Volunteer for the Summer Membership Drive!

image description: PPT Member Josh Malloy leads a rally for fair fares

Help PPT bring on 100 new members during our Summer Membership Drive!

Our members are the heart of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. Help us grow our membership by volunteering to help our Summer Membership Drive.

PPT Summer Membership Drive Phone Bank Sign-up

Time Is Running Out! Regional Plan Needs Big Vision For Public Transit

image description: SPC’s graphic to promote the Long Range Transportation Plan

The Southwest Transportation Commission is revising its long-term transportation plan for the entire SWPA region.
Public meeting is being held on 6/8.
Deadline for public comment is 6/9.

Take a Look:

Big plans are in progress for public transit in Allegheny County (and the whole Southwest PA region including Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland County and 6 other regions)!

Who’s Doing the Planning:

The Southwest Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is a planning body for the 10 counties of Southwest PA, representing a region bigger than the state of New Jersey. The SPC applies for and receives a lot of federal and state funding for regional public transit projects, and they have a lot of planners on staff to help identify and design repairs and improvements to our transit systems. 

Why are we talking about this now?

Well, every five years, the SPC updates its Long Range Transportation Plan. Right now, the SPC is asking for feedback on that draft plan, called SmartMoves for a Changing Region: Long Range Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Programs. For Allegheny County and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), this plan has some big visions including the busway extensions to the Mon Valley and Monroeville, an aerial gondola (!) running north and south connecting Allentown and communities south of the Yough to Hazelwood to Oakland and up to Lawrenceville. This plan also has some necessary big repairs and replacements, like replacing much of our rail car fleet and building a fifth bus garage, one that can allow for more buses and an electric fleet.

image description: event flyer for Public Meeting on June 8th

Public Meeting on Thursday, June 8th at 6:00 pm:

The SPC is holding their Allegheny County virtual public meeting to talk about the Long Range Transportation Plan and get public input. Register here to attend virtually at 6:00pm and make sure your priorities are heard! 

Give your feedback by email and take the survey:

Email your comments on the plan to comments@spcregion.org

Or click here for the SPC Public Input Form to submit your survey

The plan needs goals around improving service to actually connect communities. Here’s what we’re saying as advocates for better public transit:

For PPT, we felt that it was most important to call on the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission to include some plans and goals around restoring and expanding transit service in the long-range plan. The current plan draft doesn’t really mention growing service, which seems like a big oversight– transit riders have lost so much service frequency since the beginning of the pandemic (10% in Allegheny County of total operating service hours), with no plan for those transit service hours to be restored. That means that riders are left waiting at the stop for longer between buses or trolleys, and sometimes the service cuts have meant that transit stops earlier at night, leaving riders stranded after work or starts later in the day, leaving riders without options to get to work in the early morning.

The problem is, for PRT to restore and expand transit service, PRT needs to get serious about recruiting and retaining transit operators. With a beginning shortfall of more than 200 frontline transit workers, and not enough new employees being trained each quarter to replace the workers that are retiring or leaving, something drastic needs to change if we want the service trend to go in the right direction.

In PPT”s letter to the SPC for comments on the Long Range Transportation Plan, we put forward the following suggestions:

“In order to have an effective, connected regional transportation network, the restoration and the expansion of fixed route transit service across all ten counties must be a central focus. The SPC should be a leader in visioning what a frequent and reliable transit service network across our 10 county region would look like. Sister municipal planning organizations to the SPC like METRO in greater Portland, Oregon centered the need for expanded service frequency and affordable fares in their long-range plan, and the San Francisco area Metropolitan Transportation Commission explicitly named goals and the cost to reverse pandemic-related cuts to total transit service hours as well as the funding needed to expand local transit frequency and reliability.

At a minimum:

  • The SPC must measure and report upon total transit operating hours currently provided by each of the fixed route transit service providers in the region, compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. The SPC should also assess transit service reliability for each of the fixed route transit providers, because poor reliability is often an indication of a mismatch between available labor and scheduled service hours, and can reveal deeper service cuts than what is visible on the published schedule.
  • The SPC should identify near and long-term goals for transit ridership growth across the 10 counties, and the transit service frequency increases that would be required to achieve that ridership growth. 
  • The SPC should track and report the shortfall in transit operators and maintenance employees needed to provide pre-pandemic levels of service, and identify how many new frontline employees would be needed in each region to expand transit service frequency to meet near and long term goals. 
  • The SPC’s long-range transportation plan should budget for the increase of transit workers (including the operating cost increases needed to support expanded recruitment and improve retention) to meet service restoration and expansion goals, and not merely identify what funding would be needed to maintain this diminished status quo.”   

As one last note, we really wanted to celebrate that the plan calls for bus rapid transit from downtown Pittsburgh into the Mon Valley, and in the Eastern Suburbs out to Monroeville! These demands have been the focus of our Beyond the East Busway campaign, and they are next on the docket to be funded and implemented! PPT Organizing Fellows led a planning effort to survey hundreds of transit riders in those communities to identify what improvements transit riders needed to make buses and their streets safer, their buses faster and their trips more dignified…when we organize, we win!

Read the plan, and give your comments! There’s lot’s you can weigh in on. If you also want to weigh in about a need for service restoration and expansion, it’d be good to share how the transit service cuts have impacted you and your community, and how transit service expansion would benefit your life.

