Slideshow From 11/24 Outside Port Authority Vote

Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.

Rendell says he has found money to avert transit cuts!

Rendell says he has found money to avert transit cuts

Thursday, December 02, 2010

By Jon Schmitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Gov. Ed Rendell today announced a $45 million allocation that would allow the Port Authority to avert record-breaking service cuts planned for March.

After meeting privately with members of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, a 10-county regional planning agency whose board must vote on the allocation, Mr. Rendell said the planned transit cuts would have devastated the region’s economy.

He said the $45 million is federal economic development funding that was allocated to projects that haven’t moved forward.

Mr. Rendell on previous occasions has redirected federal highway money to bail out the transit agency. The SPC in July signaled its opposition to another so-called “flex” of highway money to transit.
This time, “We’re not asking for dollars to be taken from highways to be paid into mass transit,” the governor said.

The Port Authority had planned to cut service by 35 percent and eliminate 47 routes on March 13 to address a projected $47 million deficit in its 2010-11 budget.

Port Authority CEO Steve Bland said today if the SPC approves the reallocation at its Dec.13 meeting, it would buy a one-year reprieve from service cuts.

He was not certain if the infusion would cancel plans for a scheduled Jan. 1 fare increase.

Mr. Rendell also described the reallocation as a temporary fix to give his successor, Tom Corbett, and legislators time to address the larger issue of the transportation funding shortfall.

Act 44, the state’s transportation funding law, fell apart this year when the federal government rejected the state’s plans to impose tolls on Interstate 80. That reduced available funding for highways, bridges and transit statewide by $472 million.

Mr. Rendell said it would have been unfair to expect Mr. Corbett, who takes office in January, to address the Port Authority deficit in his first weeks as governor.

More details in tomorrow’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

First published on December 2, 2010 at 9:56 am

Next Pittsburghers for Public Transit Meeting: How should we move forward?

RSVP on Facebook…or just come! Time 4 December · 4:00pm – 6:00pm

Location	5200 Posvar Hall on Pitt’s Campus

Created by:	Pittsburghers for Public Transit, Andrew C Wagner

More info	In the wake of our two successful demonstrations (one of which made the front page of the Post-Gazette!), we need to continue to build PPT and the movement against the transit cuts. The cuts have been approved by the Port Authority, and baring a near-miraclulous turn of events in Harrisburg, are set to become reality in mid-March (with the fare hikes hitting at the very beginning of 2011!) In this environment, we must focus on building and sustaining a determined struggle against the cuts. Please join PPT for our next meeting. Right now, the proposed agenda looks like this: -Analysis of last weeks’ demonstrations -The upcomming PIIN demonstration -Registering as a non-profit? -Working in a broader coalition -Near-term actions PPT could take (letters to the editor campaign) -Long-term outlook We hope to see you all there!

Port Authority board approves fare hike, big service cut

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

By Jon Schmitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bob Donaldson/Post-Gazette

People protesting public transit cuts gather outside the Port Authority headquarters on Sixth Avenue, Downtown,

The Port Authority board of directors today approved a Jan. 1 fare increase and the biggest service reduction in the transit agency’s history — 35 percent — scheduled for March 13.
“Today’s a very dark day for Port Authority and all those who benefit from public transit in our region,” CEO Steve Bland said.
The actions were needed to close a $47 million 2010-11 budget deficit caused in large measure by the failure of Act 44, the state’s transportation funding law.
Much of the funding for roads, bridges and public transit hinged on imposition of tolls on Interstate 80. The Federal Highway Administration rejected the proposal this year.
The state Legislature has not acted to fill a $472 million funding gap caused by the federal government’s decision.
Anger was palpable among authority board members, who voted unanimously for the fare increase and service cuts.
“We have been backed into a corner by inaction, apathy and a complete disregard for the greater good,” board member Joan Ellenbogen said.
“The powers that be have turned their backs on the people who depend on transit to live their very lives.”
In January, the Zone 1 fare will rise to $2.25 and the Zone 2 to $3.25. Transfers will go up 25 cents to $1.
Mr. Bland said the service cuts, which will fully eliminate more than 45 routes and service to 50 neighborhoods, could be reversed if the legislature provides additional funding before March.
The prospects for that, he said, “are very grim.”
Before the meeting, about 50 protesters rallied outside authority headquarters on Sixth Avenue, Downtown.
“Our elected officials have failed transit in the commonwealth, said Patrick McMahon, president of Local 85 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents bus and trolley operators and mechanics.

First published on November 24, 2010 at 10:42 am