Image Description: film strip with headshots of 9 PPT Board candidates, surrounded by doodles

The ballot is open! Active PPT members can cast their ballots in the member-run, member-elected Board of Directors. Election will close on August 13th!

If you weren’t able to attend the July all-member meeting and hear each candidate introduce themselves, read their bios below before casting your vote!

Overview of PPT’s Board Election Process

Pittsburghers for Public Transit is a grassroots, democratic, member-led organization that fights for racial justice and public transit as a human right. The election of a Board of Directors from and by our general membership is a cornerstone of what keeps us accountable to our members. The Board is responsible for strategizing and executing the organization’s campaigns, outreach, governance, and fundraising.

The Board’s Executive Committee chooses how many seats will be up for PPT’s board election each year. Our bylaws say that 2 board seats are reserved for transit workers connected to a local transit union. Earlier this year, the Executive Committee decided to open 6 seats to be elected from our general membership, and 1 seat to be elected to a transit worker.

Each spring, PPT members nominate fellow members to run for the Board of Directors. If those members accept the nomination, then they are invited to submit a photo and bio to be placed on the ballot, and to speak about their qualifications for 3 minutes at the July General Member Meeting.

PPT Members in good standing can cast their ballots online, until August 13th, or in-person at the PPT Summer Party. Members can vote for up to 7 candidates. The nominees with the highest vote totals are invited to join the Board of Directors for a 2-year term.

Who is eligible to vote?

All PPT members in good standing can vote in Board elections. PPT members are people who support the Transit Bill of Rights, and have either

1. Contributed membership dues of at least $2.75 in the past year
   OR
2. Supported PPT by supporting its capacity (participating in monthly meetings, volunteer-led committees, campaign organizing drives, rallies, events, or direct actions) in the past year

You can learn more about PPT’s membership structure and renew your membership before casting your vote.

Nominees for the Board of Directors

All candidates are listed below in alphabetical order.

Kris Chandler

Background and vision for PPT

Hey everyone! My name is Kristopher Chandler and I am excited at the prospect of serving on the Board of PPT. Originally from Erie, PA, I have spent the last 10 years living in Pittsburgh and calling this city home. I attended Point Park University to get my BA in Screenwriting with a minor in Political Science, and ever since coming here for school, I knew that it was important for me to have my voice be heard when it came to matters of public policy, community development, and political activism. With this being the mentality that propelled me into my work, I took it upon myself to dive into the culture of the City – whether that be traversing the South Hills via the T or spending weekends trekking through our various parks and greenspaces. With these lived-experiences, however, also came understanding and experiencing where our City (and our City government) lack innovation and inspiration as it pertains to our built environment, transportation efforts, and planning practices. This is where PPT comes in, and this is what I would aspire to help the organization continue to advocate for. Currently, I am a Principal Planner with DOMI, and prior to this role I’ve worked in transportation and urban planning for numerous non-profits for just over 5 years now. It is my desire to bring this experience to PPT, and to help shape a transit system and built environment that works for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

Past campaigns related to transit justice, PPT, activism, and/or movement building

• Currently I am a Principal Planner with DOMI, with which I am the project manager for a $1.4 million federally funded Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program project (Manchester ReUnited)
• I have formerly served on the board-of-directors for Lawrenceville Corporation (now Lawrenceville Together), during which I was part of the Community Development Committee
• I am member of the City of Pittsburgh’s Complete Streets Advisory Group
• I frequently participate in the Lawrenceville/Millvale/Polish Hill Neighborhood Assembly, which is a local advocacy group helping to bring community members together around a shared desire to better connect and fight for community needs
• I have numerous years of experience under my belt volunteering for various political campaigns, most recently having served as the Campaign Treasurer for a PA State House candidate in the 28th District

Kelda Gorman

Background and vision for PPT

My vision for the PPT community is to keep making the incredible gains we are in transit, and continue to fight where there needs to be gains!

Past campaigns related to transit justice, PPT, activism, and/or movement building

• Speaker at multiple press conferences for PRT
• Leader at multiple organized advocacy events with PPT
• Over 20 years of advocacy experience

Kristen Greene

Background and vision for PPT

I started at PPT in May 2025; I’ve been involved in a lot of campaigns since then. I started with the Mon Valley Fellowship and went from there. My vision is for public transit to just get better! I would be a good PPT board member because I know our system really well, and I love helping people figure out the system. I’ve been riding these buses my whole entire life! I pay attention to the system and what people need from it. I depend on public transit to get around, and we need to know what’s going on! I’m friends with so many operators, and that gives me a really good perspective on the system. I have a really good relationship with a lot of operators. My vision is for us to improve bus service and win! Not just here in Pittsburgh, but for all of us. Not everyone can drive; public transportation it is. We need to be voices for people who ride the system. Like we always say: when we fight, we win!

Past campaigns related to transit justice, PPT, activism, and/or movement building

• The Mon Valley Organizing Fellowship
• Determining sidewalk, bus stop, and bus shelter needs in the Mon Valley
• Speaking at public hearings to save bus service
• Fighting to keep bus service at the Waterfront
• Going to Harrisburg to speak to legislators and fight for transit funding

Andrew Hussein

Background and vision for PPT

I live in North Versailles/Mon Valley. My primary routes are 59, 55, P76, 69, and P69… but to be truthful, you can find me on just about any route (no exaggeration) because I eat/sleep/breathe/live all things public transit. Anyone who knows me knows that that is true. Transit is my sole means for transportation so I am acutely aware of the very real need for public transit to have a positive community impact. I am a long-time member of PPT who has been working with the org since a brief few-month stint in the early days, back in an earlier iteration of the org called “Save Our Transit”. Years later I reconnected with PPT on their community campaign in Baldwin. We won that campaign and restored service to that neighborhood and I never looked back. The skills that I bring to PPT are a significant all-around and general knowledge of the Port Authority system. I have a sincere passion for transit and its improvement. When I think of better transit I think of transit that is Fair, Equitable, reliable, useable, sustainable, readily and widely available – for as many folks as possible. Transit needs to fit as diverse a clientele and public needs as much as possible and I think that that is what we need to fight for together.