Thursday, June 8th at 6:00 pm, SPC Long Range Plan Public Meeting:

 Register here to attend

Email your feedback: comments@spcregion.org or click here SPC Public Input Form Survey (surveymonkey.com) 


Below is PPT’s feedback letter to the Southwestern PA Commission on the 2023 SPC SmartMoves: Long Range Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Programs Draft

6/5/2023

Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT)’s Public Comment on the 2023 SPC SmartMoves: Long Range Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Programs Draft

Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) is a grassroots union of transit riders and transit workers, organizing for a more expanded, affordable, equitable and accessible transit system in Allegheny County. Our region and our communities thrive with strong and stable investment into our public transit system. As such, we support the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission (SPC)’s Long Range Transportation Plan’s call to increase capital funding directed towards public transit capital needs like building a fifth bus garage, replacing the light rail fleet, and addressing PRT’s state of good repair needs. We support the need to expand local funding options to supplement state transit funding, and the holistic, equitable land use and TDM policies to make transit accessible to low income and other marginalized communities, and incentivize transit use over single occupancy vehicles. 

We particularly applaud the progress towards the visionary public transit projects being planned: of the North-South connector spanning neighborhoods like Allentown, Hazelwood, Oakland and the Hill District, and the extension of dedicated BRT corridors to Monroeville and Mon Valley. The latter project has been a central goal of our organization over the last several years, stemming from an extensive PPT participatory planning effort with local leaders in the Eastern Suburbs and the Mon Valley to identify priority transit corridors and infrastructure needs that would best serve those communities.

However, while capital improvements and investments can make transit more accessible, safer and more efficient, there is a major omission in the current Long Range Transportation Plan draft. Over the last several years of the pandemic, communities across the 10 county SW-PA region have all been devastated by deep and lingering service cuts. In Allegheny County alone, total Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) revenue operating hours have been cut by at least 10%, through incremental reductions every quarterly service change over these last several years.  For smaller transit agencies, service cuts can have an even more drastic impact with riders left stranded for hours. When transit service is reduced, so too is resident access to high paying jobs, healthcare networks, schools, childcare and community services. Without reliable, frequent transit service, our regional goals– for a robust economy, for clean air and lower congestion, for mobility for all– simply cannot be met, because electric buses that only run once an hour, or upgraded station areas that have limited transit service don’t actually meet resident needs. 

And there is no end in sight for transit service reductions. At PRT, the transit operator shortfall is a primary catalyst for these cuts, and this is mirrored in counties across the SPC footprint. Allegheny County fixed route transit now has a deficit of over 200 frontline transit employees, and the labor crisis is growing every day because of worker attrition and the hundreds of frontline workers anticipated to hit retirement age this year and next year. At this point, PRT does not even have the capacity to train new employees quickly enough to just replace those that are outgoing each quarter, let alone to close the frontline worker gap. Without ambitious worker recruitment and retention plans, without dedicated operating funding for these purposes, and without a focus on transit operators and transit service restoration and expansion in the SPC Long- Range Plan, our communities will not thrive.

Fortunately, there is a blueprint for addressing the transit worker shortfall. TransitCenter, a national transit think tank and foundation, published a heavily-researched guide to addressing the labor shortfall entitled “Bus Operators in Crisis” last year with specific policy recommendations for transit agencies, municipalities, states and the federal government. More specifically for our region, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 President Ross Nicotero wrote an op-ed published in TRIBLive that offered a number of suggestions around hiring and retention that takes into account the experiences of the thousands of current and former operators that he represents. These recommendations could expand upon the Workforce for Change portion of the SPC long-range plan, to highlight the workforce needs to specifically provide the transit service quality our communities deserve. Transit operator jobs are the jobs of today and the future.

In order to have an effective, connected regional transportation network, the restoration and the expansion of fixed route transit service across all ten counties must be a central focus. The SPC should be a leader in visioning what a frequent and reliable transit service network across our 10 county region would look like. Sister municipal planning organizations to the SPC like METRO in greater Portland, Oregon centered the need for expanded service frequency and affordable fares in their long-range plan, and the San Francisco area Metropolitan Transportation Commission explicitly named goals and the cost to reverse pandemic-related cuts to total transit service hours as well as the funding needed to expand local transit frequency and reliability.

At a minimum:

  • The SPC must measure and report upon total transit operating hours currently provided by each of the fixed route transit service providers in the region, compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. The SPC should also assess transit service reliability for each of the fixed route transit providers, because poor reliability is often an indication of a mismatch between available labor and scheduled service hours, and can reveal deeper service cuts than what is visible on the published schedule.
  • The SPC should identify near and long-term goals for transit ridership growth across the 10 counties, and the transit service frequency increases that would be required to achieve that ridership growth. 
  • The SPC should track and report the shortfall in transit operators and maintenance employees needed to provide pre-pandemic levels of service, and identify how many new frontline employees would be needed in each region to expand transit service frequency to meet near and long term goals. 
  • The SPC’s long-range transportation plan should budget for the increase of transit workers (including the operating cost increases needed to support expanded recruitment and improve retention) to meet service restoration and expansion goals, and not merely identify what funding would be needed to maintain this diminished status quo.   

Without a long-term plan to restore service to pre-pandemic levels and both budget and plan for the expansion of service, it will be impossible to meet the mobility and climate goals of the long-range plan. If public transportation continues on the path of fewer operators, reduced service hours, and shrunken route coverage, local economies will continue to be left behind. We are hopeful that the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission can be a compelling force towards reversing this trend, by centering the need for restored and expanded transit service and a strong plan for transit operator hiring and retention in the 2023 SmartMoves: Long Range Transportation Plan.

Find Out the Secret Recipe for PPT’s Newest Organizer, Nicole!

Meet Nicole Gallagher! PPT’s newest staff member, and the organization’s second Community Organizer.
In her own words, here’s the secret recipe:

Recipe for a PPT Organizer:

9 years labor organizer with Unite Here

20 years proud service industry worker 

A dash of local, diy Pittsburgh organizing

Several ounces of personal and family history of riding public transit 

A heavy pour of working class, immigrant family 

Shaken not stirred. 

There you have PPT’s newest community organizer, Nicole Gallagher! Her family roots and strong sense of right and wrong have made social justice work a pleasure through most of her adult life. At any meeting, you’ll hear her sharing tales from her union organizing experience at hotels in Chicago or the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. When she’s not sharing about work, find her telling true stories at local storytelling events around the city or out hiking in the woods with her dogs. 

