We welcome a new direction, so long as it is one that expands service, fare affordability, and accessibility for all.

Today the Port Authority unveiled the new name for the transit system that we ride every day: Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT). The website announces the change with a banner that reads, “New Name. New Direction.”. 

Transit riders would welcome a new direction. With the name change, we hope that the new street signage and bus branding will make the system more legible and simpler to navigate. We hope that the “regional” part of the PRT name might signal a move to a more coordinated fare payment and route planning system between our neighboring county transit agencies. 

But riders have reason to be skeptical. The last sentence of the announcement page reads, “But most importantly, this will not disrupt the services we provide or the fares charged for those services.” 

So we are left asking: “Isn’t the poor service that we’ve been experiencing and expensive fares that we’ve been paying precisely the things that need to be disrupted?”

Above all, riders want our transit agency to plan for more frequent and reliable service, taking more people to more destinations. We need service levels to be restored and expanded instead of confronting another round of service cuts in two weeks. Riders need fare payment to be more affordable because we continue to pay some of the highest transit fare costs in the entire country, without any fare relief programs available for low-income residents. 

Riders have organized, marched, and testified for the Port Authority to fulfill these baseline needs around service and fares for years. If a marketing campaign is what the agency needs to catalyze these improvements, then we will welcome it. Whether the name on the bus says “Port Authority” or “PRT”, riders will continue to push for a true new direction for our transit agency – one that is expanded, affordable, and accessible to all residents of Allegheny County.

High Frequency podcast interviews PPT’s Director and discusses our successful campaign over the Mon Oakland Connector and launch of Pittsburgh 100 Days Transit Platform

We were excited to accept an invitation from our friends at TransitCenter to join them for Episode 1 of their High Frequency podcast’s new season. Check out PPT Director Laura Chu Wiens’ discussion with TransitCenter’s Kapish Singlah wherever you get your podcasts. Or we included a version that you can listen to at the top of this blog!

Our interview with Kapish covered our recent victory in our campaign to invest city dollars in neighborhood needs instead of the Mon Oakland Connector. We also discussed the Pittsburgh 100 Days Transit Platform, the community process that produced it, and the success we’ve had in integrating it into the Gainey Administration’s Transition Plans.

The High Freuquency podcast is easy to listen to – each episode is less than 15 minutes. So head on over to wherever you get your podcasts and listen to High Frequency, Season 3 Episode 1: Campaigning for Community-Led Solutions in Pittsburgh

Transit Riders Favorably Assess Mayor’s Transition Plan Against the Pittsburgh 100 Days Transit Platform, and Highlight Opportunities for Funding City Priorities Through Federal Infrastructure Plan

Transit Riders Celebrate Mayor Ed Gainey’s recently released Transition Plan. The plan centers equity and pedestrian dignity in infrastructure investments and planning. This is in stark contrast to the previous mayoral administration’s approach to policy which hinged on experimental, venture-backed transportation tech. This release followed several months of organizing in which Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) and allied organizations in the housing justice, disability justice, and neighborhood development community developed and published the Pittsburgh 100 Days Transit Platform, an ambitious but achievable roadmap towards improving transportation access in the City. PPT assessed the Mayor’s Transition Plan against 100 Days Transit Platform and found a high level of alignment on nearly all of the platform’s 18 policy recommendations. The full assessment can be found below. PPT is proud to have had a seat at the table in crafting the Transition Plan, and celebrates the City’s inclusive process around their transition.

“As a disabled Pittsburgher, I am excited to see that Mayor Gainey’s office has adopted the majority of the recommendations made by Pittsburghers for Public Transit and the City-County Task Force on Disabilities,” said Alisa Grishman, a disability rights activist who lives in Uptown. “I look forward to seeing these policies implemented in a way that makes our City accessible to all of its citizens.”

This is a consequential moment in which political will, community needs and federal funding opportunities are all aligned.

The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) has made available an unprecedented amount of resources for investments in transportation equity and climate resiliency. In particular, we urge the City’s administration to apply for federal grants to fund: new bus shelters and stop amenities, safe and accessible pedestrian connections to transit, and planning grants for equitable transit-oriented development. PPT members in the disability community, the Pittsburgh immigrant community, low-income people and Black residents are ready to organize and support the City’s leadership in applying for these resources.