Past campaigns related to transit justice, PPT, activism, and/or movement building

• Current President of the Allegheny County Transit Council (ACTC) =
• current Executive Committee Member, and have been involved at PPT for 8 years
• I am also the founder and COO of the Bus Info Hotline, a Twitter and phone info line that is open for people to find out info and ask questions about Port Authority that I’ve been running for nearly 25+ years. Check out our Twitter at @PGH_BUS_INFO
• Involved in many of the successful neighborhood service campaigns started in 2014 that restored service to transit deserts through our county.
• I am a PPT Communications Committee Member.
• I lead the creation of our Blog Series on the Quarterly Service Updates.
• I have a significant all-around and general knowledge of the Port Authority system, PPT staff calls me all the time with questions about our system.

Elise MacDonald

Background and vision for PPT

I’ve worked as a grade 5-12 educator, proofreader, editor, and career ed counselor (including helping folks with their job search documents, presentations, public speaking, etc.) I was the founder and admin for a Facebook group called Citizens for NH Capitol Corridor Regional Rail in Nashua, New Hampshire, fighting for the return of regional/commuter rail to a city of nearly 100K in NH; the 600+ member group is still thriving two years after I passed on admin duties to other members. When I commuted from NH to Boston over a period of five years, I ran a Twitter account called @MbtAtrophy which documented infrastructure/facilities problems on Boston’s T, bringing them to the attention of local officials; it became a community hub where other T riders also sent in their own photos and videos of emergent or chronic transit infrastructure issues.

Past campaigns related to transit justice, PPT, activism, and/or movement building

• PPT sidewalk audit, summer 2025
• Co-led transit tour during Spring Training weekend
• Various phone banks
• Canvassed transit riders re: Bus Line Re-Design
• Addressed attendees at unveiling of new North Side bus stop, February 2026.

Bill McDowell

Background and vision for PPT

Bill McDowell is a long-time disability rights advocate. He has been a member of PPT for more than eight years and is passionate about equitable infrastructure, accessibility, and fair fares. Bill has been a member of the PRT’s Committee for Accessible Transportation for many years and in that role has listened to the concerns and needs of the disability community in depth and has learned from those conversations over the years. Bill also believes that no one should be turned away from public transportation for the inability to pay a fare. Bill’s fight for an equitable transit system in Pittsburgh has been long, but is long from over. He appreciates the ability to do the work alongside so many other passionate transit justice advocates. In his new term, Bill is excited to oversee PPTs transition to a 5O1C4 and working on the campaign to create more accessible seating on buses.

Past campaigns related to transit justice, PPT, activism, and/or movement building

• PRT Committee for Accessible Transportation
• PPT Research Committee
• Fair Fares Coalition
• PPT Organizing Committee – organizing for better sidewalk infrastructure

Nickole Nesby

Background and vision for PPT

My journey with PPT began in 2017, rooted in a shared baseline belief that transit is a fundamental civil right and an economic lifeline for our working-class communities. Building upon my previous six years of dedicated service—spanning three full terms on the board, including my time serving as Treasurer—I am ready to step back onto the front lines to continue our collective fight for accessible, affordable, and equitable transit for all. 

My commitment to transportation justice is deeply intertwined with my executive leadership as the Mayor of the City of Duquesne from 2018 to 2022. Serving the Mon Valley firsthand showed me how structural transit austerity disproportionately impacts marginalized, transit-dependent neighborhoods. During my time on the board and in office, I worked tirelessly alongside riders and workers to protect our transit network. I am incredibly proud of our grassroots organizing campaigns that successfully pushed to restore the 61-series services, ensuring our vital corridors stayed connected. Beyond community-level organizing, I have consistently taken our fight straight to decision-makers by participating in lobby days at our state capitol in Harrisburg, advocating face-to-face with state legislators to demand the robust, dedicated funding our transit networks desperately need.

Our regional transit infrastructure is navigating a critical juncture, facing shifting route networks and high-stakes state funding choices. Now more than ever, PPT needs experienced leadership that seamlessly bridges local municipal governance, grassroots organizing, and statewide legislative advocacy. I believe that my voice should be utilized not to speak for the community, but to uplift all of our voices collectively—ensuring that the real, lived experiences of transit-dependent residents and workers remain the driving force behind every policy decision.

I look forward to bringing my historical knowledge, executive experience, and unyielding passion back to the board to ensure we build a public transit system that truly serves everyone. Thank you for your consideration.

