PPT raised $8,000 in our fall fundraising campaign!! Over 100 people donated! Thank you all so much for your support. We are celebrating a great year of defending and expanding public transit and are excited for all we can do in 2016!
Author Archive: Dan Yablonsky
Concerns about proposed transit connector between Hazelwood and Oakland
Pittsburghers for Public Transit has many questions about the proposed transit project, which would provide a connection between Oakland and Hazelwood. Jonah McAllister-Erickson, along with a few other PPT members, attended the public meeting about the project on December 7th. Here is his report of the evening, along with the questions we posed:
A standing room only crowd of at least 100 community members questioned city planning officials and councilperson Corey O’Connor about the proposed transit link between the ALMONO development in Hazelwood and Oakland, which would run through the neighborhoods of Four Mile Run and Panther Hollow, including the Junction Hollow Trail and park lands that connect the two communities. Much of the initial outcry from both the community and Councilperson O’Connor was about the lack of previous communication about the proposed project. Attendees, both elected officials and community members, were outraged that they first heard about the project through a story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The evening started with a presentation from city planning director Ray Gastil that laid out a few different possible configurations for the proposed transit connector, with either a 12’ or 24’ right of way through Junction Hollow, which would use the current bike and pedestrian trail, and would therefore require bike and pedestrian paths to be shifted to the other side of the park next to the railroad tracks.
Possible benefits of the project include the construction of a pedestrian and bike bridge across the railroad tracks connecting the Junction Hollow trail to Panther Hollow lake, the restoration of the stream that historically ran through the park, and other storm water runoff management measures intended to prevent flooding that periodically inundates the Run. In one of the scenarios presented, an extension of the bike and transit only right-of-ways went all the way through Panther Hollow to (or at least near) the intersection of South Neville and 5th Avenue in Oakland.
Virtually all of the community members who spoke at the meeting opposed the proposed plan. The number one concern raised was the need for a permanent solution to storm water runoff and flooding, something the neighborhoods of Four Mile Run and Panther Hollow have been advocating for several years.
The next biggest concern raised was changing the character of the Junction Hollow Trail and park lands–from a quite green space to a much busier thoroughfare to Oakland. Community members mentioned the crumbling infrastructure in Panther Hollow and the Run, and the concern that running as many as 96 mini-buses through the neighborhood would only exacerbate existing problems. Others worried the connection would turn the neighborhood into a virtual park and ride for commuters working in Oakland.
Pittsburghers for Public Transit asked the following questions about the project.
Question: Private Road? What does that mean? Would the city actually own the road, and does private access mean it is a limited access road?
Is this going to be a private transit service? And was the Port Authority asked about ways to provide additional or enhanced service between the 2nd avenue corridor that the proposed connection would serve? If yes, what did they say? If no, why not?
Answer: The road would be a public right of way, and by private we mean limited access. Who would provide the eventual service is an open question; it could be a private entity, or a non-profit, or the Port Authority.
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Q: Have the labor market implications of using autonomous vehicles been studied? If so, what were the results. The grant application mentioned job creation as one of its benefits; it seems to me that having driver-less vehicles is the opposite of job creation.
A: No answer.
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Q: Why is the projected ridership so small; 250 people/day is low for a transit project. For comparison, the 93 carries over 1,000 people a day, and a similar connector route the 89 hauls 400 passengers a day. It seems like a very large infrastructure expenditure to provide very little service.
A: They hope that as the service exists they will see increased ridership.
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Q: How will the service be paid for
A: We are studying various options, but how the service would be paid for has yet to be determined.
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PPT is also concerned about any development that happens near quality transit options. We insist that residential development include adequate affordable housing for both current residents in a neighborhood as well as low-income residents who would like to live in a place with good transit options.
Additional coverage of the proposed Hazelwood connector can be found here:
http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/9346545-74/street-million-project#axzz3qMnqHCMS
Bus Riders Unite for Service Rally a Success!
Dozens of transit riders and community members came out to speak and to stand together in the fight for better bus service. Many testimonies and heartfelt accounts were given about the lack of service and its effect on individuals from all walks of life. Groups from Penn Hills, Garfield, and Perry Highway came out in support of transit improvements in their neighborhoods and for all those who need it.