“Through the bipartisan infrastructure law, there are hundreds of billions of dollars that can make the pedestrian experience and public transportation dignified, convenient, and accessible to all. But city, transit agency, and state leaders ultimately decide how to use most of that money. Strong action from Mayor Gainey can prepare Pittsburgh to take full advantage of this historic opportunity,” says Steven Higashide, TransitCenter Director of Research.

The Pittsburgh 100 Days Transit Platform was launched in December 2021 and created in collaboration with dozens of residents. This included: transit riders, transit workers, people who have experienced housing insecurity, and people with experience navigating City streets with a disability. PPT also collaborated with organizations that have strong insights into what is needed to ensure Pittsburgh’s transportation network is effective, safe, and accessible to all. PPT’s subsequent report, Mobility for Who: Rebuilding Bridges to Transportation Justice, released in February 2022, highlighted the critical issues that arose from former Mayor Peduto’s tech-focused transportation policy, and uplifted opportunities for the Gainey administration to create access for all by supporting public transit, affordable housing, and accessible pedestrian infrastructure. Given the goals outlined in Mayor Gainey’s Transition Plan and the federal funds available for infrastructure improvements, PPT is excited to continue organizing in our communities to address the harms of the prior administration by creating an equitable and people-focused transit system.

PPT’s report card to show how Mayor Gainey’s Transition Plan measures up against the Pittsburgh 100 Days Transit Platform