Past campaigns related to transit justice, PPT, activism, and/or movement building

• 3 full terms on PPT Board, including one as Treasurer
• Mayor of City of Duquesne, 2018-2022, serving marginalized, transit-dependent neighborhoods
• Campaign restoring service to 61-series buses
• Participation in lobby days at state capitol in Harrisburg

Margot Nikitas

Background and vision for PPT

I am a labor union attorney with the United Electrical Workers (UE) and a longtime public transit user. I have been a dues-paying member of PPT since 2023, and would be honored to help lead the organization by serving as a board member. I believe that PPT’s power comes from its members. I am committed to helping PPT grow in Allegheny County and statewide by uniting all transit drivers and riders to fight for a more accessible, equitable and just transit system. As a board member, I believe that my legal skills will be an asset to PPT as it transitions to a 501(c)(4) structure and revises its bylaws. Thank you for your consideration.

Past campaigns related to transit justice, PPT, activism, and/or movement building

• Assisted with/attended PPT Spring Training
• Participated in PPT membership drive
• Participated in PPT legislative visit
• Served as Organizing Chair for Fight Back Pittsburgh, a former community organizing project of United Steelworkers Local 3657

Sue Scanlon (Running for Transit Operator seat)

Background and vision for PPT

I’m in my 26 year as an operator for PRT, a member of Local 85 of the ATU, and very proud long time member of PPT/Transit for All PA. I have enjoyed being part of PPT and am so impressed with our growth as an organization built on rider and worker determination for better transit.

Past campaigns related to transit justice, PPT, activism, and/or movement building

• Developing the Riders Bill of Rights, way back in PPT’s early years
• Winning service restoration on the 59
• Increasing service on the 75
• Stopping the Mon-Oakland connector
• Being a part of the board as we moved from small grassroots to a 501c3 to a 501c4
• Developing better communication with local politicians by taking part in ride alongs with candidates
• The list goes on and I’m so proud to be part of the incredible growth and accomplishments we’ve made.

Cast your vote for the PPT Board!

Image Description: lo-fi waves on a yellow, red, and blue sunset gradient, decorated with white text and stars

Look out on the horizon: rider power is building, and transit justice is on the way. Celebrate the wins with PPT at the summer party!

Transit riders and workers like you have been hard at work building transit justice in Pittsburgh and across the state. Join the crew to kick back, relax, and have fun with neighbors, friends, and co-conspirators 🏖️

When & Where

Wednesday, August 12th
5:30-8:30 PM 

Olympia Park Shelter House
1010 Virginia Ave
Pittsburgh, PA, 15211

What to expect

The summer party will be a casual, indoor/outdoor celebration. It will be family friendly, with kids’ activities and childcare providers. 

Olympia Park has a playground and outdoor space for enjoying the summer evening. We will also have indoor activities, like great tunes, updates on exciting campaigns, and party games. You’ll get the chance to vote on our member-run, member-elected board of directors, and review our campaign roadmap for the coming year.

Attendees should not feel obligated to attend the entire event. Drop in as you are able—we would love to see you!

Food and drink

Food is complimentary with registration! Please RSVP so that we know how many people to expect. 

Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options will be available. All ingredients will be posted for each food item. We will also serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. 

Getting there

The Olympia Park Shelter House is accessible to the following transit stops: 

• 40 Mount Washington-Duquesne Heights bus: ¼ mile away, about a 5 minute walk or roll, on a slight grade
• Duquesne Incline: 10-15 minute walk or roll

The parking entrance is on Virginia Ave; turn into the park across from Olympia Street. Additional street parking is available on Hallock St. There are reserved accessible parking spots closer to the shelter.

If you need help with transportation, you can find another PPT member/attendee who can help by posting in the PPT Facebook Group.

Accessibility

The path to the venue from the bus stop is on a slight grade; take care when using a manual mobility device. There is a 400 foot downhill walking path from Virginia Ave to the shelter house.

The venue has indoor bathrooms and an accessible stall, but do not have an access button. 

We will be playing music inside the building, but will do our best to play it at a volume that is comfortable for all attendees. Attendees are welcome to party both inside and outside the shelter house; outside will be quieter. Be prepared for variable mid-August weather and lighting. 

ASL interpretation is available upon request; please be sure to indicate your needs while reserving your tickets. 

COVID mitigation

The party will take place both indoors and outdoors. Masks are not required, but are encouraged; we will have masks available to all at the check-in table. 

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. These mitigation measures will help the party stay safe and fun for everyone in the community!

RSVP for the summer party!

Developers are asking Pittsburgh City Council to vote on another major tax giveaway scheme – giving up to $200 million dollars to a handful of Downtown private real estate companies, without any requirements around public benefit. This vote to implement the Downtown Transit Revitalization Improvement District (TRID) will divert tax revenue from the Strip District, Downtown and the North Shore for the next 40 (!) years into the coffers of private corporations.

Right now, when working people and our public agencies are struggling to make ends meet, Pittsburgh City Council is being asked (via the Urban Redevelopment Authority) to hand the Golden Triangle yet another golden ticket.

What is the TRID proposal?

A TRID is a type of legislation intended to fund transit improvements—but this one won’t do that. Instead, here’s how this proposal would work: 

• The City (i.e., taxpayers) would initially borrow $50 million to invest exclusively in the TRID area: the Strip District, parts of the North Shore, and Downtown. This money would effectively be a grant paid to wealthy developers, with the City gambling on future tax revenue to pay down the debt.
  • Many Downtown developers are concurrently challenging their commercial property assessments, so that they could pay lower taxes in the future.
    
• Only 20% of this money would be invested in public infrastructure—but they’ve not named any particular public projects that would benefit. By contrast, the remaining 80% has been earmarked for specific, private, for-profit real estate developers.
  