Join us in welcoming the newest member of the PPT family, and join a PPT Committee to get more involved with our organizing

PPT is growing and so is our movement. This is big news for public transit organizing in Pittsburgh. Nicole has lived and organized in Pittsburgh for over a decade. She has worked on a spectrum of issues – from workers rights, to healthcare access, to sex-positive education. PPT couldn’t be more excited for her to bring that perspective into the organizing. Good things are to come.

After some good debate summer about the tradeoffs of creating a larger staff, the PPT Board decided to add a second Community Organizer and bring PPT’s paid staff up to four full-time members. This position double’s the organizign capacity at PPT, which allows us to further-develop existing PPT members as leaders and build stronger connections with new constituencies. The Board’s central goal with the new position is to build a stronger, more engaged grassroots base of leaders. Because we know this will translate to winning more campaigns for better public transit and more affordable housing access for Pittsburghers.

Learn a little more about Nicole by reading her bio and some interview answers below.

As a person raised in a working class, immigrant family in Chicago, public transit has been a vital part of Nicole Gallagher’s life from the get-go. She grew up hearing stories of how her grandmother learned to speak English on the bus and accompanied her mother on grocery runs, often helping with the arduous task of navigating a shopping cart full of groceries on the bus ride home. A proud waitress, Nicole spent nearly a decade organizing with the labor union, Unite Here. At any meeting, you’ll hear her sharing tales from her union organizing experience at hotels in Chicago or the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. When she’s not sharing about work, find her telling true stories at local storytelling events around the city or out hiking in the woods with her dogs.

The PPT team is excited to have you on board! What drew you to the work that PPT is doing? 

I have always been a fighter, drawn to standing up for what is right. Nothing is as powerful and beautiful to me as being a part of people taking control and changing their lives. I still get a rush when I think of some of the unionization actions I participated in at the Rivers Casino. Organizing is real magic to me. For years I had been hearing that PPT was doing really great organizing in Pittsburgh. I felt that if I were going to organize full time again, it had to be with the real deal and it had to be at the intersection of so many urgent issues in Pittsburgh, which is where PPT is at. 

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?

When I first moved to Pittsburgh I started riding the 91, 88, 86 and 87 from my houses in Lawrenceville and later Bloomfield. When I worked at the casino, I used to love parking in their lot for free and riding the T into downtown. I’ve always preferred to bike when the weather is nice. Now that I live on the northside I ride the 6. My last job in the service industry demanded that I work late hours, so I started driving more because I was scared of getting stranded on the other side of town in the middle of the night. This has given me a real understanding of the cost of living off of a bus line that is not as accessible. I look forward to riding the bus more now with the perspective of someone who can help make a difference.

What work are you excited to do? What victories do you think you’ll help us win in the coming months?

I’m learning a lot about the service cuts and operator shortage since the pandemic. These issues feel very winnable to me! If there are resources for new infrastructure, there are resources to restore service and hire drivers.

What inspires you? What gives you energy that you want to share with others?

I am inspired by people’s stories, in particular those of overcoming struggle. I remember being 10 or 11 years old, watching a PBS documentary about the Civil Rights Movement and feeling in awe as I watched Dr. Martin Luther King lead a march. I vowed to myself right then that I would dedicate my life to serving others. I don’t think I really even understood what I was saying to myself, but through the years I have felt that grow inside of me and become a reality. People’s resilience AMAZES me everyday. 

What is your favorite pump-up song?

I love music, so I’m gonna share a few of my favorite pump-up songs:

1. The Coup, Favorite Mutiny – used to listen to this song on my way to the casino to get myself in the mood when I was about to confront management. 

2. Beyonce, Big Ego – I listen to this when I’m anxious and doubting myself. Nothing like a solo dance party to feel oneself.

3. Julie Andrews, My Favorite Things – I listened to this at the casino when I was faced with anti union coworkers who liked to angrily confront me. It reminded me that there was sweetness in the world. When I’m sad, it lifts my mood to remember how I got through those rough days. 

Check out our Coordinating Committee and Staff page to see the core team of organizers who lead PPT, and volunteer on a PPT Committee to get involved

People Power! Not Techy Products.

People Power! Not Techy Products.
A Funeral Parade for the Mon Oakland Connector
and Birth Day Picnic for a New Day of Community-Driven Process

Sunday, June 11, 2023 – 1pm
Parade start at Panther Hollow
Parade end and picnic at the playground in The Run
Picnic Potluck until 4pm-ish

Out with the bad, in with the good! As the brass band sings, join us to celebrate the burial of the Mon Oakland Connector and uplift a new vision of community-centered process to take its place – one that uplifts the power of Pittsburghers over products and corporate profits. Join residents of Four Mile Run, Hazelwood and Panther Hollow, along with Junction Coalition, Pittsburghers for Public Transit, P.O.O.R.L.A.W., GH-CARED, and Eagleburger Band, for a New Orleans-style brass band funeral parade followed by a good-’ol community potluck picnic.

This is a family friendly, pet friendly, bike friendly event. Attendees are encouraged (but not required!) to wear their Sunday best or any manner of colorful costumes to celebrate what neighbors can build when we work together. 

The Parade:

Start at the Panther Hollow Parking lot and end at the playground in The Run. We recommend walking up from The Run to join us at the start, a 15-20 min walk at a leisurely pace. If you’d like to attend the picnic but not participate in the march you can meet at the playground in The Run at 1:45pm.

The Picnic/Potluck:

Attendees can bring a dish or something else or not. Some refreshments will be generously provided by Big Jims and Zano’s Pub House.

