We’re Ready for a Budget that Moves Us! On February 4th, Rosa Parks’ birth date, we’re calling on Governor Shapiro to lay out a funding plan for the transit we deserve.
Thank you Governor Shapiro for hearing our call to flex funding and save SEPTA. Now it’s time for you to put transit first, and negotiate a dedicated, sustainable transit funding solution for all Pennsylvanians in 2025.
Whether you’re from State College or Scranton, Philly or Erie, every Pennsylvanian deserves transportation access to opportunity. Organize with us on Rosa Parks’ birth date and Transit Equity Day to win public transit in every corner of our state.
This February 4th, 2025 is the annual Transit Equity Day, which is celebrated on civil rights leader Rosa Parks’ birth date. Transit Equity Day recognizes transit as a human right, central to the movements for racial justice, economic justice, disability justice and climate justice. This year, it falls on the same date as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget address, in which he will lay out his funding priorities for the FY 2026 Budget.
We’re ready for a state budget that moves us. On Rosa Parks’ birth date and Transit Equity Day, transit riders and workers across Pennsylvania are calling on Governor Josh Shapiro to announce his plan to win dedicated, expanded funding for public transit in his annual budget address.
There are THREE things you can do to organize with us for transit that moves all Pennsylvanians:
First, send a letter to Governor Shapiro,to show him how important transit is to constituents all across the Commonwealth, and that there we’re ready to support him in winning funding for the service we deserve! >>Send your letter here & share it with your community
Finally, register to join our TRANSIT M♥VES US WATCH PARTY of Gov. Shapiro’s Budget AddressWe’ll have in-person coffee and donuts in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and have a livestream up for folks to join from home! Let’s show the state legislature that we’re paying attention and are ready for the transit funding fight this Spring!>>RSVP today and invite your folks!
How to take part in the TRANSIT M♥VES ME photo campaign to tell Gov. Shapiro transit must be a top priority!
Guidance for taking photos:
Write the sign in Sharpie or print from a digital doc
Sign should be horizontal
Font should be large and cover the entire page
Message is: I am a ____________ [insert job title] and transit moves me <3
Hold it high: under your face
Photo should be taken in portrait orientation/vertically
Don’t take a back lit photo: Make sure the light source in the room is shining on you and the sign
If possible, have someone else take the photo so that nothing is left out of the frame
Take a couple photos so you can decide which one you like best and don’t forget to smile! 🙂
Once you have your photo:
Send your photo to Connor at connor@transitforallpa.orgwith a sentence or two about why you’re taking action!
Post it to social media with the following message: I am an essential worker and transit moves me! Hey @governorshapiro! Please include transit as a top priority in your budget address on Feb 4th. 🚨 Take action with me and the @TransitPA campaign here: https://www.transitforallpa.org/tell-gov-shapiro-transit-moves-us/ #transitequityday
RSVP to the watch party! All Eyes on Governor Shapiro to include transit as top priority in his 2025-26 Budget Address!
Join us as we call on Governor Shapiro to put transit at the top of his agenda for this Spring’s budget negotiations and hear his plans for funding the service we deserve on Transit Equity Day.
We will hold a watch party with coffee and donuts in Pittsburgh and in Philadelphia during this budget, with locations TBD. Register here to join the in-person fun, or get the link to join the watch party from the warmth of your own home!
image description: red background with white text that reads “New Advocate Tools! Commute Calculator” next to a logo for Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Bus Line Redesign
New Commute Calculator tool From Our Research Committee Helps Riders See How Trips Will Be Impacted by Draft 1.0 of the Bus Line Redesign
Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) is proposing a significant Bus Line Redesign that could dramatically change how transit riders travel across the County. We think it’s very important that transit riders have the ability to assess how the Bus Line Redesign (BLR) will impact our commute times. PRT does not provide a way to compare travel times under the current bus network to the proposed BLR Draft 1.0, although we at PPT believe that this is invaluable information for riders to consider.
PPT’s Research Committee used our tool to model 21 example transit trips in Allegheny County to and from important neighborhoods and destinations to compare travel times: 19 of those 21 trips would take longer under the BLR Draft 1.0 than they do today under our current network, which is very concerning. Many of these trips are longer because they would require more transfers under the new proposal. You can see the math behind these example commute calculations here.
USE OUR ADVOCATE COMMUTE TOOL: Compare how your current commute is impacted by Draft 1.0 of the Bus Line Redesign Proposal
People care how long their trip will take. It’s unfortunate that Pittsburgh Regional Transit doesn’t provide a way to measure how your commute time will change under their bus network proposal. Luckily, our Research Committee created a tool to let people do just that.
To make a commute time comparison between an existing PRT transit trip and the proposed Bus Line Redesign transit trip, follow these instructions:
Identify Your Route: Choose the starting point (e.g., your neighborhood intersection) and destination (e.g., an intersection, a key location like a workplace, hospital, grocery store, or transit hub).
Enter it in Google Maps: Input the starting point and destination in Google Maps and adjust the route’s path according to the actual route and turns that the current bus takes. It is IMPORTANT to map your current route using the “driving” function of Google Maps (NOT the “transit” function!), in order to have an apples to apples comparison of the current route(s) against the proposed Bus Line Redesign route(s). This is suggested because travel times for the proposed routes are not yet available. It should be noted that actual transit travel times will likely be longer.
Record Travel Details using Current Routes: Note the total travel time, number of transfers, and any walking required.
Walking times from your origin to the bus stop, from the bus stop to your destination, or between buses related to a transfer can be assessed using the Google Maps “walking” function.
For all transfers you need to add a transfer time “penalty” that is equal to half of the frequency of the second or connecting route. So for instance, if you must make a transfer and the bus you are transferring onto comes once every 30 minutes, you should add a 15 minute transfer penalty to your total commute time. This penalty represents the average wait time related to the transfer.
Adjust your Google Maps input to reflect the new proposed route and again use the car or driving option, not the transit option to calculate times for the proposed trip. Using the driving option for both the current and proposed trip will ensure a fair comparison.
Compare: Copy a table or create a table with columns for the current and proposed routes, listing travel time, transfers, and walking distance. Highlight any key differences.
