidario, which pays immigration bonds and loans money to victims of workplace violations. Before working at Casa San Jose, Laura did human rights work in Honduras and Nicaragua, throughout two political crises. In her free time, you can find Laura legally observing protests, playing ultimate frisbee, and looking for window cats.
Marcel Walker
As Casa San Jose’s Human Rights Organizer, Laura Perkins is on-call 24/7 to respond to immigration and police detentions in southwest Pennsylvania. With the goal of a Pittsburgh region that is safe for all immigrants, Laura runs monthly new arrival orientations, Know Your Rights sessions, a jail visitation program, and legal clinics. She coordinates the Fondo Solidario, which pays immigration bonds and loans money to victims of workplace violations. Before working at Casa San Jose, Laura did human rights work in Honduras and Nicaragua, throughout two political crises. In her free time, you can find Laura legally observing protests, playing ultimate frisbee, and looking for window cats.
Marcus McKnight
Marcus McKnight is a lifelong resident of the Logan neighborhood of Philadelphia with over 15 years of experience both working in the transit industry and advocating for better public transit. He has past experience working at SEPTA in the planning and customer service sectors. He has served as the chairperson of SEPTA’s Youth Advisory Council and was a part of a team that was instrumental in restoring all night subway service in Philadelphia. He is currently a schoolteacher, transit operator and cofounder of the Philly Transit Riders Union which is an advocacy organization that highlights the viewpoints of transit riders and transit employees.
Margot Nikitas
Margot Nikitas is an activist and labor union attorney based in Pittsburgh.
Monica Still
Monica Albert Still, RN, BSN is an adult with Spina Bifida who is proud to be among the first generation of kids with SB on the threshold of Senior Citizenship. Monica spent most of her life in Connecticut. She has spent her nursing career keeping people in the community. Working her way from client care in the home to starting two Home Health Care Agencies as the administrator, she decided to take on a new challenge. After 30 years in nursing, she has now turned her focus to the advocacy part of nursing and serving her community on a broader level. She is involved in advocacy at the local, state and national levels. Monica currently serves as a board member of Access Mob Pittsburgh. She is honored to serve as the secretary of the board for Disability Rights PA, chair fior the Mental Health Advisory Council and member of the CT Health Law Project board. She is on the planning committee for Disability Pride Pittsburgh. She is also a founding member of the SBA Adult Advisory Council and continues to serve to this day as well as serving on various other committees. She combines care with advocacy.
Patrick McGinty
Patrick McGinty is an English professor at Slippery Rock University and serves on the statewide executive committee of his faculty union (APSCUF). His debut novel Test Drive depicts life for workers in Pittsburgh’s driverless car sector.
Samey Jay
Samey Jay is a passionate organizer invigorated by her early experiences during the Occupy movement and her working-class background, she believes that our activism must be accessible, impactful to, and most importantly, grassroots-led. She was a founding member of Fight Back Pittsburgh, a community-labor affiliate organization of the United Steelworkers local 3657. Samey has developed digital organizing strategies and communications for local campaigns around Affordable Housing, Environmental, Racial, and Economic Justice, and has coordinated marshalls and volunteers for marches and public demonstrations around Pittsburgh for over 6 years. Samey’s activism is informed by intersectional ideals that prioritize wellness above all else. Samey now works for Thomas Merton Center as a community organizer.
Teaira Collins
Teaira Collins is a lifelong transit rider, a Hazelwood community leader, a mother and foster mother, and now a grandmother to six grandchildren. he is very active in the community, volunteering with The Mission Continues to help veterans and with the Hazelwood Family Support Center to uplift young mothers. Ms. Teaira also runs her own non-profit to advocate for those like her son Judah and other famlies with children who have Down Syndrome, and fundraises for the National Kidney Foundation to help research related to her daughter’s health.
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 7th. Voting open from July 10th to 31st.