Transportation + Parking:  

The 52L, 53L, 56, 58 stop is a 5 min walk to the playground in The Run. The start of the parade in Panther Hollow is a 15-20 min walk from there. Car parking is available in the lot at the soccer field next to the Junction Hollow trail. Bike parking available in the park.

Questions or access needs reach out to info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org

RSVP to join the funeral parade and birth day picnic!

Take the #VoteTransit Pledge to elect a champion for public transit

Image Description: Graphic of the County Executive Candidates who all answered PPT’s #VoteTransit Candidate questionnaire overlaid on a PRT bus. Text reads. “Pledge to #VoteTransit May 16th”

Transit riders! Make the pledge to #VoteTransit this Election Day to put a County Executive in office who will do the most for transit riders and our transit system

Voters will roll to the polls to elect a new leader for the MOST POWERFUL REGIONAL OFFICE FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT, the Allegheny County Executive. The County Executive appoints a majority of PRT Board members, they control billions of public dollars, and set policy that can transform transit. Riders need to learn the public transit platforms that each candidate will bring to office and VOTE for the candidate who shares our vision.

Last month, PPT issued a #VoteTransit Questionnaire to each of the candidates for County Executive. We wanted to give the candidates an opportunity to lay out the priorities that they have for public transit, affordable housing, economic and environmental justice. 

We also want riders to get familiar with these candidates and pledge to #VoteTransit for an Executive who will do the most for transit riders and our transit system.

Here’s a summary of what each candidate said in our #Vote Transit Candidate Questionnaire:

State Representative Sara Innamorato
Democrat
37 Years Old

In PPT’s #VoteTransit Qestionnaire, Sara commits to use the office of Allegheny County Executive to:

🚌 Appoint at least one rider and one operator to the PRT board

🚌 Put a moratorium on service reductions and cuts

🚌 Create a permanent zero-fare program for all SNAP/EBT recipients 

🚌 Build more affordable, transit-oriented development

🚌 Work with Mayor Gainey and other local leaders to invest infrastructure dollars to improve transit, and pass pro-transit zoning reforms at the municipal level

🚌 Establish more communication between PRT and the community and transit advocates 

🚌 Fully implement a bulk pass discount program to get large employers to pre-pay for transit passes for their employees

🚌 Seek PILOT payments or additional taxes from large employers and non-profits

🚌 Create a new position at PRT focused on language accessibility and disability access

Michael Lamb
Democrat
61 Years Old

 In PPT’s #VoteTransit Questionnaire Michael commits to use the office of Allegheny County Executive to:

🚌 Turn the discount fair pilot program into a zero fare program for all SNAP/EBT households in Allegheny County.

🚌Increase transit-oriented development

🚌Support incentives and requirements to significantly increase affordable housing

🚌Ensure that PRT and county government regularly hear from transit riders and workers to keep county gov accountable

🚌Increase transit funding by leveraging state and federal funding, along with greater contributions from corporations and our largest employers

🚌Require corporations and our largest employers to pay their fair share and contribute to our communities.

🚌Ensure that no one in our communities is ever excluded because of a disability, a language barrier, or any other reason

John Weinstein
Democrat
59 Years Old

In PPT’s #VoteTransit Questionnaire, John commits to use the office of Allegheny County Executive to:

🚌Engage at all local levels to determine local needs

🚌Utilize private-public partnerships to fund a permanent zero fare program for all SNAP/EBT households in Allegheny County

🚌Regularly hold listening sessions to dentify systemic problems and coverage gaps. Adapt as necessary

🚌Promote internal efficiencies

🚌Expand the fleet’s transition to electric buses

🚌Call for a funding increase from the Allegheny Regional Asset District.

🚌Promote inclusivity and welcome individuals of all backgrounds

David Fawcett
Democrat
64 Years Old

In PPT’s #VoteTransit Questionnaire, Dave commits to use the office of Allegheny County Executive to:

🚌 Cut or eliminate fares for those under the median income level

🚌Address the issue of the ongoing shortage of operators

🚌Expand transit service in Allegheny County

🚌Encourage employers and non-profits to supplement or fully pay fares for their students, patients and employees

🚌Encourage the passage of local zoning ordinance changes to require affordable housing

🚌Require developers to build affordable housing if they receive any sort of public funding for their development

🚌Encourage PRT to investment in better facilities and stops near actual and potential affordable housing sites

🚌Appoint riders to the PRT Board

🚌Insist that PRT make changes in routes, facilities and programs as suggested by transit riders

🚌Appoint a member of the Board to represent the interests of the disability community and other minority populations.

Will Parker
Democrat
40 Years Old

In PPT’s #VoteTransit Questionnaire, Will commits to use the office of Allegheny County Executive to:

🚌 Update the bus schedules to real times, delays, and potential road closures

🚌Work with developers and make sure affordable housing guidelines in place before any contracts are approved.

🚌Invest in new technology and add rating features on the bus for transit riders to give real-time feedback

🚌Increase funding for PRT by partnering with corporations, local businesses, and nonprofits

🚌Always consider both language barriers and disability barriers when making critical decisions around them

PPT did not receive answers from Joe Rockey or Theresa Colaizzi.

Make the #VoteTransit pledge to elect a County Executive who will make a permanent discount-fare program expanded to all low-income residents in Allegheny County, develop ample affordable housing near great transit, and increase funding to expand our service:

Join Our Board! 2023 Nominations Are Open To Be A Leader for Transit Justice

Image Description: PPT Member Lorena speaks at a PPT rally and release of our “Representing Our Routes” report in the Spring of 2023. She is flanked by an ASL interpreter and dozens of PPT members holding red and yellow signs.

Join the core team to coordinate the strategic direction of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. Nominations open until July 5th. Voting open from July 12th 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 5th. 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.
5 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.

See the list of current Board Members here.