Adding the two bus trips together gives a total bus travel time of 18 minutes. However,the new N63 will only have service every 60 minutes–so the transfer penalty will be 30 minutes. In total, the new travel time will be approximately 48 minutes.
Fill in the chart with the information for your current route (on the left) and your new route (on the right) under the BLR proposal:
In this way, you are able to calculate the impact of the proposed changes in the BLR Draft 1.0 for yourself. It is important to remember that this does not have to be perfect. And if you need any help in doing this at any time, feel free to reach out to PPT and we will be glad to figure it out with you!
PPT’s Research Committee modeled Draft 1.0 of the Bus Line Redesign impacts on 21 different trips. Here’s the results:
Hill District (Centre+Kirkpatrick) to Waterworks (Giant Eagle) – Travel Time Would be Shorter Under BLR Proposal
Current route: 48 minutes | Proposed route: 40 minutes (8-minute improvement) Current Route: (82, 1) | Proposed Route: (D81)
Good news! Traveling from Centre & Kirkpatrick to Waterworks Giant Eagle would be slightly faster. The new route eliminates one transfer at Liberty+7th (Downtown), making your journey more straightforward.
Children’s Hospital (Penn+44th) to Shadyside (Fifth Avenue+S Highland) – Travel Time Would be Longer Under the BLR Proposal
Current route: 12 minutes | Proposed routes: 25 or 38 minutes (potential increase of 13-26 minutes).
Current Route: (64) | Proposed Routes: (N94, D73)
Caution! This route becomes more complicated. You’ll now need to walk more (from the Hospital to Liberty+Bloomfield Bridge) and make a transfer at Fifth+Shady which could significantly extend your travel time. You could walk from Fifth+Shady to Fifth+ S Highland to save the transfer time.
Lower Lawrenceville (Penn+Butler) to South Side (S 18th+Sarah) – Travel Time Would be Longer Under the BLR Proposal
Current route: 23 minutes | Proposed routes: 30 or 52 minutes.
Current Route: (54) | Proposed Routes: (O99, O47) or (D88, D51)
Significant variations here! One proposed route will have a 7-minute increase, while another adds nearly 30 minutes to your journey. Expect more walking and transfers at Fifth+Atwood (Oakland) or Smithfield+Fifth (Downtown) in both proposed scenarios.
Trafford (5th+Brinton) to Monroeville (Forbes Hospital) – Travel Time Would be Much Longer Under the BLR Proposal
Major Concern! This route sees a dramatic change. The new route involves a walk from Trafford to Haymaker Village and a transfer at North Versailles Walmart. The required and significant walking (due to the removal of bus service in Trafford) will turn a quick trip into a lengthy journey.
Beltzhoover (Gearing+Chalfont) to Shadyside Hospital (Centre+Cypress) – Travel Time Would Be Similar Under the BLR Proposal with Additional Walking
Current route: 46 minutes | Proposed routes: 49 or 52 minutes.
Current Routes: (44, 82) | Proposed Routes: (N84, D82) or (RED, D82)
While only slightly longer overall, there is significant additional walking. You will still have one transfer.
Squirrel Hill (Forbes+Murray) to Robinson Town Center (IKEA) – Travel Time Would be Longer Under the BLR Proposal
Current route: 61 minutes | Proposed routes: 78 or 85 minutes (an increase of 17-24 minutes).
Current Routes: (61C, 28X) | Proposed Routes: (X50, D29) or (X50, D25)
Longer journey ahead! The new routes involve a Downtown transfer and slightly longer walking distances, potentially making your commute longer and less convenient.
Homewood (N Homewood+Frankstown) to Squirrel Hill (Allderdice High School) – Travel Time Would be Much Longer Under the BLR Proposal
Significant time increase! The new route requires a transfer at Penn+Shady which will add more walking, and substantially more time to reach your destination.
Kennedy (Pleasant Ridge) to Lawrenceville (Butler+46th) – Travel Time Would be Longer Under the BLR Proposal
Current route: 47 minutes | Proposed routes: 57 or 66 minutes (10-19 minute increase).
Current Routes: (22, 91) | Proposed Routes: (N22, GREEN, D91) or (N22, D21, D91)
Longer journey ahead! The new routes involve more walking, an additional transfer and more complex navigation.
Natrona Heights (Freeport+Spring Hill) to Downtown (LIberty+Smithfield) – Travel Time Would be Significantly Longer Under the BLR Proposal
Current route: 54 minutes | Proposed routes: 89 or 104 minutes (an extraordinary 35-50 minute increase).
Current Route: (P10) | Proposed Routes: (N1, PURPLE) or (N1, D5)
Major Time Increase! Riders will now face a transfer either at East Liberty Station or Harmar Garage, significantly longer travel times, and more complicated routes.
Carnegie Mellon University (Forbes+Morewood) to CCAC Boyce Campus – Travel Time Would be Longer Under the BLR Proposal
Current Routes: (41, 51) | Proposed Route: (N33, GREEN, D51)
Significant commute time Increase! There will bean additional transfer, one at Carnegie Station and the second at Sixth+Wood complicating what was previously a more direct journey.
Marshall Shadeland District (Brighton+Marshall) to North Hills (Passavant Hospital) – Travel Time Would be Slightly Longer under BLR Proposal
Current Route: (56) | Proposed Route: (D52, X50, N56)
Significant Time Increase! This would be a substantially longer trip with two transfers, one at E 8th+Ann (Homestead) and the other at Lysle+Evans (McKeesport).
Glen Hazel (Broadview+Johnston) to Greenfield (Giant Eagle) – Travel Time Would be Longer under BLR Proposal
Current route: 10 minutes | Proposed routes: 13 or 36 minutes (slight to significant increase).
Current Route: (93) | Proposed Routes: (O53, D44) or (O53, X50)
Mixed Results: One proposed route requires a transfer at Browns Hill+Imogene (with the need to cross busy Browns Hill Road), while the other adds substantial time requiring a transfer at Hazelwood+Osprey.
Edgewood Town Center (Giant Eagle) to Wilkinsburg (Montier+Laketon) – Travel Time Would Be Similar Under the BLR Proposal
Current and Proposed route: 41 minutes.