• All future public tax dollars from Downtown, the Strip District, and the North Shore for the next 40 years would be diverted to a “Golden Triangle Reinvestment Fund”, exclusively financing development in a small pocket of Downtown. This fund would be controlled by the non-elected Urban Redevelopment Agency (URA)—not City Council, a public body that is accountable to the public.

Members of Pittsburgh City Council and the Mayor’s administration have said that we are facing a massive City budget crisis. So why are they fast-tracking a $200 million handout to Downtown developers, with almost no public process? 

What’s at stake

We have already given almost a billion dollars to Downtown developers in tax breaks over the past 5 years. Enough is enough. 

Our communities deserve so much more: public transit infrastructure, affordable housing, local food initiatives, street and sidewalk repairs, childcare programs and more. These are critical investments for the well-being of our City—and we cannot fund them if our City Councilmembers signs away millions in tax dollars to private developers for the next four decades.

Transit riders must tell our elected officials to vote NO on implementing the Downtown Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID). Public dollars – whether borrowed or generated from tax revenue – should be invested across all communities – from Fairywood to Fineview, Brookline to Bloomfield. Our resources should be allocated through the annual City budgeting process, with robust public input to ensure that our tax resources are distributed equitably and address the needs of the moment.

We say: no more handouts to Downtown corporations until our neighborhoods, our small businesses, our workers and our students are given their fair share!

Take Action Now

After you send a letter, CALL your City Councilmember to urge them to vote NO (find your councilmember here):

• District 1 (Northside, Strip District, Parts of Downtown):
  Bobby Wilson (412) 255-2135
• District 2 (West End, Sheraden, Elliott, Banksville):
  Kim Salinetro (412) 255-8963
• District 3 (Oakland, Southside, Arlington, Allentown):
  Bob Charland (412) 255-2130
• District 4 (Beechview, Brookline, Carrick, Overbrook):
  Anthony Coghill (412) 255-2131
• District 5 (Greenfield, Hazelwood, Lincoln Pl, Swisshelm Park):
  Barb Warwick (412) 255-8965
• District 6 (Manchester, Downtown, The Hill, Uptown, Perry Hilltop):
  Danielle Lavelle (412) 255-2134
• District 7 (Bloomfield, Lawrenceville, Polish Hill, Stanton Heights) :
  Deb Gross (412) 255-2140
• District 8 (Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, Oakland):
  Erika Strassburger (412) 255-2133
• District 9 (East Liberty, Larimer, Homewood, Garfield):
  Khari Mosley (412) 255-2137

Soy madre y miembro de la comunidad latina que lucha con PPT por un sistema de transporte que realmente sirva a todos. ¿Te unirás a mí haciéndote miembro que paga cuotas?

Me llamo Evelyn Ulysse Alcántara. Uso el transporte público a diario para ir al trabajo, al médico,  actividades de ocio,  reuniones, llevar a mi hijo al colegio— para todo. 

Soy latina y mi inglés no es perfecto, así que cuando me mudé a Pittsburgh me costó usar el transporte público porque había muy poca información disponible en español. Por eso me ofrecí de voluntaria para ayudar como embajadora en los Recorridos de tránsito de PPT. Fue muy frustrante y aislante  intentar aprender a usar el sistema de transporte público por mi cuenta. Sabía que si podía hacer algo para apoyar el aprendizaje de mi comunidad, ¡tenía que hacerlo!   

Ser miembro de PPT no solo ha mejorado mis propias necesidades de transporte. Me abrió la puerta para ayudarme a marcar la diferencia.

Cuando hubo recortes en el transporte público en Beechview, hubo ocasiones en que el autobús o el Tren no venían—y no sabía la razón, porque los cambios sólo se comunicaban en inglés. Pero hoy, si vas a Steel Plaza o Wood Street Station, ¡escucharás anuncios en español! Y hay instrucciones paso a paso en español en la web de PRT. Esto se debe a que PPT y Casa San José se unieron para dar voz a mi comunidad, para que PRT pudiera entender el verdadero impacto que esto estaba teniendo en nosotros.

Este es el verdadero poder de PPT: realmente escuchan a la gente.

Cuando descubrí que PPT, me pedían testimonios sobre el papel que tiene el transporte público en la vida de las personas, para mostrar lo importante que sería un programa de media tarifa. Sabía que tenía que dar mi testimonio, porque necesitábamos actuar para mejorar el acceso. En aquel entonces solo era una idea y un proyecto, pero hoy es una realidad que lleva el servicio de transporte a la gente.

Me encanta el PPT porque sé de primera mano lo que podemos lograr juntos.  

Solo en 2026:

• Llevamos a 120 miembros a Harrisburg para arrojar luz sobre la brecha presupuestaria de 80 millones de dólares y enfatizar la importancia de los servicios para tránsito y viajes compartidos para nuestros representantes.  
• Compartimos habilidades y construimos poder con 170 personas de todo el país, compartimos habilidades y construyeron poder en nuestro Entrenamiento de Primavera 2026. 
• Formamos a 13 becarios de organización comunitaria en toda la colina del barrio de PGH, y las regiones de Lancaster y Lehigh Valley en Pensilvania. 

Por eso quería preguntar: ¿apoyarán el trabajo urgente de PPT haciéndote miembro que paga cuotas hoy?

Puedes apuntarte por solo 2,75 $, ¡el precio actual del billete de autobús del PRT! Ese dinero va directamente a la defensa de un presupuesto de transporte que mueve a TODOS los habitantes de Pensilvania. Todo el mundo merece acceso al transporte público.

¿Nos ayudarás a hacer realidad ese sueño?