This year, the board decided to open 5 seats for General PPT Members to serve on the board. These people will be elected to the seats currently filled by Barb Warwick, Dean Mougianis, Nickole Nesby, Paul O’Hanlon, and Swetha Jasti. Then our bylaws require that an additional seat is open for election that is reserved for a union transit worker. This seat is currently being filled by Kevin Joa.

Nominations for these seats are open until Jul 5th. 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 2023 Board of Directors election will open at PPT’s monthly meeting on July 12th, and run 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.

2023 PPT Board of Director Election Schedule

  • Nominations are open until July 5thth.
  • 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 12th, 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.

#VoteTransit Textbank for County Exec Election

image description: graphic has a clipart photo of a person with short hair holding a cellphone to their ear. There is a clipart speech-bubble pointed to them that if filled with photos of PRT buses. Text in the bottom right corner reads “Election Day is May 16th #VoteTransit”

Help transit riders get to the polls to vote in the most consequential election for our transit in the last decade!

Primary Election Day is fast approaching on May 16th and there is a lot at stake for public transit riders in the Allegheny County Executive race! The Allegheny County Executive has the most power of any local official when it comes to public transit. They control the majority of the appointments to the PRT board, they control billions of dollars that can expand the zero-fare transit program pilot, and they control a number of other departments and policies that can transform transit for riders.

Pittsburghers for Public Transit has spent the last few months getting to hear from the different County Executive candidates to learn about their transit priorities. 4 candidates joined us for bus ride-alongs to learn about the issues that transit riders are having. 5 candidates submitted responses to our Transit Justice Questionnaire with their transit platform. We promoted the information about the candidates’ transit plans to thousands of transit riders. We’ve canvassed at bus stops. We’ve sent mailers. We’ve held textbanks and phonebanks. And with just a few days left, we can’t stop now!

Help to bring this election home for the public transit we deserve! Volunteer with us to spread the word and make sure that riders #VoteTransit. We need to put the biggest transit champion in the Allegheny County Executive seat!

Action Alert! for the Next County Exec to Expand the Zero-fare Program

image description: PPT member Debra Green leads a rally for affordable fares. She is smiling and has her fist raised in the air. PPT Members stand behind her holding signs.

Free transit is on the line in the Allegheny County Executive Election on May 16!

Transit riders were successful in advocating for a program to test free fares, but now YOU can help make it permanent and expanded for all low-income riders.

Will you sign the petition to demand that the next Allegheny County Executive extends free transit to all SNAP recipients?

 

In Allegheny County, our transit fare system charges the poorest riders the most, which keeps families from getting groceries, accessing medical care, childcare, employment, and connecting with loved ones. This is neither just nor sustainable. 

No one shouldn be forced to choose between buying food or having bus fare. Members of Pittsburghers for Public Transit– along with allies organizing for housing justice, food justice, and worker justice– have made the demand for free fares for years. As a result, we won a 1-year pilot program giving free fares to thousands of low-income riders in the County! Now it’s our opportunity to make the program permanent, and expand zero-fares for all families with SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) in Allegheny County… and the County Executive election is our path to achieve that.

So what does the County Executive have to do with public transit? 

The Allegheny County Executive (ACE) is the most powerful elected position in our region, and has the power to pass policies that support transit riders and transit workers. In addition to appointing over half of the Board at Pittsburgh Regional Transit (formerly Port Authority), the County Executive controls more than a billion dollars in the County budget and can ensure that the temporary Discounted Fares Pilot Program is funded permanently, and expanded to all SNAP households.

Bus fares are not the only thing that the Count Executive can improve. We also need more transit service, safe sidewalks, and bus shelters all throughout the county, and housing that we can afford to live in by transit. You can learn more about where each candidate stands on these critical transit rider issues by checking out this candidate questionnaire that Pittsburghers for Public Transit put together.

Will you sign this petition to help us send a message to all the candidates running for Allegheny County Executive? The time for a zero-fare program for low-income riders is NOW! 

Pledge to #votetransit by May 16th to secure free transit for all SNAP recipients in our county. 


Free transit for SNAP recipients would be transformational for Allegheny County. You can sign on to help expand it to all.

VoteTransit County Executive Candidate Q&A

image description: graphic with a photo of the candidates who responded to PPT’s #VoteTransit candidate questionnaire superimposed over a PRT bus and a yellow/red background. Text reads “Transit Q&A with candidates for County Executive #VoteTransit on May 16th”

Transit riders must elect a #TransitChampion as our next County Executive!
Primary Election is May 16th
General Election is November 7th

Traducción al español aquí

The Allegheny County Executive is the most powerful person in Southwestern Pennsylvania when it comes to public transit – so it is vital for transit riders to elect a #TransitChampion into the position. The County Executive controls the majority of appointments to the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board of Directors which control the transit agency’s $500+ million Operating Budget and $200+ million Capital Budget. Additionally, the County Executive controls board appointments and hundreds of millions of budget dollars at numerous County entities that directly impact the public transit system and its riders, such as the County Housing Authority, the County Department of Human Services, and the County Economic Development agency. Good people, robust budgets and progressive policy at all of these entities can transform transit in Allegheny County.

To ensure that transit riders are educated on where these candidates stand on public transit issues and what their vision is for our system, Pittsburghers for Public Transit issued a candidate questionnaire to all of the candidates running for our county’s top posiiton. Check out the answers that this candidate gave to our questionnaire below.

There’s big potential for having a #TransitChampion as the next County Executive, so transit riders are making some big demands. You can read the demands that riders are making for our next County Executive and sign-on to support below:


Candidate’s Answers to the #VoteTransit County Executive Candidate Questionnaire
Traducción al español aquí

Answers are displayed below for the 5 candidates who returned responses to PPT’s #VoteTransit County Executive Candidate Questionnaire. Answers are displayed as candidates submitted them and have not been proofread for spelling or grammatical mistakes. PPT did not receive answers from Joe Rockey or Theresa Colaizzi.