The event garnered a large amount of media attention and was covered by WPXI, WTAE, the Post-Gazette, WESA, and KDKA:
Dozens rally Downtown in push for expanded bus service in North Hills, East End
Group urges Port Authority of Allegheny County to fund more transit routes
Port Authority continues to hear pleas for expanded bus service
Suburban residents fill Port Authority meeting to max capacity, demanding bus service additions
Riders rally downtown for more Port Authority bus service
Port Authority Board Hears Resident Requests
Rally Calls For Increased Port Authority Bus Service
Highlights from speakers:
Ken Love (Penn Hills): I see young single mothers walking with their little kids, struggling to keep their kids safe, and then struggling to come back with 3 or 4 bags.
Annie Howard (Perry Highway): Today we alluded to a possible trend in less ridership, which I find strange, because there is a whole room of people behind me that are clamoring for service.
Del Royce Tatum (Garfield) : I would like to invite you to a weekend adventure in Garfield heights, we will go shopping, maybe the movies if you like. Please understand our plight, we have no cars, or a bus to get there. We have the 89 running Monday through Friday. But on the weekends we have nothing. We buy monthly bus passes just like everybody else, but we don’t have monthly service. You have been robbing us of our monies and are freedoms, because we don’t have bus service on the weekend.
Bus Riders Unite for Service Rally
Come out Friday Nov 20th at 8:30 am outside of the Wood St. T-Station for our Bus Riders Unite for Service Rally!
Join transit riders, workers, and residents as we call for adequate transit service in Garfield, Penn Hills, North Hills and all communities that need it. We will be on our way to the Port Authority board to file our requests for service. But it doesn’t stop there. Let’s make sure that elected officials and the public are aware of our needs! We are uniting to get the transit service we need.
Penn Hills Community Meeting 11/10
20 Penn Hills residents came together on Tuesday Nov 10th to speak out about the unsafe conditions they face trying to use public transit. Residents are forced to walk long distances on roads without sidewalks in order to catch a bus. Community members are often almost struck by vehicles, and one woman was actually hit by a car last summer.
PPT is supporting these residents as they request better bus service and safer conditions for walking. All transit users are pedestrians first.
Post-Gazette Editorial Board Pens Op-ed on Transit Deserts
The Post-Gazette has published an article calling that PAAC’s surplus funding should go to addressing service gaps and needs. The op-ed comes after the October 23rd PAAC board meeting at which over 20 residents and community leaders spoke about lack of service in their neighborhoods.
Read more: Transit deserts: The Port Authority must try to find relief
PAAC Board Meeting October 23rd
Residents urge Port Authority to reconsider route eliminations
Residents from Garfield, Perry Highway, and Penn Hills came together to speak at a Port Authority board meeting to call for adequate bus service in their neighborhoods.
October 23, 2015
Watch more: http://www.wtae.com/news/residents-urge-port-authority-to-reconsider-route-eliminations/36008860
http://wesa.fm/post/pat-board-asked-increase-service-3-communities
New PPT Video
Check out our new promotional video for our online fundraising campaign!
Special thanks to Dean Mougianis for the hard work putting the video together and to Laura Weins for starring in it!
Help us keep the public in public transit!
Our online fundraising campaign has begun! Please donate today to support our work!
Make My Trip Count survey
The city and other partners are conducting a survey on commuting in Pittsburgh. Let’s make sure that transit riders’ voices are heard! The survey is focused on those who commute to downtown and Oakland, but everyone can take it!
Please take the survey here:
More information from Make My Trip Count:
Most days of the week, you travel to work or school. How many days? Where do you start and where are you going? Most importantly, how do you get there? We’re interested in your answers.
Make My Trip Count is a survey of Pittsburgh region commuters to figure out how Pittsburghers regularly travel to work or school – and how that commute could be improved. Whether you’re on a bus, in your car, riding a bike, using your own two feet, or traveling by other means, you’re making commute trips multiple times per day – and we’re interested in improving your options and access.
Especially if you make regular trips into Downtown, Oakland, and the North Shore, we need your input. Aggregate results will inform transportation and commute improvements across the Pittsburgh region to reduce traffic, delay, and environmental impacts.
Along with providing more complete information behind regional transportation system decision-making, this survey is also the 2015 transportation reporting mechanism for Pittsburgh 2030 District Property Partners.