Image Description: Evelyn Ulysse Alcantara, a dark-skinned woman in a red PPT shirt, smiles in front of a collaged picture of Pittsburgh

I’m a mother and member of the Latino community fighting with PPT for a transit system that truly serves everyone. Will you join me by becoming a dues-paying member?

My name is Evelyn Ulysse Alcantara. I use public transportation daily for going to work, the doctor, leisure activities, meetings, bringing my son to school—everything.

I’m Latina and my English isn’t perfect, so when I first moved to Pittsburgh I struggled to use public transportation because there was so little information available in Spanish. This is why I volunteered to help be an ambassador for PPT’s Transit Tours. It was so frustrating and isolating to try and learn how to use the system by myself. I knew that if I could do something to support my community’s learning, I had to do it!  

Being a PPT member hasn’t just improved my own transit needs. It opened the door to help me make a difference. 

When there were cuts to transit in Beechview, there were times the bus or T didn’t come—and I didn’t know why because the changes were only communicated in English. But today, if you go to Steel Plaza or Wood Street Station, you’ll hear announcements in Spanish! And there are step by step instructions in Spanish on PRT’s website. This is because PPT and Casa San Jose came together to uplift my community’s voice, so that PRT could understand the true impact this was having on us. 

This is PPT’s real power: they truly listen to the people. 

When I first found out about PPT, they were asking for testimonies about the role transit has in people’s lives, to show how important a half-fare program would be. I knew I had to give my testimony, because we needed to take action to improve access. Back then it was just an idea, but today it’s a reality that brings transit service to the people!

I love PPT because I know firsthand what we can accomplish together. 

In 2026 alone, we have: 

• We brought 120 members to Harrisburg to shed light on the $80 million dollar transit budget gap, and emphasise the importance of paratransit and shared ride services to our representatives.  
• We trained 13 community organizing fellows across the Hilltop neighborhood of PGH, and the Lancaster and Lehigh Valley regions of PA. 
• Shared skills and built power with 170 people from across the country at our 2026 Spring Training.

That’s why I wanted to ask: will you support PPT’s urgent work by becoming a dues-paying member today?

You can join for just $2.75—the current cost of a PRT bus fare! That money goes directly towards advocacy for a transit budget that moves ALL Pennsylvanians. Everyone deserves access to public transportation. Will you help us make that dream a reality?

Donate now to join Evelyn as a member—and build transit for the people!

PRT Must Set & Track Goals on Ridership, Service Reliability, Rider/Worker Satisfaction and Funding 

A bus network redesign is a tool for massive change—whether good or bad. With the Bus Line Refresh, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) has the opportunity to make positive changes that our system needs. PRT has shown a commitment to rider needs by updating its Bus Line Refresh Draft 2.0 to include valuable new neighborhood connectors, expanding service frequencies on popular routes, and more. But in order to make the system work for its riders, PRT needs to commit to improving ridership, reliability, funding, and rider/worker satisfaction—regardless of what shape the Refresh ends up taking.

A strong transit system is one in which ridership is robust, buses and trolleys show up on time, and both riders and workers feel positive about their experience with the service. A strong transit system is also one in which there is stable funding to maintain and expand the service. 

Ridership, Reliability, and Satisfaction Metrics Should Come First

At May’s Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) Board of Director’s committee meetings, we were pleased to see some progress in our organizing for more transit system accountability, with PRT staff reporting to their Board on ridership and reliability trends by month. That’s a start: with more attention paid to these metrics, we hope to see clearer plans for how PRT is going to improve them. We have seen 40% of our total transit service cut over the last 20 years, and PRT service reliability is poor- as a result, transit ridership levels are now at a devastating low. That is why it is critical that PRT identifies goals and a plan for strengthening our system, and makes it clear how the Bus Line Refresh will help meet those goals. 

The Bus Line Refresh needs to be part of a coherent broader PRT strategy around transit restoration, growth and improvement-—not just managing or accelerating decline—and the public must be able to evaluate the success of the plan implementation against those metrics. A Bus Line Refresh that clearly lays out its purpose in strengthening our transit system to the benefit of riders can then be used as a tool to organize for stable and expanded state transit funding.

Since the Bus Line Refresh is cost-neutral, any service improvements in one community must come at the expense of others. Over the last several weeks, our participatory research committee has identified the potentially harmful impacts of this proposal as well as the improvements that riders would see under Draft 2.0.

4 Key Recommendations for a Successful Refresh

1 . PRT should establish specific goals for growing ridership, improving reliability, improving rider/worker satisfaction, and supporting advocacy for expanded state funding.

Whatever the Refresh looks like, our system cannot succeed without dedicated attention and clear progress towards these vital goals.

2 . PRT must create transparency and accountability towards these goals by collecting data related to the impact of the Bus Line Refresh—before, during, and after implementation. 

PRT should report monthly on these critical metrics to the PRT website and Board of Directors, as well as the Western PA Regional Data Center. Data to report include

• Average ridership by route
• On-time performance by route
• Crowding by route
• Number and type of customer complaints and their resolutions (in particular, as a way of daylighting ongoing communications, scheduling, disability and safety-related issues). 

In addition, PRT should run parallel transit rider and transit worker satisfaction surveys, before, during, and after the implementation of the Bus Line Refresh. This will provide critical insights on whether the Refresh has improved or worsened transit outcomes for its primary stakeholders- its users and its workforce. 