The page is lengthy, so use these hyperlinks to navigate and see candidates’ answers to specific questions:

  1. What is your vision for restoring and expanding transit service frequency, span and coverage in the County? 
  2. If you were the County Executive, would you commit to ensuring that the Department of Human Services discount fare program pilot becomes a permanent zero fare program for all SNAP/EBT households in Allegheny County? How would you ensure that DHS has sufficient resources to sustainably run the full program? 
  3. As County Executive, how will you ensure that developers in Allegheny County are building more affordable housing near great public transit? 
  4. How will you ensure that transit riders have a meaningful voice and decision making power at the highest level of Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT)? 
  5. What ideas do you have for increasing the amount of regional funding going to PRT? 
  6. As County Executive, how will you ensure that corporations and large employers in Allegheny County provide more funding for our transit system? 
  7. As County Executive, how will you ensure that both language access and disability access are central considerations in all the programs and agencies that they are overseeing?

See these pages for candidates’ individual answers


1. What is your vision for restoring and expanding transit service frequency, span and coverage in the County? 

Dave Fawcett: Relative to bus and T service, I am in favor of just about anything that will increase ridership, especially among those who most need public transportation: members of marginalized communities; people without cars who need to get to work and job sites; and our elderly and disabled populations. I see cutting or eliminating fares for those under the median income level being critical to restoring ridership. I also see emphasizing creativity and evidenced-based solutions for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of public transportation. Finally, we absolutely must address the issue of the ongoing shortage of operators…a deepening issue for PRT. I also see more rail and subway transportation as part of the vision for expanding transit service in Allegheny county. As a long time bus rider and passionate advocate for sustainability and equity, restoring and expanding transit service in Allegheny County is a pillar of my campaign and platform. 

Sara Innamorato: Public transportation is a human right and a critical lifeline for many people in Allegheny County. At a time when we face multiple crises — disproportionately impacting low-income and Black residents, as well as people with disabilities — we should be expanding service. Secondarily, investment in public transit is a driver for local economies and can revive regional industries. Coming from the General Assembly, I understand the limitations of funding streams, but we should be thinking creatively about how to expand and improve transit, not cutting it. I have been a partner to Pittsburghers for Public Transit at the state level, and I will continue that partnership as County Executive. There are a few key steps I will take immediately and others that we will work together on in the medium and long term. 1) I will appoint at least one rider and one operator to the PRT board so that the experiences of those most impacted by service changes guide board actions; 2) I will put a moratorium on service reductions and cuts and open a community process to determine where service needs to be restored or added; 3) I will immediately begin a series of conversations with state and federal DOT officials and others to ensure PRT is accessing all available funding opportunities and is submitting competitive applications for funding; 4) I will seek sustainable new funding streams such as a local revenue stream funded via fees on ridesharing by advocating for enabling legislation at the state; 5) I will work with Mayor Gainey to help implement the 100 Days of Transit Platform recommendations that the County and PRT can assist with such as incentivizing municipalities to put in place pro-transit zoning reforms, using Allegheny County Economic Development to fund on-street transit improvements such as priority lanes and signaling, and others. These steps would go a long way towards improving and expanding service in my first year in office. 

Michael Lamb: I believe that Allegheny County needs and deserves a world-class public transit system that keeps all of our communities connected, helps drive the engine of our economic development, and helps attract and retain workers and businesses as we continue to grow. My vision for our system, at its most basic level, is that everyone in Allegheny County should be able to reliably get anywhere they need to go in the county-–to work, to see a doctor, to get groceries, to visit friends and family-–in a reasonable time, with reasonable convenience, for a price they can afford. And I believe that the workers who keep that system running should be paid well and receive good benefits. That should be the goal, and as County Executive I will work towards making that goal a reality while prioritizing improved services and greater affordability for those members of our communities who are most in need and most reliant on public transportation. 

William Parker: As County Executive my vision for restoring and expanding transit services is updating the bus schedules to real times, delays, and potential road closures.

John Weinstein: An accessible Allegheny County is how we grow Allegheny County. One of my greatest priorities has and always will be to grow this region to the greatest extent possible, and an important part of that is comprehensive transit coverage that enables our neighbors to readily access work, schools, stores, physicians, and all of life’s daily needs. Accomplishing that goal requires a proactive effort to seek out public input. We must engage at all local levels to determine what those local needs are in order to build plans that are not only efficient but also effective.

2. If you were the County Executive, would you commit to ensuring that the Department of Human Services discount fare program pilot becomes a permanent zero fare program for all SNAP/EBT households in Allegheny County? How would you ensure that DHS has sufficient resources to sustainably run the full program? 

Dave Fawcett: Yes. 
As for sustainability of funding solutions, I would encourage and negotiate with employers and non-profits to supplement or fully pay for fares incurred by their students, patients and employees. Paying for public transportation as part of an employee’s compensation package is an idea that has been implemented in the past and should be implemented on a large scale. There are many other creative solutions for ensuring funding for such a needed and worthwhile program as the zero fare proposal for SNAP/EBT households. 

Sara Innamorato: Absolutely. I am a huge supporter of this program and will immediately work with DHS and PRT to make it permanent and even expand eligibility. We need to restore ridership on PRT to obtain more federal funding. This program is one of the keys to doing that and would eventually pay for itself. I am committed to making the program both permanent and sustainable. One example is that by putting up just $4 million more in matching funds from county government every year, we could unlock an additional $30 million in funding for DHS from the state. This would more than cover the cost of an expanded, permanent program. We must great creative with the funding we pursue to sustain this vital program. 

Michael Lamb:  Yes, I would commit to working towards turning the discount fair pilot program into a zero fare program for all SNAP/EBT households in Allegheny County. DHS is almost half the budget of the 3 billion dollar budget of the county. There are enough funds as it stands, but we could be better using those funds. I’m confident that we can bring together all policymakers and stakeholders to find creative solutions to address our transit funding challenges while ensuring that the neediest members of our communities have full and free access to our public transit system.