	Pittsburgh 100 Days Transit Platform Evaluation Rubric	Full adoption of PPT Transit Platform Proposal	Partial adoption of PPT Transit Platform Proposal	Quote from Mayor Gainey’s Transition Plan
I	Prioritization of Accessible, Equitable Mobility Over Corporate Profit and Private Modes of Transportation
1	Announce a Walking/Transit/Biking First Approach to Mobility that includes a Pittsburgh Transit Plan	X(I&E Rec. 8, p.98)		Recommendation 8: Commit to transit-oriented development “Commit to a Walking/Transit/Biking First Approach to Mobility that includes a Pittsburgh Transit Plan, similar to the Philadelphia Transit Plan…”
2	Identify a Clear Set of Mobility Goals	X(I&E Rec. 8, p.98)		Recommendation 8: Commit to transit-oriented development “Adopt a goal such as “A 15 Minute City” or another easy-to-understand framework to communicate the Mayoral commitment to development and infrastructure that benefits all.”
3	Name a Cabinet-Level Position Dedicated to Mobility Justice and Transportation Access	X(I&E Rec. 15, p. 108)		Recommendation 15: “Create a leadership position solely dedicated to mobility justice and transportation access, including bicycle and pedestrian issues. This position should ensure coordination/collaboration on equitable transportation and disability-related efforts across all departments and agencies.” Improve agency/stakeholder coordination through Departmental and Agency Alignment “Offer competitive wages and fully staff DOMI, DPW, and DCP to address present and future project planning and delivery and to capture larger tranches of federal funding that may be missed if we are understaffed.”
4	Fully Fund and Staff DOMI and the DCP Zoning and Strategic Planning Divisions to Address Present and Future Project Planning and Delivery	X(I&E Rec. 15, p.108)
II	Legislation and Zoning that Supports Transit Use and Affordable Housing
5	Announce a Plan to Provide Free Bus Passes to All City Employees and Residents of City-Supported Homeless Shelters by 2023		X(I&E Rec. 11, p. 103)	Recommendation 11: Fund a stronger collaborative relationship with Port Authority for improved public transit “Pilot a free bus pass program that provides free bus passes to city employees and residents in certain communities (or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients).”
6	Call for a Citywide Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Ordinance		X (ED Rec 10, p. 30-31)	Recommendation 10: Strengthen and expand the city’s inclusionary zoning policy “It is imperative that the Gainey Administration…strengthen and expand the City’s IZ policy…The City should update the financial modeling performed by the IZ Exploratory Committee and expand coverage making Pittsburgh’s incentivized mandatory IZ policy citywide.”
7	Call for Higher Levels of Affordability and Density Within Walking Distance of Frequent Transit Routes	X(ED Rec 9, p.30 // I&E Rec. 8, p.98)		Recommendation 9: Amend the zoning code to create more housing development and incentivize more affordable housing development “The Equitable Development Committee recommends that the Code increase the allowed density in certain residential zoning districts. This would include expanding multifamily residential districts near transit stations along the Light Rail system and the East Busway, thus reducing minimum lot size per dwelling unit requirements in certain districts, particularly downtown; reducing or eliminating minimum parking requirements, especially in districts that are well-served by public transit…” Recommendation 8: Commit to equitable transit-oriented development “Transit-oriented development, which will maximize the amount of residential, business, and leisure space, is essential to having a walkable connected city.” “The administration should regulate and incentivize equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) through streamlined zoning and other incentives or programs. Direct public investment to prevent displacement and to build affordable housing within close proximity to high-frequency transit routes.”
8	Restart the Citywide Comprehensive Land Use Planning Process (ForgingPgh)	X(I&E Rec 14, p.106)		Recommendation 14: Institute comprehensive planning and zoning “The administration should rewrite the Zoning Code. As a reciprocal document to a comprehensive plan, it will need to be overhauled to accommodate the new patterns and to prevent a patch-and-stitch approach to each novel problem. Organize a comprehensive planning process that is thorough, data-informed, and able to serve as an umbrella document for neighborhood plans, open space plans, etc”
9	Minimize or Eliminate Parking Minimums in the Zoning Code		X(ED Rec 9, p. 30 // I&E Rec.14, p.106)	Recommendation 9: Amend the zoning code to create more housing development and incentivize more affordable housing development Recommendation 10: …This would include expanding multifamily residential districts near transit stations along the Light Rail system and the East Busway, thus reducing minimum lot size per dwelling unit requirements in certain districts, particularly downtown; reducing or eliminating minimum parking requirements, especially in districts that are well-served by public transit Recommendation 13: Reconsider parking requirements to ensure we are putting the right amount of parking in the right places. Recommendation 14: Institute comprehensive planning and zoning “Continue the conversation on the following concerns: Eliminating mandatory minimum parking requirements in transit-rich areas, increased density for walkability, city-wide inclusionary housing…”
10	Designate Representatives from DOMI and DCP to Be in Charge of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)		X (I&E Rec 15, p 108)	Recommendation 8 Commit to equitable transit-oriented development Recommendation 15: Improve agency/stakeholder coordination through Departmental and Agency Alignment “Offer competitive wages and fully staff DOMI, DPW, and DCP to address present and future project planning and delivery and to capture larger tranches of federal funding that may be missed if we are understaffed.”
11	Consistently Audit Data Processes to Being Used by Private Tech Companies	X (ED, Rec 10, p. 101)		Recommendation 10: Expand bicycling, mobility, and greenspace networks“In recent years, many parts of the City have had improvements that enable safer cycling and for new types of mobility technologies. These new technologies (scooters, e-bikes, autonomous vehicles, Personal Delivery Devices, etc.), as well as the infrastructure improvements that support them, require more effective regulation, oversight, and accountability with increased transparency regarding decision making and community involvement.” “Adaptively regulate micromobility systems as technologies will continue to develop. Establish consistent DOMI staffing, periodic review and transparent data collection, and regular opportunities for community input.”
12	Establish Community-Developed Criteria Around External Funding Requests and Grants from DOMI	X (I&E Rec 13, p. 108)		Recommendation 15: Improve agency/stakeholder coordination through Departmental and Agency Alignment “Establish community-developed criteria to guide departments in the external funding and grants that it requests to ensure that community voices are heard, their input respected, and their requests included in the decision-making process.”
III	Comfortable, Accessible, and Safe Public Transit Connections
13	Commit to a Policy of Compensating People with Disabilities for Participating in Infrastructure Planning		X (I&E Rec 14, p. 106)	Recommendation 14: Institute comprehensive planning and zoning “Consider compensation for community experts who have an active role in infrastructure planning. It is critical that people who represent certain community needs or perspectives, such as those with disabilities, be included in the planning and design of infrastructure.”
14	Create a Sidewalk Fund	X (I&E Rec 9, p. 100)		Recommendation 9: Prioritize pedestrian dignity “Create a Sidewalk Fund with grants or loans for sidewalk repair around transit stops and be used to complete the infrastructure needed for safe and accessible passage to critical amenities and services.”
15	Make Sidewalk Access a Priority Through Equitable Enforcement of the ADA and City Sidewalk Maintenance Standards	X (I&E Rec 9, p. 99 )		Recommendation 9: Prioritize pedestrian dignity “Equitably enforce the ADA and City Sidewalk Maintenance Standards, with a backstop program for low-income property owners for whom sidewalk repair presents a hardship”
16	Relocate the Remaining 20+ Bus Shelters at Defunct Transit Stops to Priority Stops	X (I&E Rec 11, p. 103)		Recommendation 11: Forge a stronger collaborative relationship with Port Authority for improved public transit “Renew and relocate bus shelters to give communities ample shelter and access to public transit. Coordinate shelters with sidewalk and intersection improvements.”
17	Budget for the Purchase of Sufficient Sidewalk Snow Removal Equipment	X (I&E Rec 9, p. 99)		Recommendation 9: Prioritize pedestrian dignity “Prioritize the replacement and maintenance of city-owned sidewalks and stairs, including lighting, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades, and seasonal maintenance like snow removal.”
18	Create a Sidewalk Program at DOMI with a Dedicated Leader	X (I&E Rec 9, p 100)		Recommendation 9: Prioritize pedestrian dignity “Establish a Sidewalk Program at the DOMI with a dedicated leader to manage a volunteer-run City sidewalk conditions audit program.”
IV	Bus Lanes and Transit Signal Priority to Ensure Fast, Effective Public Transit	X (I&E Rec 11, p101)		Recommendation 11: “The administration should prioritize transit street improvements, weighing factors including transit ridership, the demographic served by bus lines in the corridor, and the level of congestion along the corridor to ensure that transportation improvements are allocated equitably and effectively. Coordinate with the Port Authority, PennDOT, and other agencies on the public right-of-way planning.”