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 truly member-led organization, and that sets us apart from other non-profits because it is our membership that actually elects our Board of Directors, develops and votes to approve our yearly campaign plan, and participates in our different committees to execute our successful campaigns.
Our organizational 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 7th. 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: 4 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 Andrew Hussein, Fawn Walker-Montgomery, Ricardo Villarreal, and Verna Johnson.
Then 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 Sue Scanlon.
Nominations for these seats are open until Jul 7th. 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 2024 Board of Directors election will open at PPT’s monthly meeting on July 10th, and remain open until the end of the month. 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. CC 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.
2024 PPT Board of Director Election Schedule
Nominations are open until July 7th.
Bios and photos of current nominees will be sent to members before the June PPT meeting and again the week before the July PPT meeting. Bios will also be included on the ballot.
July 10th, 7pm: PPT Monthly Meeting with Board Nominee introductions and Elections, voting opens
July 31st, 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.
100+ Transit Riders & Workers Rally in Harrisburg to support Gov. Shapiro’s $282M funding increase to improve service in all 67 PA counties
Transit riders rallied, met with legislators, and visited the office of every House and Senate official in PA. Our message was clear: Rural and urban Pennsylvanians across our state need better service NOW!
On Tuesday, April 30th, over 100 transit riders and workers rallied on the Capitol and called on legislators to pass the first increase to transit funding at the state level in over a decade, following Governor Shapiro’s budget announcement of a proposed 1.75% increase in the sales tax allocation to the Public Transportation Trust Fund. The proposed funding increase would benefit the millions of Pennsylvanians all across the state who connect to jobs, healthcare, education, and community via fixed route and paratransit services by bringing $1.5 Billion to these systems over the next five years.
Public transit systems operate in all 67 PA counties. Whether we are black or white, whether we live in big cities, small towns, or rural communities, all Pennsylvanians deserve safe, reliable, dignified transportation to the places we need to go. Legislators recognized this message and joined us at the rally. Thanks to Lieutenant Govenor Austin Davis, Rep. Nick Pisciottano, Rep. Ben Waxman, Rep. La’Tasha D Mayes, Rep Tarik Kahn, PH.D, Rep Mary Isaacson, State Rep Paul Takac, Rep. Ed Neilson, Rep. Danilo Burgos for joining.
“Across the state, nearly 1 million Pennsylvanians’ use public transit every single day. We’re talking about young people going to school. Workers going to their jobs. Seniors going to their medical appointments and shopping. Without transit, Pennsylvania’s economy would come to a screeching halt. Investing in transit is key to our economic competitiveness and our economic future. That’s why the Governor and I have proposed a state budget that includes the first major new investment in public transit in more than a decade,” said Lt. Gov Austin Davis.
After the rally, advocates hand-delivered literature packets to the offices of 253 State Representatives and Senators explaining why they should expand transit access. Senator Costa even introduced the Transit for All PA! campaign on the Senate floor!
Help us follow up and send your elected officials in Harrisburg a letter asking them to expand transit access!
In rural counties, small towns and big cities across PA, transit riders and workers are facing catastrophic service cuts, fare hikes, and layoffs due to inadequate operating funding. This proposal provides transit agencies that provide service to every PA county with the resources to stabilize and expand service, improve the affordability of fares, and offer competitive compensation to recruit and retain the transit workforce.
“The Governor’s proposed funding increase would make a huge difference to Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) and the communities they serve. Each year, over 82,000 people utilize this bus system to go to work, school, visit family, go to the doctor, or go on vacation. Let’s face it. If you don’t own a personal vehicle, then there’s often simply no other way to get to travel from one of these places [Altoona, Johnstown, Scranton, Williamsport,etc] to the other,” said State Rep Paul Takac, who represents Centre County.