William Parker: I would first like to review the data and conduct a survey before I commit to making a decision that will be permanent. However, I do believe the current pilot is a great program that gives us an opportunity to evaluate how attractive discounted fares can be to riders who take advantage of them to get to work, hospital appointments and the grocery store. 

John Weinstein: I think this program is so important. It’s empowerment. It’s how we help to build people and families up. I want to help this community match its great potential, and means ensuring all have the ability to access their needs. Opportunities exist to utilize private-public partnerships to fund this program, to help people, and to make sure our residents can get to where they need to go. I look forward to the chance to build those bridges.

3. As County Executive, how will you ensure that developers in Allegheny County are building more affordable housing near great public transit? 

Dave Fawcett: I would seek to encourage the passage of local zoning ordinance changes that would facilitate and in place require affordable housing. I would not tolerate economic incentives (such as TIFs) without requiring accompanying affordable housing. Finally, I would encourage PRT investment in better facilities and stops near actual and potential affordable housing sites. 

Sara Innamorato: Incentivizing transit-oriented development is critical to rebuild ridership for PRT, meet our climate goals, create vibrant communities, and open up greater access for people who choose not to own a car or cannot afford one. I have worked with stakeholders to explore the ways in which the state can support transit-oriented development that includes mixed-income housing and amenities.  I will double down on that strategy when I’m in office. I will also work with staff at PRT to re-prioritize TOD through their planning and real estate divisions. PRT could be doing much more to advance the issue, such as ground leases for development that require TOD and housing affordability. I will instruct Allegheny County Economic Development and other county entities that interact with developers to build TOD requirements into their funding guidelines and to host information sessions with all developers about how to do TOD well. 

Michael Lamb: We need to think of public transit development as community development, because our public transit is truly a lifeline for many. I believe that transit-oriented development should be a cornerstone of our future economic development priorities in Allegheny County. As we continue to grow and attract a new generation of people who value high-quality public transportation options, I think it is in developers’ best interests-–and the public’s-–to increase transit-oriented development, and I fully support incentives and requirements to significantly increase affordable housing development as part of those efforts.

William Parker: As County Executive, I would work with developers and make sure there are guidelines in place before any contracts are approved.

John Weinstein: Public transit is an incredible resource for Pittsburgh, for Allegheny County, and for this entire region. It is imperative that we maximize its utility. That begins with talking with community leaders, neighbors, and developers and translating their feedback into a cohesive strategy that lead to thoughtful plans and tangible results. The trend of population loss locally is a problem, and while we have succeeded in many other ways, one we can clearly improve on in order to retain local and attract external talent is to regularly listen to those that rely on these systems and adapt as necessary. Rebuilding our infrastructure for better reliability, stabilizing routes, and accounting for usage all must be seriously evaluated, and done so quickly.

4. How will you ensure that transit riders have a meaningful voice and decision making power at the highest level of Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT)? 

Dave Fawcett: I would be sure to appoint riders to the PRT Board. I would have public hearings and make inquiries. Most importantly, I would insist that PRT make changes in routes, facilities and programs as suggested by transit riders for the purpose and with the effect of increasing ridership.

Sara Innamorato: The first step is more riders and operators on the PRT board, which I will move on immediately. PRT also needs a much more robust public engagement strategy that provides more opportunity for constant feedback from riders and operators and actions to implement that feedback. Right now the organization feels very closed off to input from those most impacted by their decisions, which isn’t good for PRT and certainly isn’t good for riders and operators. I will work with PPT and others to set up regular meetings between PRT ridership and PPT membership as a starting point, and we can build better engagement systems together. 

Michael Lamb: I really enjoyed the ride-along on the 61C and I myself use our buses frequently. I believe the County Executive should do regular ride-alongs to have a hands-on experience of our transit systems. I have always prioritized transparency, inclusiveness and accountability throughout my career, and will continue to do so as County Executive. I believe the people who use and rely on public transit every day-–as well as the workers who keep our transit system running every day-–are some of the best resources we have to understand where our system is succeeding, where we are failing, and where we need to improve. I will ensure that PRT leadership and leaders across county government have regular opportunities to hear from transit riders and workers so that their input can help inform the work we do and hold us accountable as we do it. 

William Parker: I would invest in new technology and add rating features on the bus for transit riders to give real-time feedback from their everyday experiences.

John Weinstein: This is one of the most critical factors facing our public transit system. The reality is that many charged with developing plans do not utilize them on a regular basis, and so cannot wholly appreciate the existing situation. That is why we must emphasize the voices of local users, and why we must come to them. We need listening sessions that identify systemic problems and coverage gaps. The best voices to speak those concerns are those that use the system for their everyday needs, and I plan to go far and wide to hear those concerns.

5. What ideas do you have for increasing the amount of regional funding going to PRT? 

Dave Fawcett: Seek partial funding from employers and non-profit organizations (see above); otherwise, the Drink Tax has been a good supplement to funding and I would be willing to explore other such creative solutions if the need arises. 

Sara Innamorato: We need local funding streams, and I have a few ideas for how to make that happen. One is fees assessed on ridesharing rides that would go into a new fund to support public transit. We need state-enabling legislation to do this, and I have the relationships to get that done. We also need to look at our current local funding streams, such as the poured drink tax and RAD to  ensure that those are being used to their fullest potential to support PRT’s most critical needs. I will also coordinate with Mayor Gainey on how to make sure the region’s largest corporations and massive non-profits are paying their fair share, either through taxes or PILOT agreements.