Join the core team to coordinate the direction of Pittsburghers for Public Transit.

Pittsburghers for Public Transit is a grassroots, democratic, member-led organization that fights for public transit as a human right. That’s a small d, “democratic”, meaning that every July PPT members elect the next slate of candidates who will lead the direction and strategy of our organization.

We are looking for people 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. See the list of current Board Members here. Current Board Members whose seats are up for election in July are Verna Johnson, Fawn Walker-Montgomery, Gabriel McMoreland, Bonnie Fan, Alison Keating, and Debra Green.

Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQ People, People with Disabilities, Immigrants, Womxn, Youth, transit rider, and transit worker nominations are strongly encouraged.

Nominate yourself or someone who inspires you with their leadership, vision, and commitment to transit justice.

PPT Board Structure and Expectations

Each July, PPT members vote for leaders to fill seats on PPT’s 5-11 member Board of Directors. Board Members serve a 2-year term. All PPT members who have paid dues for at least 6-months can run for the Board of Directors.

2 seats must be filled by members of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 85 (the union that represents all of the Port Authority’s bus operators and maintenance workers) or another transportation union that represents workers in Allegheny County because strong community/labor solidarity is a central belief of the organization.

The other seats are filled by members who have had previous experience with PPT’s work, and are looking to bring their involvement to the next level.

Members of the Board are expected to attend quarterly Board meetings and should also stay engaged with General Membership Meetings on the second Wednesday of each month. 

Additionally, Coordinating Committee members will need to maintain active lines of communication with PPT staff and other PPT members to advise and assist with the organization’s strategy, tactics, structure, and financial sustainability. CC Members should also serve on one of PPT’s three committees (Organizing Committee, Communications Committee, and Research Committee).

An excerpt of Article IV of PPT’s bylaws with full detail of the expectations and powers of PPT’s board is included at the bottom of this blog.

Nominations and Elections

Nominations are open until July 5th. 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 week of June 14th and again the week of July 5th. Bios and photos will also be included in the ballot. Nominees will have 3 minutes to speak at the July 14th 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 2021 Board of Directors election will open at PPT’s monthly meeting on July 13th, and run until July 20th. PPT members cast their vote via a google form that will be shared at the July meeting and emailed, or by calling PPT’s Director. 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.