But, public transportation is essential for every walk of life. From getting people to school, work, the grocery store, doctors appointments, visiting friends, and going to community events. In fact, without public transportation, many riders wouldn’t have a way to get to essential places in their life. And, when there isn’t enough money for public transportation to run effectively, tough choices between service cuts and paying employees end up being made.
image description: Speaker and PPT Member Kelda Gorman raises her hands after delivering a speech at the t4apa rally
“When I hop on the bus, PRT has to decide between “are we going to maintain these vehicles for the safety and access of others?” or “are we going to pay our drivers so we can run them today?”, but with this funding they wouldn’t have to decide to cut service or pay to maintain and fix things that need to be fixed,” said rider Kelda Gorman from Pittsburgh.
When funding for public transportation is consistent, it helps our union workers as well to pay their salaries and health insurance, so they have job stability.
“We’re all here on the behalf of we want to protect our pensions, we want to make sure we’re getting healthcare, we need to be able to afford to pay bills and health insurance. We believe in funding fixed route service and funding our paratransit service. We need to get these people in order and their pay and wages in line, fairly, before we move on to take care of anyone else. We need to fund public transportation, in general,” said Lionel Randolph, President of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1436 Harrisburg and Legislative Director of the PAATU Legislative Joint Council.
image description: a collage of photos of transit riders and workers from across PA taking action for improved transportation options.
Join this pre-rally meeting to connect with transit riders and transit workers from across the state to talk about the critical importance of transit for all Pennsylvania! Help us shape our messaging for the rally on April 30th and determine which Elected Officials we need to turn up the heat on.
Learn more about the Mo’ Money! Mo’ Service! rally to push for the Governor’s proposed $282M for increased transit service in all 67 PA counties!
image description: Spencer poses for a professional black and white headshot with a dark shirt against a white brick wall.
Meet Spencer Jackson! PPT’s newest intern, and a Pittsburgh-based Graphic Designer. Learn a little more about Spencer by reading his bio and some interview answers below:
Spencer is a seasoned graphic design professional skilled in innovation consulting and brand development. With a sharp eye for detail and a flair for creativity, he consistently delivers exceptional design solutions across industries. At RMU’s Massey Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Spencer collaborates with leadership to drive projects aligned with strategic goals, exceeding client expectations with visually captivating designs within tight deadlines.
Through his business, Cer J. Design, Spencer enhances brand recognition by crafting distinctive logos, staying updated on industry trends and utilizing cutting-edge design software. His diverse roles, including Graphic Designer at Robert Morris University and Boosted, showcase his versatility in print and digital design, consistently resonating with target audiences and contributing to project success.
Spencer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Innovation from Robert Morris University, equipped with expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office Suite. Recipient of accolades like the Bow Tie Award and RMU Signature Leadership Award, Spencer’s dedication to excellence and proven ability to translate concepts into compelling visuals make him an asset to any design-centric endeavor.
Time for a little Q&A with Spencer!
Q: What’s your experience with Pittsburgh transit? What routes have you ridden during different parts of your life? How has the system changed for you?
A: Throughout my life, I have ridden the 31 and 41. Coming from where I live, we only have the Washington Transit Authority Bus (Freedom Transit).
Q: What inspired you to pursue Graphic Design?
A: I’ve always been drawn to the power of visual communication. Whether it’s through branding, logos, or graphics, I believe design has the ability to convey messages and evoke emotions in ways that words alone cannot.
Q: As a graphic designer, how do you collaborate with organizations like Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) to ensure that design solutions align with their advocacy goals and resonate with transit riders and workers?
A: Collaboration is key to creating impactful design solutions that meet the needs of advocacy organizations like Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT). By actively listening to their goals, understanding their target audience, and involving them in the design process, we can co-create visually compelling materials that effectively communicate their message. Regular feedback loops, iterative design revisions, and a shared commitment to the cause ensure that design solutions are not only aesthetically pleasing but also strategically aligned with advocacy objectives.
Q: As an Innovation Consultant at the Massey Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, how do you balance creativity with strategic objectives?