Current Routes: (71, 79) | Proposed Route: (X61, X60, N79)
No additional time, but an additional transfer. Despite additional walking and two transfers, one at Forbes+S Braddock (Frick Park) and the other at Penn+Center (Wilkinsburg), the overall travel time remains the same.
Morningside (Jancey+Greenwood) to North Side (Allegheny General Hospital) – Travel Time Would be Longer under BLR Proposal
Current route: 40 minutes | Proposed routes: 49 or 53 minutes (9-13 minute increase).
Current Routes: (87, 54) | Proposed Routes: (D96, D5) or (D96, D12)
Longer Trip Ahead! This commute becomes more complex and longer with additional walking and new transfer locations depending on the chosen option, one at Freeport+Western (Aspinwall) or the other at Liberty+7th (Downtown).
Brookline (Chelton+Freedom) to Propel Braddock Hills High School – Travel Time Would be Shorter Under BLR Proposal
Current Routes: (39, P68) | Proposed Route: (D39, D64)
Slight commute time improvement. An instance of travel time becoming shorter, but there would be increased walking time.
Stanton Heights (Stanton+Hawthorne) to Bloomfield (West Penn Hospital) – Travel Time Would be Longer under BLR Proposal
Current route: 12 minutes | Proposed routes: 29 or 32 minutes (17-20 minute increase).
Current Route: (87) | Proposed Routes: (D87, D88) or (D87, N79)
Significant Time Increase! A transfer would be required either at Penn+Negley or at N Negley+East Liberty Boulevard and additional walking will increase travel time.
Our conclusion? Riders have reason to be concerned.
In the 21 examples the proposed Bus Line Redesign Draft 1.0 predominantly increases travel times, introduces more transfers, and requires additional walking. Under Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Bus Line Redesign (BLR) Draft 1.0, many riders could expect to have longer, more complicated commutes. We recommend reviewing specific changes to the routes you ride to understand how your daily travel might be impacted. We highly encourage leaving a comment on the Bus Line Design website Bus Line Redesign | Engage PRT or by calling PRT’s Customer Service Line at (412) 442-2000 or by sending an email at BusLineRedesign@RidePRT.org to ensure that your feedback is heard by PRT.
image description: red graphic with white font that says “New Advocates Tool! Evaluate Impacts” with a logo of Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Bus Line Redesign.
PPT Research Committee Launches New Community Evaluation & DIY Tools to Understand Impacts of Draft 1.0 of Bus Line Redesign
The Bus Line Redesign is enormously complicated, and will change almost every aspect of riders’ transit trips: PRT’s Bus Line Redesign will redraw where almost every bus route will run, how frequently buses come and how early in the morning and late at night buses will operate. Adding to the confusion, PRT is also proposing to rename all the bus routes and eliminate many bus stops across the County. That’s a lot for folks to pay attention to!
High-level evaluation of how some communities’ transit service will be impacted by Draft 1.0 of the Bus Line Redesign
Our Research Committee has been doing a deep dive into how the PRT’s Bus Line Redesign proposal will impact communities. Below, we have highlighted communities and corridors (not specific commutes or trips from A to B) that will see substantial transit service cuts with no proposed replacement routes under the Bus Line Redesign 1.0, and highlighted where neighborhoods will lose direct transit service to other communities or particular destinations under the PRT Bus Line Redesign Draft 1.0.
Below, where we write “losing direct service” it means just that– the listed destinations would no longer be able to be reached directly on one bus (otherwise known as a “one-seat ride”) under the proposed redesign, but it may be possible to reach those destinations with a transfer. However, it is important to recognize how adding a transfer adds uncertainty and longer commute times to transit trips, and increases wait times in the elements.
Finally, the list below is not a comprehensive list of the changes from the current bus network with the proposed Bus Line Redesign- for instance, we are not laying out proposed improvements to routes, nor are we evaluating service frequency or service span changes. In a few weeks, we will publish a route-by-route comparison of the current system that notes service improvements, accessibility and safety concerns, and service frequency and span changes.
We also are not claiming that these proposed Bus Line Redesign Draft 1.0 service changes are all bad- it’s very possible that these parts of the transit routes have very low ridership, and so this service can be re-allocated to different places without much concern. However, we believe that the Bus Line Redesign must grow ridership, grow transit service in marginalized communities, and make transit trips faster and more direct, and this is a resource to evaluate whether the Bus Line Redesign Draft 1.0 will do that, or not.
So take a look at how the Bus Line Redesign would affect your community below, let PRT know what you think, and sign on to support PPT’s Vision for a Bus Line Redesign for All! You can also let us know at info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org if we’ve missed other important impacts that you see with the Bus Line Redesign Draft 1.0.
Service along the current Y45 is almost completely eliminated, with no replacement.
Loss of Y47 service along Brownsville Rd between Provost Rd and Knoedler Drive.
Complete loss of 44 service in Baldwin on Agnew Rd, Custer Ave, Spencer Ave and Churchview Ave, with no fixed route service replacement.
PRT’s proposed Bus Line Redesign replacement routes of D46 and D49 are inaccessible by foot in the neighborhood. A previous 5-10 minute walk to a bus stop will now involve a harrowing half hour walk along a busy road without sidewalks, making the area highly inaccessible by transit. Furthermore the replacement bus service being offered now results in a much longer commute going through Century Square and Prospect Park.
Residents were already struggling with overcrowded buses on the Y45, because of service reductions over the past several years.
Beltzhoover
Elimination of 44 service in Beltzhoover along Climax St, Gearing Ave and Chalfont St, with no replacement fixed route transit service in those neighborhoods.
Bloomfield
Loses 87 service altogether.
Loses direct 54 service to North Oakland, South Side & Slopes, Mount Oliver, Knoxville, Bon Air, Allentown & Beltzhoover.
Loses direct 64 service to Shadyside and Chatham University.
Loses direct 87 service to Morningside, Stanton Heights & Upper Lawrenceville.
Loses direct 93 service to Greenfield, Hazelwood & Glen Hazel.
Loss of all 54 & 71C on Centre Avenue service with no proposed increase in 71A (O95) service ensures overcrowding and pass-ups in this busy transit corridor.
Reroutes 64 service away from the entrances to West Penn Hospital & Children’s Hospital.