PPT Board of Director Election Schedule

• Nominations are open until July 5th. Submit your nomination here.
• Bios and photos of current nominees will be sent to members the week of June 13th and again the week of July 4th. Bios will also be included on the ballot.
• July 13th, 7pm: PPT Monthly Meeting with Board Nominee introductions and Elections, voting opens
• July 20th, 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 publication of such de facto resignation to the members.

About Port Authority’s “Quarterly Service Adjustments”

Four times every year, the Port Authority adjusts its transit schedules and routes to account for construction, road closures, rider/worker requests, ridership shifts, and/or all of the other unexpected changes that might affect Pittsburgh roads. These quarterly adjustments were dialed back because of the pandemic, but they seem to be back on track now that ridership is increasing.

Since 2019, PPT and the @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline have been publishing these blogs to spread the word about these changes and say what they mean for riders. Some quarters bring great changes (like Q4 2020 where we won weekend service on 95% of Local routes) some quarters are a wash, and some quarters (like this one) are overall reductions of service.

Service has been abysmal the last few months. There’s really no other way to say it. Missed buses, crowded busses, inaccurate locations on apps. These are some of the worst levels of service that transit riders have ever seen. If you are sick of putting up with this terrible service, take a minute to help advocate for change and share your story with PPT here.

About the @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline

The @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline is a volunteer-run twitter account that gives riders updates on Port Authority’s daily happenings. The Hotline has no official connection to the Port Authority (again, it is a volunteer-run twitter account) but the updates they provide are helpful nonetheless. The Hotline is a big supporter of PPT, and an enormous advocate for public transit. We’re thankful for their support and happy to collab on these rider resources. Follow @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline on twitter for more grassroots transit updates.

About how to read this blog

We’re starting a new layout for these blogs. We’re going to sort this long list of changes from Port Authority into three categories based on what they mean for riders; “The Good”, “The Bad (The Missed Opportunities)”, “The Wash”.

For each change you’ll see the text and link that the Port Authority uses to describe each change, this is copy/pasted from their website…

• … then below this text, you’ll see this italicized text. This italicized portion are comments from the @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline and PPT on what these changes mean for riders and our system. You can check Port Authority’s website to follow these quarterly service changes. 

Lets get started.

Q3 Service Changes: These changes went into effect Sunday, April 23, 2022.

The good

8-Perrysville – Two inbound and two outbound weekday trips have been added and weekday trip times were adjusted in anticipation of the return of student riders. 

• Albeit a small increase, it is nice to see schedules and service get closer to “normal” pre-pandemic levels. That said, this is one of the few increases that we’re seeing this quarter.

69-Trafford – Weekdays schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. Service from Trafford to downtown Pittsburgh will be restored.

In addition to the stops the 69-Trafford currently serves between Trafford and Wilkinsburg, this route will resume serving stops along its previous route between Wilkinsburg and downtown via Point Breeze, Squirrel Hill, Oakland, and Uptown.

Due to this change, however, the 69-Trafford will no longer serve the following stops near Wilkinsburg Station where service currently terminates: Wallace Ave at Pitt St (inbound stop # 16627), East Busway at Wilkinsburg Station D (inbound stop # 16118), East Busway at Wilkinsburg Station B (outbound stop # 16111) and East Busway at Hay St Ramp Outbound Shelter (outbound stop # 8153).

• We are beyond ecstatic to see that not only is service to downtown restored but that Port Authority finally worked out an agreement with Haymaker Villa shoppes to layover there on these 2 routes and while Trafford falls just outside county lines it’s amazing that for the 1st time in nearly 20 years (dating back to STV Mini bus routes) that riders both East and West of the shopping center will have BOTH DIRECT INBOUND AND DIRECT OUTBOUND 7-Day a week service options instead of complicated limited service options or without needing to hike where sidewalks are few.

P12-Holiday Park Flyer – Schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. An additional outbound trip was added in the morning.

• Ok, its a small change, but it’s nice to see 1 round-trip added. Now if only more service could be restored.

P67-Monroeville Flyer – Schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed to include the future permanent location of the Monroeville Mall Park and Ride. Please note that the new Park and Ride is not yet in service, and P67 buses will remain on detour serving the temporary Park and Ride location at the mall’s West Court entrance until further notice.