Some key questions to ask riders in these surveys are: 

• Overall approval of transit
• Ease of use
• Perception of reliability 
• Satisfaction with amenities at stops, stations or on vehicles 
• Satisfaction with the safety, accessibility and proximity of the bus stops to trip origins and destinations
• First-last mile accessibility
• Satisfaction with value for the fare paid
• Total commute time
• Do you have more or fewer transfers under the Bus Line Refresh than before?
• How long is the wait time for your transfer(s)?
• Do you feel like your trip is very fast, ok, or too long?
• Are you paying more, less, or the same for transit?
• Is your bus easier or harder to identify with the new naming system?
• Demographic and geographic data, to assess Refresh impacts based on those characteristics

3. PRT should maintain features that work for current riders—and make key improvements now, during regular service changes.

• PRT should not cut bus stops as a part of the Bus Line Refresh. Bus stop usage and accessibility must be carefully evaluated before any consideration of stop removals are advanced.
• PRT should maintain the existing route names to the greatest extent possible, to keep buses familiar and legible for riders.
• PRT must minimize the number of new forced transfers under the plan. Adding transfers where riders previously had direct connections causes riders to stop taking transit.
• Some widely beneficial aspects of the Refresh—like the restorations of the 61D and 71A/C/D Downtown—do not need to wait for a full Refresh implementation, and can be implemented during regular service changes. PRT can also make immediate changes to alleviate overcrowding, expand weekend service, and make other minor improvements as appropriate. 

4. The rollout of the Bus Line Refresh is just as important as the plan itself.

The Bus Line Refresh is a massive change to almost the entire system. Without a thoughtful, clearly communicated plan for implementation, riders will not be able to successfully navigate it. Here are some ways that PRT can ensure a clear, harm-minimized rollout:

• In implementing the full Refresh, it is important that neighborhoods gain any service improvements at the same time as any service losses, so that they do not suffer any gaps in transit service. 
• There must also be opportunities built into the implementation process in which PRT pauses and evaluates the impacts of the Refresh—and reverse course if necessary. 

• During implementation, PRT must pay careful attention to how they are scheduling multiple routes sharing a common corridor. PRT schedulers must ensure that those routes are evenly spaced, providing the most convenient level of service for riders, rather than having multiple buses arrive at the same time, with a subsequent large gap in service.
• PRT needs to ensure that their communications on their website, social media, Ready2Ride and third-party transit apps, on the printed schedule and at the bus stop are aligned, so that riders are clear about the changes before they happen.

Whether you live in McKeesport or McKees Rocks, the Hill District or the South Hills, our public transit system needs to work for everyone.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) will soon close their community engagement period for the second draft of their Bus Line Redesign (BLR). The redesign proposes a completely redrawn map of where transit routes will run. It includes new schedules for how frequently and how late at night buses and trains operate, and renames all the routes in the system.

Tens of thousands of people who use the system every day will be affected. Allegheny County Transit riders, transit workers, businesses, social service providers—we all have a stake in a Bus Line Redesign that works for all.

The Bus Line Refresh plan is complicated and will affect everyone differently. That’s why it’s very important that transit riders and transit workers review your routes and give feedback now! You can check out how your routes will be impacted and give feedback online, by phone, or at an upcoming PRT community event here. 

This is the last opportunity for the public to weigh in before PRT finalizes and ratifies this transit plan—one that will impact our transit service for generations! 

Notable Improvements Under the Proposed Bus Line Refresh Draft 2.0

Under the Bus Line Refresh Draft 2.0, some communities are being proposed for transit service improvements: higher frequency service, or new direct connections to critical destinations. Other communities will see transit service cuts; this is the consequence of Pittsburgh Regional Transit deciding to develop a “cost-neutral” plan rather than a more visionary proposal for service restoration and expansion. 

But riders spoke up about Bus Line Redesign Draft 1.0 and Pittsburgh Regional Transit made important changes based on our feedback! In particular, PRT took our advice to scale back the proposed disruption to our routes. They also provided riders with a commute “calculator”, allowing riders to model proposed changes to our trips, and ensured that the proposed “microtransit zone” communities like McKeesport, the Southern Hilltop and Natrona Heights would be provided with expanded fixed route buses, not irregular on-demand shuttles.

Check the list below to see if your routes/communities would gain significant service under the Refresh Draft 2.0.

Note: Old route numbers are listed where those numbers are continuing to be used, otherwise the new route number is listed here. Routes are listed numerically regardless of alpha-prefix.

Service Restoration 

• Restoration of service to Arnold 
• N63 restored Jenny Lind Ave service
• 71C Restored to downtown and uptown 
• P78 restoration of weekend service

Service Extensions

• 6 Spring Hill extension to North Hills Village
• 12 McKnight extension to Wexford
• 16 Brighton extension to Emsworth
• 28X extension to Carnegie
• 79 extension from Lincoln Park to East Liberty via Larimer
• N1/N3 Extends and restores service to parts of Allegheny And Natrona Heights

Improvements in Service Span

• 7 Spring Garden all day service on weekdays
• D25 Moon/Robinson to Downtown all day, 7 day service ( Also restores 25A connection between Robinson and Moon cut over 15 years ago )
• N77 all-day weekday service on Universal Rd in Penn Hills