Bon Air
Complete removal of 54 routing (and all bus service) from Bon Air.
Brackenridge
Elimination of P10 service. Proposed transit service replacement is serving a different portion of the community.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s proposed Bus Line Redesign shifts bus service to the River Ave portion of the community (on the proposed N1) from the current Freeport Road and 9th Ave vicinity.
Braddock
Loses direct connection to the Waterfront. Proposed service will require a transfer at Swissvale Station.
The routes in this region are all being broken up and reassembled into different routes connecting to different places, so there will be substantial impacts to current riders.
Braddock Hills
Loss of P68 service on Brinton Rd between Ardmore Blvd and Yost Blvd, with no replacement transit service.
The routes in this region are all being broken up and reassembled into different routes connecting to different places, so there will be substantial impacts to current riders.
Carnegie/Scott Township
Loss of G31 service on 3rd Street and Caruthers Ave between Carnegie & Heidelberg, with no replacement transit service on that corridor.
Chalfant
Loss of P76 service on Ardmore Blvd and US 30 between Yost Blvd and State Rt 48, would be discontinued.
Additional loss of current 69 service and loss of 59 service leaves this community with no remaining transit service under the Bus Line Redesign proposal.
Corliss/Crafton Heights
Loss of service along Middletown Road, Ladoga St, Faronia St, and Jeffers St with the elimination of the 27 bus.
Creighton
Loss of both the 1 and the P10, which leaves the community entirely without transit service.
Friendship
87 service on Friendship Avenue is eliminated altogether.
Loses direct 87 service to Morningside, Stanton Heights & Upper Lawrenceville.
Loss of all 71C on Centre Avenue service with no proposed increase in 71A (O95) service ensures overcrowding and pass-ups in this busy transit corridor.
Glassport
Loses the direct connection with North Versailles Walmart
Greenfield
Loses fast, direct service to Downtown via 2nd Ave (instead routing Downtown service through a longer route via Oakland).
Loses direct connections to Homestead, Lincoln Place, Munhall, West Mifflin, most of the Squirrel Hill business district, Duquesne and Walmart in Century Square by eliminating the current 52L, 53L, 65 & 93 service.
Eliminates bus service on lower Greenfield Avenue between Ronald St and Irvine St, currently served by the 58.
Eliminates bus service on Winterburn Ave and Bigelow St, without replacement.
The Busline Redesign team claims that the geography and topography of the neighborhood makes service challenging, which is the exact reason that residents are asking for accessible transit, with steep hills and roads that are not very walkable.
Hays/Lincoln Place
Hays will see the elimination of current 56 bus service along Mifflin Road, with no replacement transit service.
Hazelwood & Glen Hazel
Loss of direct 56 service to Hays, Dravosburg, McKeesport and Penn State McKeesport.
Loss of direct 93 service to Greenfield, Squirrel Hill, North Oakland, Bloomfield and Lawrenceville.
Hill District (High Rise on Crawford/Bedford)
Elimination of 81 service to Bedford & Crawford senior citizen highrise.
The proposed replacement service will be rerouted to Centre Avenue, which residents are concerned is inaccessible given the mobility limitations of many residents in that complex.
Homeville Section of West Mifflin & West Mifflin west of Duquesne
With the elimination of the 52L, Mifflin St and Cipher St in Whittaker, most of Homeville Rd in West Mifflin (all but 1 block), Pennsylvania Ave in the Duquesne Annex Section, and Conlin St will lose all transit service.
Homewood
77 and 86 service will be combined into a single route D86, reducing service on Frankstown Avenue.
Direct service to Baum and Bigelow Boulevards will be discontinued.
D86 will operate to Penn Hills (to Alcoma Apartments only). It will not operate to CCAC-Boyce.
D86 will stop running about 9 pm on Sunday with low service frequencies both Saturday & Sunday/Holiday.
Knoxville
Elimination of the current 44 service in Knoxville along Charles Street and Knox Ave, with no fixed route transit replacement.
McCandless
Loss of all service on Peebles Rd between McIntyre Square and Sample Rd, with no replacement.
Loss of all service on Sample Rd, Presidential Drive to North Park and Hemlock, with no replacement
Mount Lebanon/Scott Township
Loses current 41 service on Bower Hill Road from Kane Blvd to Bridgeville.
Eliminates some substantial portions of the current 36 bus, including all of Cedar Boulevard, and elimination of all transit service south of Cochran Road at Bower Hill Rd, including Gilkeson Rd and the Galleria.
Loses current 38 service on Greentree Rd between Cochran Rd and Swallow Hill Rd, and 38 service between Swallow Hill Rd & Lindsay Rd, both without a proposed transit service replacement.
Mt Oliver
Elimination of 44 service in Mount Oliver on Penn Ave and St Joseph St, with no replacement.
Natrona Heights
Loss of commuter service to Downtown
Loss of direct connections to places between the Tarentum Bridge and the New Kensington Bridge
Loss of direct connections to communities between Downtown and the Hulton Bridge, north of the Allegheny River.
North Oakland
Loss of all 54 & 71C service with no proposed increase in 71A (O95) service ensures overcrowding and pass-ups in this busy transit corridor.
North Versailles/East McKeesport
There will no longer be direct service from North Versailles and East McKeesport to Downtown, which is currently provided by the P76.
Crestas Terrace will be further from transit service requiring a lengthier walk.
The routes in this region are all being broken up and reassembled into different routes connecting to different places, so there will be substantial impacts to current riders.
However, there are some notable improvements. There will be new service between Haymaker Village, Pitcairn, Wilmerding, North Versailles, Walmart, Braddock and Swissvale Station on the N65. There will also be new service on 5th Ave between McKeesport and East McKeesport on the N56, which will connect Penn State, McKeesport proper, Walnut St, Olympia Shopping Center and Versailles. North Versailles will get new service from Walmart on the N63 to Monroeville Mall and Forbes Hospital.
O’Hara Township (VA Hospital)
The VA Hospital will only be served by N92 from East Liberty. For many riders 3 buses and lengthy travel times may be required to reach the VA Hospital.
Penn Hills
Loss of all service (P16) along Universal Road, Long Road, Milltown Rd and Hulton Rd including to Hulton Arbors.