Michael Lamb: I think we have a lot of opportunities to leverage state and federal funding, along with greater contributions from corporations and our largest employers, to increase regional transit funding. It will be one of my priorities to pursue those opportunities as we look to make major transit infrastructure investments across the county. I would also welcome your input on any ideas or solutions to help expand PRT funding so we can address the challenges we face and build the world class transit system that we need and deserve in Allegheny County.

William Parker: I would partner with corporations, local businesses, and nonprofits throughout the region.

John Weinstein: One main driver is to continue identifying means to promote internal efficiencies so as to maximize the reach of operating revenues, such as expanding the fleet’s transition to electric buses. Additionally, I would call for an allocation increase from the Allegheny Regional Asset District.

6. As County Executive, how will you ensure that corporations and large employers in Allegheny County provide more funding for our transit system? 

Dave Fawcett: See answer to #2 above. I think there is also potential for corporations, specifically tech-based ones, to make contributions to public transportation through consulting services to improve the digital functionality of our public transportation. 

Sara Innamorato: One early opportunity is to fully implement a bulk pass discount program to get large employers to pre-pay for transit passes for their employees. This would provide new, sustainable, reliable revenue streams for PRT as well as help to rebuild ridership. I will also explore the feasibility of a Commuter Benefits Ordinance such as the one passed and deployed in Seattle. Additionally, as noted above, I will seek PILOT payments or additional taxes from large employers and non-profits to invest in PRT and support system expansion. Large employers need a strong, reliable public transit system, and they should be contributing more to it. 

Michael Lamb: I have spent my career standing up to large corporations who try to cut corners when it comes to doing their fair share for our community. But as much as we need regulation and enforcement, the County Executive needs to have a strong relationship with our largest employers so that they can help the develop opportunities to further invest in the communities their employees work and live, starting with public transportation. I fully support requiring corporations and our largest employers to pay their fair share and contribute to our communities. Many of our largest employers would simply not have a workforce if it were not for the public transit system that their workers rely on every day. They stand to benefit from a high-quality transit system that helps attract and retain talent from across the country. so it is more than reasonable to expect corporations and large employers to more fully invest in our transit system. I am committed to ensuring that they do so.

William Parker: I would consider implementing a public mobility tax.

John Weinstein: As the County Treasurer for more than two decades, I’ve had the great fortune to develop relationships throughout this region and the country. We have companies looking to build right here, but they need the requisite infrastructure to attract employees. Accessible and efficient transit is one of the things topping that list. I can draw on those relationships to make sure that as we build back our infrastructure, public transportation is one of the top priorities.

7. As County Executive, how will you ensure that both language access and disability access are central considerations in all the programs and agencies that they are overseeing?

Dave Fawcett: I would insist on it. I would seek to appoint a member of the Board to represent the interests of the disability community and other minority populations.

Sara Innamorato: I helped form the Welcoming PA caucus in the General Assembly and have worked directly on these issues as a State Representative. Through our work, we had Democratic Caucus leadership dedicate resources for translation services for our district office and materials. We MUST have full language access for all public materials and systems, and we have the tools to do it; it just takes political will. Spanish-speaking and Mandarin-speaking immigrants are some of the fastest-growing populations in our region, and we must support them and other immigrants more fully. I will create a new position at PRT focused on language accessibility so that there is staff dedicated to working on getting this done. The same goes for disability access. We must prioritize universal design as the starting point for all new projects and invest in retrofitting existing stations, bus stops, shelters, and other infrastructure to comply with the principles of universal design.

Michael Lamb: I have always prioritized accessibility in all government services, and I believe that diversity is a tremendous asset as we continue to grow and develop in Allegheny County. I will work to ensure that no one in our communities is ever excluded from fully accessing any government service because of a disability, a language barrier, or any other reason, and I believe any investments we make to achieve that goal will more than pay for themselves.

William Parker: Train bus drivers to actively look for creative ways to engage with everyone, always be open for questions and concerns. Additionally, I will always consider both language barriers and disability barriers when making critical decisions around them.

John Weinstein: Every person deserves dignity. Whether you are a new neighbor in our community or require physical accommodations, you must be able to access vital public resources such as transit and many others. We’re a melting pot. We invite and welcome individuals of all backgrounds, which is a large part of what allows it to excel. Promoting inclusivity has been and always will be a staple of my role as a public official.

Public Hearing on SPIN Scooters & Mobility Needs

image description: graphic that has text that reads “City of Pittsburgh Public Hearing on SPIN Scooters & Mobility Needs”, overlaid on a photo of a SPIN scooter laying across a sidewalk.

The City of Pittsburgh is holding a Public Hearing about the SPIN scooter program and whether they are (or are not) meeting residents’ mobility needs.

Since the summer of 2021, Pittsburghers have had to learn to navigate the city’s public spaces with a new neighbor on our roads, on our sidewalks, and in our public spaces: the unmistakably orange SPIN scooters. The SPIN scooters were released as part of a 2-year pilot program to test whether they could increase affordable, equitable, and environmentally-friendly access for residents of Pittsburgh. The pilot is set to expire this June, so the time is right to have a public evaluation of whether the program accomplished its goals.

On April 12th, City Councilor Barb Warwick scheduled two public meetings for the public to weigh in on this process. A post-agenda meeting will be held at 1:30pm in City Council Chambers with representatives from the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, SPIN, and other researchers to discuss the program. Afterward, at 2:30, residents will be invited to give their public comments on their experiences with the program and whether scooters have improved mobility for them and their neighbors.

Pittsburghers for Public Transit is inviting all residents to join us for this public meeting, either in person or virtually, and give public comments about your experience with the scooters if you are able. If you need a ride to the public hearing, or if you have questions about writing your public comment or if you have any accessibility needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org or 551-206-3320.

The hearing will be held Wednesday, April 12th at 2:30 in City Council Chambers, 414 Grant Ave.
RSVP below to attend and/or give public comment (and PPT staff will sign you up to join. Or you can sign up directly here):