New Connections

• O9 new connection between the East End to McKnight Rd ( Pseudo 12U restoration )
• N17 new connection between Bellevue/Avalon/West View to McKnight Rd ( pseudo restoration of 15A / Partial 9/11C restoration )
• 27 new connection between McKees Rocks to Crafton-Ingram shopping center ( Partial Restoration of 24A )
• N34 new connection between Carnegie crosstown to Brentwood loop
• O35 new connection between West Liberty to Oakland 
• N41 new connection between Bower Hill Rd to Carnegie 
• O45 new connection between Carrick to Oakland to East Liberty 
• 54 new connections between Polish Hill to Bloomfield and the Southside Works
• D58 new connections between Swisshelm Park, Squirrel Hill and Greenfield
• 64 new connection to Millvale
• N66 new connection North Braddock to Walmart
• O73 new connection between Homewood to Bates St to Southside Works to Wharton Square
• 81 new connection between Lawrenceville to Bloomfield to Hill District to Mercy Hospital
• N84 new connection between the Hill District and the Strip District
• 86 new connection between the Strip District and Penn Hills
• 87 new connection between the Downtown to the Strip District to Garfield Heights
• D89 new connection between the Lawrenceville to Stanton Heights to East Liberty

Image Description: photo of Downtown Pittsburgh taped on a paper background, with stickers of a football and a red PRT bus.

New data shows that transit was the star of the NFL Draft—here’s what we learned (and how we can use it to win better transit in the future)!

1. Public transit is the reason the Draft succeeded!
   Event buses were full, and the roads were free of traffic. Places that had transit access to the Draft grew crowds; places without it, didn’t.
   
   
2. It pays to pay transit workers!
   Operators were paid higher wages for working a strenuous event, and they did a fabulous job. We can, and should, pay essential workers according to their high value.
   
   
3. Free fares = better service, higher ridership!
   They reduce barriers to entry, increase access for low-income riders, and even saves time en-route. Sheetz, the Pittsburgh Organizing Committee and The Pittsburgh Foundation paid the T and “football flyers” fares, so PRT lost no money. Plus, higher ridership actually generates more revenue for PRT (thanks to state funding laws).
   
   Free fares can be implemented for more than just special event attendees; it can benefit low-income riders AND the agency.
   
   
4. People love taking the bus—when it’s easy!
   Draft service was direct, frequent, clearly communicated, and easily understandable. And it paid off for almost 485,000 rides!
   
   
5. Big events like this would not be possible without a functional, accessible, affordable transit system—all the time.
   We don’t need to wait for the next big event to roll around to build and fund a transit system that works for our city. We can build one that generates economic benefits, now, for our city.
   
   
6. Promoting transit works!
   PRT, the Mayor, and the County Executive—not to mention Visit Pittsburgh, local news outlets, and local influencers—regularly promoted the benefits of transit, and urged visitors to hop on the bus to avoid congestion and high parking costs. And it worked!
   
   
7. The true cost of parking is high!
   Driving, finding a parking spot, and paying for it was inconvenient for Draft visitors—and it’s still inconvenient for everyday commuters. If given reliable, affordable, frequent transit options, people won’t choose to add congestion or pollution to our roads.

These communities will lose all service with the Bus Line Refresh proposal – RSVP by 5/27 for your final chance to give feedback on the plan

Whether you live in McKeesport or McKees Rocks, the Hill District or the South Hills, our public transit system needs to work for everyone.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) will soon close their community engagement period for the second draft of their Bus Line Redesign (BLR). The redesign proposes a completely redrawn map of where transit routes will run. It includes new schedules for how frequently and how late at night buses and trains operate, and even proposes renaming all the routes in the system.

Tens of thousands of people who use the system every day will be affected. Allegheny County Transit riders, transit workers, businesses, social service providers—we all have a stake in a Bus Line Redesign that works for all.

The Bus Line Refresh plan is complicated and will affect everyone differently. That’s why it’s very important that transit riders and transit workers review your routes and give feedback now! You can check out how your routes will be impacted and give feedback online, by phone, or at an upcoming PRT community event here. 

This is the last opportunity for the public to weigh in before PRT finalizes and ratifies this transit plan- one that will impact our transit service for generations! 

Join other transit riders to speak up about impacts of the Bus Line Refresh Draft 2.0 – the good and the bad – at our press conference and public testimony on Friday, 5/29 at 8:30 am at Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Board meeting.

---

The Communities Slated for the Greatest Transit Losses under PRT’s Bus Line Refresh 2.0

Under the Bus Line Refresh Draft 2.0, some communities are being proposed for transit service improvements with higher frequency service or new direct connections to critical destinations. Other communities will see transit service cuts- this is the consequence of Pittsburgh Regional Transit deciding to develop a “cost-neutral” plan rather than a more visionary proposal for service restoration and expansion. 

In the coming days, we will publish a proposed list of transit service improvements under the BLR 2.0, but right now, it’s most important that transit riders who are slated to lose access to all transit service get a chance to review and respond to the plan.

Below, we lay out the communities in which transit service currently exists, but under the proposed Bus Line Refresh Draft 2.0 will be left little to no service.  

We used existing route numbers (not the route numbers proposed in the new plan) to help riders identify whether they will be impacted. Routes are listed numerically regardless of alpha-prefix.