Polish Hill
Loss of 54 service resulting in the loss of direct service to North Side, the popular part of the Strip District, Bloomfield, North Oakland, Oakland, Bon Air.
Loss of 77 service along Bigelow Boulevard resulting in the loss of direct service to Downtown, Baum Boulevard, East Liberty, Penn Hills, Plum and CCAC-Boyce. This is an important connection to the Giant Eagle Market District.
For many in Polish Hill, walking to Herron Ave to catch the replacement service is not easily accessible because of the distance and the topography. Under this BLR Draft proposal, Polish Hill residents will have to transfer to go to the nearest grocery store, which is located only 1 mile away.
Reserve Township
Complete loss of current Route 4 service on Mount Troy Road and loss of all of the Route 7 service, with no transit service replacement. There is only a very small sliver of Spring Garden Rd that will retain service via the proposed D15.
Ross Township
Loss of all service between Siebert Rd and Peebles Road currently served by the 05, with no replacement.
Shadyside
Loss of all 54 & 71C service with no proposed increase in 71A (O95) service ensures overcrowding and pass-ups in this busy transit corridor.
St Clair
Complete loss of 44 bus service in the St. Clair neighborhood on Mountain St, Fisher St, Schuler St and Kohne St, with no fixed route transit replacement.
Summer Hill
Loss of service on Colby Street currently served by the 6, 7 and 15 with no replacement. There is also no appropriate bus stop location on Mt Pleasant Rd at Colby St.
Tarentum
Loss of fast, direct service to downtown currently served by the P10.
There will no longer be service in West Tarentum along Freeport Rd, which are currently serviced by the 1 and the P10.
Turtle Creek & Wilmerding (Airbrake Ave) & Trafford
These communities will see the loss of bus service altogether, with no replacement.
What a year it’s been! I’m so proud of everything Pittsburghers for Public Transit achieved in 2024, especially given the challenges we faced. And we did it all thanks to our members. That’s PPT’s special sauce: we’re not just a public service organization, we’re a grassroots union of transit riders, workers, and neighbors here in Allegheny County.
When you become a member of PPT, you power our fight for an expanded, affordable, and accessible public transit system that serves all of us, with no communities left behind.
Here are some highlights of our wins over the past year. As you read, remember that YOU are part of the WE that made it happen. In 2024, your membership, activism, and passion have carried PPT through to the finish line.
January-February
We brought our Representing Our Routes advocacycampaign to our legislators
We celebrated Transit Equity Day on Feb. 5
We launched our Community Audit of Bus Shelters
We created our McKnight Road Safety Petition to demand that PennDOT restore bus stops and improve pedestrian infrastructure on McKnight Road
SHOUTOUT to Jess Benner for combining strategic planning and yoga to help PPT staff stay flexible in our work and our bodies!
March
We celebrated Transit Worker Appreciation Day on March 18 by canvassing, handing out candy, and gathering stories about service issues
We won our fight to restart the City of Pittsburgh’s Complete Streets Advisory Group, which the city allowed to lapse in 2019
SHOUTOUT to Alisa Grishman for stellar work with the Complete Streets Advisory Group!
April
We mobilized 100+ transit riders, workers, and political leaders to rally with us and our partners in the Transit for All PA! Campaign in Harrisburg
We held a statewide Digital Day of Action on Earth Day on Apr. 22
SHOUTOUTS to Kelda Gorman for delivering an inspirational speech in Harrisburg and Erik Love for bringing 10 activists from Carlisle, PA, to Harrisburg!
May
We held our first-ever Spring Training for Members which brought activists from around the country together for a day of workshops and skill-building
We witnessed the rollout of the Allegheny Go low income fares program we’ve spent years advocating for
SHOUTOUTS to Miss Pearl Hughey and her grandchildren for making our Spring Training a successand Miss Sherai Richardson for making a powerful impact in expressing the value of the Allegheny Go program the media and public officials!
June
We held our Allegheny Go Launch Party at Trace Brewing with 60 of our coalition partners there to celebrate
We and our partners in Transit for All PA! mobilized our communities to send hundreds of digital lobbying letters that upped the pressure on Governor Shapiro to fund transit
We partnered with Casa San Jose to host Transit Tours for new residents and show them the routes, despite closures on the Red Line.
SHOUTOUTS to Evelyn Ulysse, Bernadette Mosey, and transit advocates in Beechview for bringing PRT to the table, getting word out to riders, and making these closures go as smoothly as possible!
July
We held our Summer Member Drive and elected a new Board of Directors.
We won big when our own Bobbie Fan was appointed to the board of Pittsburgh Regional Transit.
SHOUTOUTto Bobbie Fan for his fearless advocacy for public transit!
August
We launched our Allegheny County Campaign for Visionary Transit Service, which sets goals for a future transit system that really works for people.
We held our Summer Party which brought us together and brought in many new members.
SHOUTOUTSto Tayveon Kevin Smith and the incredible team from Tech for Society for help with our Visionary Transit Service Campaignand Denise Johnson for helping to make our Summer Party a success!
September
We built up to our Week Without Driving by highlighting testimonials, gathering sign-ons, and building relationships with new partner organizations
We continued our Community Audit of Bus Shelters and Transit Tours for new residents.
SHOUTOUT to Jacob Evangelista and Miss Damitra Harris-Penny for making our Week Without Driving a success and Jim Keener for keeping our website safe and secure!
October
We held our Week Without Driving from Sept. 30 to Oct. 7
We launched our PPT Movie Night, with a screening of the film “Union”
We started organizing our response to PRT’s Busline Redesign
SHOUTOUTS to Seth Bush and the Tech for Society team for helping us make a splash with our Busline Redesign response!
November
We won $153 million in state funds to save SEPTA (Philly’s public transit system) through our letter-writing and phone-banking campaigns
We launched our worker organizing fellowship with four fellows: James Hanna, Monica Wheeler, Tom Conroy, and Vincent Brandon
We overflowed our Zoom limit in our monthly meeting when we hosted PRT representatives to discuss the Busline Redesign
SHOUTOUT to Abishek Vaswanathan for all his work researching bus shelter placements and the Busline Redesign!