A: In my role, I collaborate closely with leadership to ensure that design projects align with strategic goals. While creativity is essential, it’s important to also consider the broader objectives and audience preferences to deliver impactful designs.
Q: Tell us about your venture, Cer J. Design, and how you craft compelling visual identities for clients.
A:Cer J. Design is a strategic design firm that bridges branding and strategy to create timeless and impactful brands. We specialize in crafting brand identities that resonate with audiences, fostering lasting connections and driving sustained success in the marketplace.
Q: What is your favorite music?
A: Music is my lifeline. My music taste is all over the place but that’s good for me. My music ranges from reggae to lofi/alternative music. Some of my favorite artists include:
Cautious Clay
Jungle
Little Dragon
Mereba
Bob & Damian Marley
Work with Spencer this spring along with the other PPT Members who are shaping the narrative about the power of transit riders by signing up for the Communications Committee today!
image description: Flyer for the Transit for All PA! Rally and Lobby Day on April 30th has the title” “Mo’ Money! Mo’ Service!” with the Transit for All PA! logo, a textbox that reads “Rally + Lobby Day!” and a passport stamp that says “April 30, 2024 Harrisburg Join Us!” with a photo of a transit advocate who has their fist raised in the air
Transit Rider+Worker Rally in Harrisburg on April 30th will urge state politicians to connect our communities and pass the first increase to transit funding in over a decade – Join us!
Whether we are black or white, whether we live in big cities, small towns, or rural communities, all Pennsylvanians deserve safe, reliable, dignified transportation to the places we need to go.
But for years, partisan political in-fighting has kept us from reliable public transport systems to get us to our healthcare, jobs, schools and homes.
Grassroots advocacy from Pennsylvania transit riders and transit workers has urged the Governor to propose a state budget that includes the first increase to public transit funding in over a decade! But this proposal won’t become law until it passes the House and Senate.
Now its time to turn up the pressure! With a proposed $282 million to fund improved transit in all 67 Pennsylvania counties, transit riders and transit workers are heading to the PA Capitol on April 30th. We are going to let our elected officials know what expanded transit would mean for us and our communities – and we need you to join us!
By raising our voices together across race and place, we can win the transit improvements Pennsylvanians deserve. You can take action to expand affordable, reliable community transportation options by sending this letter to your elected representatives and joining us for the Harrisburg Lobby Day on April 30th – RSVP Today! (lunch will be provided to all in-person RSVPs)
Accessibility information
What to expect:
Attendees will join dozens of other transit riders, transit workers, and supportive elected officials from across the state at a press conference and rally in the central rotunda of the Pennsylvania Capital in Harrisburg. Speakers will tell stories about the importance of transit in their lives and communities and call on elected officials to champion the Governor’s proposed transit funding increase. After the press conference, attendees will have the opportunity to join small groups that will hold meetings with their individual elected officials to urge them to support expanded funding for transit. Lunch will be provided free to all event RSVPs.
Transportation
Transportation is being coordinated by region, so attendees should check the box on the RSVP form if they would like to join the group traveling from their region. Organizers will reach out to you to coordinate further. If you want to reach out to staff, you can email info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org.
Food and water
Snacks and bottled water will be available for attendees throughout the event. After the press conference and rally attendees will eat lunch in the Capitol Building’s cafeteria. See their menu and weekly specials on their facebook page. All rally attendees who RSVP on this page’s form will have their lunch cost covered by Transit for All PA!.
Accessibility:
Any accessibility needs that you share in the RSVP form will stay private with the planning staff. Accessibility needs for transportation will be shared with the people coordinating transportation to Harrisburg from your region. The Capitol Building is challenging to navigate. See the maps and info for wheelchair accessibility on the PA Capitol Building’s webpage.
COVID procedures:
We encourage everyone to take an at-home COVID rapid test before arriving. Please stay home if you are feeling sick or have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available for those who need them. There is outdoor space available around the Capitol Building’s campus.