• 2/P13 – Shaler: Mt Royal Blvd – 15101
• 2/O5/P13 – McCandless: Ferguson Rd, Sample Rd – 15101, 15237
• 4/7 – Reserve Township – 15212
• O5 – Ross Township: Thompson Run Rd – 15237
• 6/7/15 – Summer Hill – 15214
• O12 – Perry Highway North – 15237
• 14/18 – Lower Half of Chateau/Manchester – 15233
• 20 – Groveton/Kennedy Township: Herbst Rd – 15108
• 27 – Windgap/Middletown: Segments on Middletown Rd and outer Chartiers Ave – 15204/15205
• 28X – Robinson Town Center and 5th Ave in Shadyside – 15205
• 36 – Mount Lebanon: Cedar Blvd to South Hills Village – 15228
• 36 – Banksville Rd transit service eliminated off-peak and weekends – 15216
• 38 – Wynnecliff Manor in Scott Township – 15220
• 39 – Ebenshire Village in Brookline – 15226
• 40/43 – Kathleen St/Beltzhoover Ave/Boggs Ave in the North side of Warrington – 15210/15211
• 44 – North Baldwin – 15236, 15227
• Y45 – Baldwin/Whitehall/South Park – 15236
• 52L – West Mifflin: Homeville Rd and Duquesne Village Shopping Center – 15122
• 54 – Bon Air – 15210
• 55/P76 – East McKeesport – 15131
• 65/74 – Squirrel Hill: Shady Ave, Beechwood Blvd – 15217
• 74 – Point Breeze: Reynolds St – 15208
• 77/P16 – Penn Hills/Plum: Hulton Arbors – 15235, 15239
• 77/P16 – Penn Hills: Monroeville Trestle Rd and Saltsburg Rd, North Bessemer, Leechburg Rd – 15235
• 79/P17 – Lincoln Park: Mark Drive, Grove Rd, Chaske St, Mt Carmel Rd – 15206/15235/15147
• P76 – White Oak: Rt 48 corridor – 15131
• P76 – North Versailles: Rt 30 beyond Walmart – 15235

Major Severed Routes: Where New Transfers May be Required for Current Trips

Some current bus lines are being broken up into 2 or 3 different routes. For riders on these routes, that might mean new transfers where you currently have a direct trip.  

Riders can go toFind My Route on the PRT Bus Line Refresh website to look at how your commute will be impacted, if at all. 

We know that 84% of transit trips today taken by PRT riders who use a CONNECT card are direct trips, completed without having to transfer. New transfers can add additional significant time to commutes, can add uncertainty around timing to get to our destinations and more exposure to the elements. Moreover, transit riders who pay with cash will have to pay an additional fare for each additional transfer. We know that riders strongly prefer direct trips over trips requiring a transfer, and so want to ensure that riders have a chance to see and respond to these substantial changes. 

Below we list current routes in numerical order, regardless of alpha-prefix, and the point in the route where they have been severed: 

• 1 Freeport Rd at the Waterworks Mall
• 13 Bellevue/14 Ohio River Blvd/17 Shadeland have been segmented and reassembled in various ways
• 21 Coraopolis – Coraopolis to Moon/Sewickley
• 31 Bridgeville at Carnegie Station
• 41 Bower Hill: Washington Rd at Bower Hill Rd
• 54 N Side-Oakland-S Side – Lawrenceville/Bloomfield to South Side/Mount Oliver/Beltzhoover/Bon Air
• 59 Mon Valley – across the Monongahela River
• 67 Monroeville – Oakland/Squirrel Hill to Monroeville/CCAC Boyce
• 69 Trafford – Oakland/Squirrel Hill to Forest Hills/Wilmerding/Pitcairn
• 69 Trafford – to Forbes Hospital
• 74 Homewood-Squirrel Hill Squirrel Hill to Larimer
• 75 Ellsworth – to South Side Works
• 81 Oak Hill/83 Bedford Hill – connections to Hill District Business Area (Centre-Devilliers)
• 87 Friendship – Bloomfield/Friendship to Morningside/Stanton Hts/Upper Lawrenceville
• 93 Lawrenceville-Oakland-Hazelwood – Lawrenceville/Bloomfield to Greenfield/Hazelwood 
• P10/1 – Extend all N1 trips from East Liberty to Downtown to avoid forced transfer
• Y47 Curry Flyer from Keeport-Knoedler to Walmart

Join other transit riders to speak up about impacts of the Bus Line Refresh Draft 2.0 – the good and the bad – at our press conference and public testimony on Friday, 5/29 at 8:30 am at Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Board meeting.

PPT Members are invited to join the leadership team to coordinate the strategic direction of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. Nominations open until July 5th. Voting open from July 8th to August 12th.

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 member-led organization, which means it’s our members who elect our Board of Directors, develop and approve our annual strategic plan, and participate in our different committees to win our campaigns.

Our Board Election Season is a special time for PPT! Every year, the membership holds elections to choose a new round of leaders to serve on our Board of Directors.

to 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 6th. If you think you know what it takes to lead our Union, nominate yourself or someone else! 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:
1 seat is open for a PPT Member who is a unionized transit worker.
The PPT Board is accepting nominations from any General Members who are interested in running to join the board, but it will soon announce how many seats will be open for election.

See the list of current Board Members here.

The current board members whose seats are up for election are Andrew Hussein, Bill McDowell, Pearl Hughey, and Verna Johnson (who, after three successful terms is not eligible to run again for election).

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 July 5th. All current PPT Members are welcome to nominate themselves or another PPT Member. Outgoing board members who have served fewer than three terms 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 2025 Board of Directors election will open at PPT’s monthly meeting on July 10th, and remain open until the Summer Picnic on August 13th. 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. Board 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.

2025 PPT Board of Directors Election Schedule

• Nominations are open until July 6th.
• Bios and photos of current nominees will be sent to members before the June PPT meeting and again before the July PPT meeting. Bios will also be included on the ballot.
• July 9th, 7pm: PPT Monthly Meeting with Board Nominee introductions and Elections, voting opens
• August 13th, 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.