December
We won a first ever budget for bus shelters and transit infrastructure from the City Council
We convinced Pittsburgh to establish a partner pass program that provides bulk bus passes to municipal employees
We stood with our partners in the housing justice community to advocate for affordable housing at city government
SHOUTOUT to Bill McDowell for all his activism throughout the year!
These amazing wins are just the start. In 2025, we’re going to advocate for the Visionary Transit Service campaign we developed in August. We’re done with PRT cutting service and driving down ridership while claiming scarcity. It’s time to fund a community vision of what transit can and should be. It’s time to make PRT work for the people.
Join us in this fight! The minimum cost of joining is just $2.75, the same as one ride on PRT. And this year, the Posner Foundation has offered to match every contribution made during our Year End Member Drive up to $10,000. Turn your $100 into $200. Turn your $500 into $1,000!
Ride with us today, and make your donation monthly!
My name is Marcus McKnight. I’m a bus driver in Philadelphia and I co-founded the Philly Transit Riders Union. Are you wondering why I’m chiming in for Pittsburghers for Public Transit? Well let me tell you!
Pittsburghers for Public Transit helps lead the statewide Transit for All PA! Campaign, which is organizing AND WINNING resources for public transit across our state. Transit riders and transit workers know what we need and are building power by organizing together!
I love being a bus driver. I get to meet people from around the state, the country, and even the world. When tourists get on my bus, I always ask: Where are you from? If I visit, what should I see and do? I make them feel proud of their hometown and tell them what makes me proud to be from Philly. The local and the global meet each other on my bus. And it’s public transit that brings us all together.
Last month, the Transit for All PA! campaign had a major win for public transit here in Philadelphia. Gov. Josh Shapiro directed the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to flex $153 million in federal highway funds to fill SEPTA’s budget gap. I went to Harrisburg with T4APA! activists to lobby for funds. I asked our elected officials the same question I ask my out-of-town riders: If I visit your town, what should I see and do? I said, “That sounds great! But what about folks who don’t drive? How can they get there?” I saw it click for them. And then we got our funding.
This win felt awesome! But I know it’s only a drop in the bucket. There are 67 counties in Pennsylvania, and ALL of us need good public transit. Whether we live in a city, a town, or a rural area, public transit should be our FIRST option for getting seamlessly from Point A to Point B.
This is statewide funding, and it needs to be a statewide fight. By bottomlining the T4APA! Coalition, PPT is making sure that folks from Pittsburgh to Stroudsburg and beyond have accessible, affordable, and sustainable public transit that works for everyone.
The fight for public transit takes all of us. As a bus driver, I know that the best way to make change is for us all to get on the bus and demand better. Riders, drivers, and community members across the state have important stories that need to be told. T4APA! is the vehicle that brings our stories to our elected officials and makes sure our voices are heard.
When you support PPT, you’re supporting a grassroots coalition that works statewide to make our public transit systems work. The minimum cost of joining PPT is just $2.75, the same as one ride on PRT. And this year, the Posner Foundation has offered to match every contribution made during our Year End Member Drive up to $10,000. Turn your $100 into $200. Turn your $500 into $1,000!
Ride with us today, and make your donation monthly!
HUGE CITY BUDGET VICTORY! Transit rider organizing wins the first-ever city budget line item for transit amenities! Get ready for more bus shelter and benches in 2025!
The PPT Organizing Committee set it’s sights on bus shelters this year. Members voted to include it in our annual strategic plan and after a year of orgnizing we won the first line-item for transit amenities in city history!
In an 11th-hr call to action, more than 100 residents emailed their City Council Member and asked them to support Council Member Barb Warwicks budget amendment to allocate $100k+ to transit amenities! But this was just the end of a long organizing story. Read the full story below, but first, send your Pittsburgh City Councilperson a thank you!
City of Pittsburgh Complete Streets Advisory Group
In late 2023 some members of PPT Organizing Committee became part of City’s Complete Streets Advisory Group. This sparked conversation about bus rider infrastructure and how we can affect change in that realm.
PPT Research Committee built our map to give us perspective.
The PPT Research Committee got to work analyzing what stops had shelters and what stops didn’t. PPT Super star member Abishek created an AMAZING map that shows all the bus stops in the city that have more than 30 boardings, but no shelter! PPT uplifted the fact that there are more than 25 “Orphaned Bus Shelters” in the city (these are shelter in locations that were once bus stops, but now stand with no purpose). We saw that with some organizing, reinstalling these shelters at high rider bus stops would be an easy win.
Bus Stop Audits & working with DOMI & PRT
As PPT members advocated at the Complete Streets Advisory Committee, PPT’s Organizing Committee began to comb through the City’s shelter agreement with the advertising company Gateway that manages the shelters. We became experts on the contract and started meeting with DOMI about what could be done to add more shelters.
It became clear that bus rider safety and amenities were important to them too, but they are underfunded and understaffed. PPT’s organizing committee created a checklist and began auditing high-ridership bus stops to gather information, and audit the sidewalks and surrounding areas. This work helped DOMI determine if it would be able to install shelters at those locations without having to do any major construction.
Throughout 2024, the PPT Organizing Committee held 10 bus stop audits ALL ACROSS THE CITY & identified a long list of stops where shelters could be placed.
Advocating for transit in the City Budget
Because of this work together (and unbeknownst to PPT) DOMI put in a bus stop amenities funding request in the 2025 Pittsburgh Capital Budget. This was the first time they had ever requested funding for bus stops. It was denied, but we didn’t stop there.
PPTs Organizing Committee members of CSAG, along with allies in CSAG (Eric Bikepgh, among others), partook in the drafting of a letter to City Council and Mayor to impress upon them the importance of mobility and infrastructure in budget
In a last-minute attempt to get this money back in the budget, City Councilperson (and rockstar PPT Member!) Barb Warwick proposed an amendment to include transit amenities. PPT Members snapped into action, and in just 12 hours, more than 100 people reached out to their city councilperson and asked them to support the amendment. Our support spans across the city, and every single councilperson received letters that this was an important amendment.
Was this final letter campaign a slam dunk that helped to pass the amendment? We’d like to think so 😉. But really, this win comes from years of organizing to say that the city has a role to play in improving transit.