• Glad to see service is now officially relocated to a stop that will serve both the park-and-ride location the P68 and 67. Having stop uniformity at the mall helps limit rider confusion and benefits everyone – Port Authority, riders, and businesses. Disappointed to see no service expansion, so let’s hope for more in the future.

The bad (the missed opportunities) – buckle up because this is a long list

2-Mount Royal – Weekend service will no longer serve the Strip District and will instead mirror weekday service. Buses will enter downtown via East Ohio Street and the 9th Street Bridge. 

• This change is very disappointing. Rather than having all services go via the Strip, which has fewer service options than N Side, PAAC chose to return the route to its weekday routing via 28 and the Northside. This is a huge missed opportunity because of the increase in jobs and housing that’s happening in the Strip and the development that is happening in Millvale.  If the 2 were routed through the Strip it would give riders the ability to transfer to the 93, 64, and other routes that could bring them to points East without needing to go all the way in to downtown to transfer. This change is a huge missed opportunity to make the kind of changes that PAAC says it wants to make in its NexTransit plan. We want to see future changes that restore the 2 routing over the 40th street bridge on all days and increase the frequency.

12-McKnight – Weekday and weekend schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. Weekday service has been reduced to approximately 30-45-minute frequency. Saturday service has been reduced to approximately 25-35-minute frequency. Sunday service has been reduced to approximately 30-40-minute frequency.

• This one hurts. The 12 received more service after the the start of COVID when Port Authority made its first rounds of adjustments to respond to needs. Then, a year later at the public hearings about those changes, Port Authority told riders that routes like the 12 that got more service would not be at risk of losing it. But here we are, 3-months after they said that, we’re seeing reductions like these. Saying one thing, and doing another is not how you build trust or loyalty with riders.

13-Bellevue – Weekday schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. Late-night service has been reduced to 30-60 minute frequency.

• These cuts follow the trend that began after the start of COVID. Port Authority has brought a wrecking ball to evening service after 6 pm, in this case by creating 30 to 60 min frequencies. Really!? Riders deserve more than that.

16-Brighton – Weekday schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. Midday service has been reduced to 25-minute frequency. Early morning and late-night service has been reduced to 30-35-minute frequency.

• These new schedules have really done a number on service in the early morning and post-PM rush hour. The 16-Brighton is another casualty.

20-Kennedy – Weekday schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed.

• Some overall service reductions are disappointing to see.

28X-Airport Flyer – Schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. Outbound service will return to the Boulevard of the Allies. A new variant, the 28X-Airport Flyer Direct, will provide one outbound trip (towards the airport) in the morning, and one inbound trip (towards downtown) in the afternoon, and will bypass Robinson Town Centre.

• We’re seeing a return to the old Blvd of Allies routing, which is fine. However, what we’re also seeing, is that 2 trips (one AM and one PM) are now going directly to their airport and not stopping anywhere in Robinson so Robinson workers are losing connection. This is being done under the branding of “Airport Direct” trips. Direct trips to the airport could be good, but they shouldn’t come at the expense of workers’ connections. Moreover, it was revealed at a stakeholders meeting that this change is being made almost completely at the request of the contractor who’s building the new airport terminal and needs their workers there for the start of their shift. There are lots of changes that riders have been calling for – why is it that only big businesses get their requests met?

29-Robinson – Weekday schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. Service will operate every 50 minutes throughout the day.

• The fixed frequency of 50 minutes on weekdays is a mixed bag. On the upside, it is an improvement for mid-day service and some night service. But on the downside, there are fewer overall trips AND service ends slightly earlier. These charges against the backdrop of overall lower weekend service AND reduced Robinson trips thanks to the new 28x changes aren’t the best. It needs improvement.

31-Bridgeville – Weekday schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. Service will operate every 35 minutes throughout the day.

• The shift to 35 min headway all day on weekdays is another mixed bag. On the 1 hand a consistent schedule is more predictable for riders, but on the other certain times of day will see significant reductions with this shift.  Also, these changes seem to narrow the window of service for riders, starting a little later in the AM and ending slightly earlier in the PM.