BIG THANKS to so many people who made this win possible. Now lets get ready to organize in 2025 to win more!
There’s a long list of PPT members and supporters who we want to give a special thanks to!
Big thanks to PPT Members! Peter Gustafson for becoming an expert of the City’s bus shelter contract and creating a checklist to guide our shelter audits. Abhishek Viswanathan for making the map of high ridership stops without shelters. All of the PPT members who joined us on Audits and send letters to their city councilpeople~
Big thanks to Pittsbugh City Councilor (AND PPT MEMBER!) Barb Warwick’s office – in particular Clara Weibel – for pouring through all of the legalese with us.
Big thanks to
Big thanks to Seth at BikePGH for teaching Cheryl and Nicole how to host a walk audit. And to Eric for helping draft a letter from the Complete Streets Advisory Committee.
Big thanks to DOMI and PRT. Shoutout to DOMI staff Eric and Rylan for joining us on bus stop audits. And shoutout to Darcy at PRT for helping us get a first look at their shelter map.
My name is Kelda Gorman, and I’m an activist member of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. This year, PPT launched its Visionary Transit Service campaign, which invites riders like you and me to reimagine what our transit system should be. I’m so excited to be part of this fight. Can I count on you to fight with me?
As a disabled rider who can’t drive for safety reasons, I’m highly reliant on Pittsburgh Regional Transit. For me and so many others the bus is not a convenience—it’s a necessity. If my bus doesn’t come, the lift doesn’t work, or the driver doesn’t know how to secure the safety restraints, I’m stuck. Literally. And even when all those factors fall into place, I’m still afraid for my safety.
I invest in PPT because I know our transit service can do better. PPT’s Visionary Transit Service campaign helps me dream big about:
Efficiency: Buses should run frequently and on time, so we don’t have to “gamble at the bus stop” wondering when or if a bus will come
Safety: All drivers should be fully trained in how to use wheelchair safety restraints and be empowered to safely intervene when a rider is being attacked
Accessibility: PRT should maintain a large enough fleet of paratransit vehicles and drivers so folks like me can call for service one hour in advance, rather than the 24-48 hours required now.
I know this all takes money. But the secret is: our government HAS the money! It’s up to us to convince them to allocate it to PRT. I experienced this first hand when I joined PPT’s lobbying trip to Harrisburg this year. One of our elected representatives told us that hearing about transit troubles directly from constituents brought it home to him in a new way. We put a human face on this issue and helped him understand why we need a fully-funded, inclusive vision for public transit.
Join us as we Visualize and Mobilize for a community vision of what transit can and should be. The minimum cost of joining PPT is just $2.75, the same as one ride on PRT. And this year, the Posner Foundation has offered to match every contribution made during our Year End Member Drive up to $10,000. Turn your $100 into $200. Turn your $500 into $1,000!
Ride with us today, and make your donation monthly!
My name is Bobbie Fan, and I’m a proud member of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. I was recently appointed to represent riders on Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Governing Board. This feels like the work I was meant to do: ensuring that PRT meets the needs of all residents in Allegheny County. To speak up for riders like you, I need to hear your voice. Can I count on you to raise your voice by joining PPT?
Membership is the anchor of PPT’s transformative activism. When you become a member, you become an integral part of our grassroots union of transit riders, workers, and neighbors. As your representative on the PRT Board, I need you to join because:
I need to hear YOUR voice! I need to know what everyday riders want and need, so I can advocate for an expanded, affordable, accessible public transit system that serves ALL residents of Allegheny County.
I need to make PRT hear your voice! On my own, I’m just another Board member. Every new member who joins PPT amplifies my voice and ensures that the people speak louder than special interests.
This is how we build power! The more we stand together as a union, the more our elected officials will have to listen to us as we push back against manufactured austerity.
In 2025, we’re going to push PRT even harder with ourVisionary Transit Service campaign. For decades, transit riders have called on elected leaders to provide accessible, expansive transit that meets our community’s economic, environmental and public health needs. Instead, they’ve cut routes and services, driving down ridership while claiming scarcity. Well, we’re done with PRT telling us what’s possible. It’s time to fund a community vision of what transit can and should be. Join us in this fight.
The minimum cost of joining is just $2.75, the same as one ride on PRT. And this year, the Posner Foundation has offered to match every contribution made during our Year End Member Drive up to $10,000. Turn your $100 into $200. Turn your $500 into $1,000!
Ride with us today, and make your donation monthly! It’s time to make PRT work for the people.
Image Description: graphic has a PPT member at a rally. Text at the top of the image reads “More Bus Shelters!”
City Budget decisions for 2025 are happening NOW. Contact your City Councilmember today to support Councilmember Warwick’s amendment for the expansion of dignified, sheltered transit stops in the City of PIttsburgh!
District 3 Bob Charland (Allentown, Mt Washington, Mt Oliver, Southside, South Oakland): (412) 255-2130
District 4 Anthony Coghill(Beechview, Brookline, Carrick): (412) 255-2131
District 5 Barb Warwick (Hazelwood, Greenfield, Lincoln Place, Swisshelm Park, parts of Sq Hill and Oakland): (412) 255-8965
District 6 R. Daniel Lavelle (Uptown, Hill District, Marshall-Shadeland, parts of Downtown) : (412) 255-2134
District 7, Deborah Gross (Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Polish Hill, Highland Park, Morningside): (412) 255-2140
District 8, Erica Strassburger (Shadyside, North Oakland, West side of Sq Hill): (412) 255-2133
District 9, Khari Mosley (East Liberty, Larimer, Lincoln, Lemington, Homewood, Pt. Breeze): (412) 255-2137
Whether you are Black or white, disabled or able-bodied, an older adult or a high school student, we all deserve a safe, dignified, and comfortable way to get where we need to go.
However, Allegheny County transit riders are usually waiting for their ride out in the cold and in the rain. That is because our region has the dubious honor of having some of the fewest bus shelters installed relative to stops in the nation – only 8%, according to a recent Washington Post article. In the City of Pittsburgh alone, there are more than 230 bus stops that currently do not have any transit amenities, but which should have shelters and benches because they have over 30 riders boarding transit at these stops everyday.
The City of Pittsburgh is responsible for installing and maintaining bus shelters within the city limits, not Pittsburgh Regional Transit. Despite that,the 2025 City of Pittsburgh proposed budget has no budget line for transit amenities, just as in all the budgets prior in recent memory.
There are over 100,000 transit trips taken everyday in the City of Pittsburgh; riders deserve better! Over the past year, riders with Pittsburghers for Public Transit have done bus stop walk audits to identify stops in which shelters could be immediately deployed, done research on total ridership and rider demographics at each stop, given public testimony on the importance of transit infrastructure, and joined the Complete Streets Committee to play an active role in informing the City about transit rider needs. We have done our part. It’s long past time for the City to invest in safe, accessible, comfortable and dignified transit infrastructure.
Today, Councilwoman Barb Warwick introduced an amendment to allocate $110,000 of an approx. $540,000 surplus of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds towards Bus Shelters/Transit Amenities. We applaud her leadership, and now want to ensure that her colleagues on Council vote to approve her amendment.
City of Pittsburgh Map of All PRT Bus Stops With Ridership >30 Riders/Day without Shelters, developed by Abhishek Vishwanathan
Closing the gap on unsheltered bus stops is a critical equity issue in every Pittsburgh City Council District.
Funding bus shelters is a quality-of-life improvement for marginalized Pittsburghers, and one that spans all Council districts.Every dot on this map of Pittsburgh reflects a bus stop where ridership justifies a bus shelter, but which currently does not have one. The red dots indicate that the communities adjacent to the stop have a high equity need, and include disproportionately low-income, minority, disabled, older adult or no-car households. That is why the City of Pittsburgh should consider prioritizing the installation of shelters at the red dot locations.
Nearly a third of Allegheny County transit riders are low-income, according to a 2014 Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) rider survey; it is very likely that the percentage of low-income riders has grown substantially since the pandemic. 38% of PRT riders are people of color, of which 28% are Black residents, which is double the total Black population in Allegheny County. Moreover, for many disabled residents, for youth, older adults, and immigrants public transit is the only means to travel to doctor’s appointments, to schools and grocery stores, jobs and childcare.
Let’s win riders a better place to wait: Contact your City Councilmember TODAY to ask them to support Councilmember Warwick’s amendment for transit amenities!
Image description: La ilustración de la artista PPT Neve Monroe-Anderson muestra un autobús de fiesta público con banderas, pancartas y el operador y los pasajeros con los puños en alto. Los detalles del Victory Party están a la derecha.
¡Estás invitado!
Únete a la Fiesta de Fin de Año por la Victoria de un transporte publico justo. “Fiesta de fin de año de PPT” Fecha: jueves 19 de diciembre Hora: 6:00 p. m. a 10:00 p. m. Lugar: East End Cooperative Ministries 6165 Harvard Street, East Liberty, 15206
Visualiza y moviliza: Ganamos cuando imaginamos un mundo mejor y nos comprometemos a construir una comunidad unida para hacerlo realidad.
El transporte público es una necesidad fundamental, y todos merecemos tener acceso a él, sin importar si somos blancos, negros, vivimos en la ciudad de Pittsburgh o en alguna de sus comunidades vecinas. 2024 fue un año de crecimiento y éxito para Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT). Logramos importantes victorias en nuestras campañas: – El programa de tarifas reducidas a la mitad para beneficiarios de SNAP/EBT. – Logramos que uno de nuestros miembros fuera nombrado para la Junta Directiva de Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT). – El programa de tarifas al por mayor, que permite a los empleados acceder a transporte sin costo. – Expandimos nuestra comunidad, llegando a 325 miembros activos. Acompáñanos en la fiesta de fin de año para celebrar el increíble trabajo realizado por esta comunidad llena de amor y compromiso.
Qué esperar: Se ofrecerá una cena completa gratuita para todas las personas que confirmen su asistencia. La música estará a cargo de nuestro amigo DJ Juan Diego, ¡y seguramente habrá baile! También contaremos con la participación de integrantes de diversas campañas, quienes compartirán sus experiencias, hablarán sobre lo que se necesita para alcanzar el éxito y cómo estos logros han impactado a sus familias y comunidades. No te preocupes si no puedes quedarte hasta el final del evento.
Menú: el servicio de catering estará a cargo de Salem’s Market and Grill. Aunque el menú aún está por definirse, garantizamos opciones vegetarianas, veganas y sin gluten. Por favor, indica cualquier restricción dietética en el formulario de confirmación de asistencia. Compartiremos el menú final en cuanto esté confirmado.
Accesibilidad: el edificio de East End Cooperative Ministries es de fácil acceso. Cuenta con una rampa desde la acera hasta la entrada y un baño disponible. El espacio está dividido en dos áreas cercanas, conectadas por una rampa ligeramente inclinada. La zona superior estará destinada para socializar y participar en juegos, con iluminación disponible toda la noche. La zona inferior será el espacio para la música, el baile, los discursos y la comida y la iluminación podrá ajustarse para crear un ambiente más acogedor. Contaremos con interpretación en ASL y español a lo largo de todo el evento.
Cómo llegar: la fiesta se realizará en East End Cooperative Ministries, acceso por la Entrada B, en 6165 Harvard St. No hay escaleras en ninguna de las áreas. En East Liberty hay acceso al transporte. La avenida Penn está a solo dos cuadras, y la parada de East Busway se encuentra a 0.3 millas (unos 10 minutos caminando). Hay estacionamiento disponible para bicicletas y automóviles. Si los costos de transporte representan una dificultad, no dudes en comunicarte con Nicole de PPT al 312-307-2429 o escribir a nicole@pittsburghforpublictransit.org para explorar opciones de apoyo.
Procedimientos de COVID: La fiesta se llevará a cabo en un lugar cerrado. Habrá mascarillas disponibles para quienes las requieran, y recomendamos realizarse una prueba rápida de COVID antes de asistir. Por favor, permanece en casa si te sientes mal o has tenido contacto reciente con alguien que tenga COVID-19. También contaremos con un espacio al aire libre sin calefacción en la acera frente al edificio y en el patio, ideal para tomar aire fresco durante el evento.
¡Te esperamos para disfrutar de una noche inolvidable!