67-Monroeville – Weekday schedules have been adjusted and trip times have been reduced to 30-60 minute frequency throughout the day due to the return of 69-Trafford service to downtown Pittsburgh, which shares the same route from Wilkinsburg to downtown.   

• This reduction is another example of PAAC going back on its word as they the mid-day and night service that they added to the 67 after COVID’s start. That said, its nice to see the 11:35 PM weekday trip in town go back outbound for folks that might need it.

P1-East Busway-All Stops – Weekday schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. Morning rush hour frequency has been reduced to approximately every 10 minutes, and afternoon rush hour frequency has been reduced to approximately every 8 minutes.

• These are cuts, straight up, and that’s not good.

The wash…

6-Spring Hill – Weekday schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. / 15-Charles – Weekday schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed.

• We’ve no comments here as nothing seems particularly noteworthy.

11-Fineview – Weekday and weekend schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed.

• Nothing noteworthy to say.

59-Mon Valley – Weekday schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. Service has been increased to 40-minute frequency.

• We’re gunna put this change in “The Wash” section because it really has its positives and negatives. Here’s another example of PAAC rolling back the extra service that was added after COVID. While it’s nice that weekday isn’t going entirely back to 1 hr headways like before, and that the night service does get a boost (bonus kudos to the new 1230 am trip from the Century 3 Mall to Versailles), it’s disappointing to lose 30 min frequency on weekdays and part of the weekend. These changes do add to the Port Authority Portfolio of nearly 24 hr routes, with only an 80-minute gap of zero service on weeknights…now if that could be a 7-day deal. It’s also nice that there’s 2 extra trips a day, but it would be nice if the inbound trips from Versailles to West Mifflin ran equally as late.

60-Walnut-Crawford Village – Schedules have been updated to reflect that service has been restored to the McKeesport Transportation Center effective March 20.

• Nothing noteworthy. Now the route loops into the new transit center.

61C-McKeesport-Homestead – Schedules have been updated to reflect that service has been restored to the McKeesport Transportation Center effective March 20.

• Nothing noteworthy. Now the route loops into the new transit center.

64-Lawrenceville-Waterfront – Weekday schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed.

• Nothing to really say.

74-Homewood-Squirrel Hill – Weekday and weekend schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed.

• The subtle adjustments aren’t too bad. While service ends earlier on Weekdays under the new schedule and Sunday is still crap, it looks like Saturday runs slightly later now.

75-Ellsworth – Weekday and weekend schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed.

• The bulk of service actually looks Improved, except for nights which look slightly scaled back – especially Weeknight and Sunday/Holidays 

G2-West Busway – Weekday schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. Service has been reduced to 20-minute frequency.

• The nearly all-day 20 min headways is both a curse and a blessing. It’ll help predictability and create more even night service, but at the cost of reductions in both the AM and PM “rush” – which effectively halves service at those times.

P2-East Busway Short – Schedules have been adjusted and trip times have changed. The P2 will resume serving stops in downtown Pittsburgh. Service has been reduced to 20-minute frequency.

• While it’s nice to see P2 return to downtown after a questionable “test pilot”, it’s disappointing to see both P1 & P2 getting service reductions. Additionally, it’s disappointing that the P2 continues to only have service during the morning rush.

P7-McKeesport Flyer – Schedules have been updated to reflect that service has been restored to the McKeesport Transportation Center effective March 20.

• Still sore about this route. It lost a bunch of service during the COVID changes that has never been restored. These changes don’t do much other than loop it through the new transportation center in McKeesport.

That’s it for this quarter. If you have stories of bad transit service in the last few months, take a minute to share it with PPT and help advocate for change.

Stay tuned for the next set of quarterly changes, expected in June of 2022

As these changes roll-out, be sure to give your feedback & suggestions by reaching out to Port Authority Customer Service by phone or over twitter:

Port Authority Customer service phone number: 412-442-2000
Hours: Weekdays 5a to 7p, Weekend + Holidays 8a to 430p

or via Twitter @PGHTransit or @PGHTransitCare

And if you want to get in touch with the volunteer-run @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline, you can give them a call at 412-759-3335 ONLY When PortAuthority Customer Service is Closed/unavailable or via Twitter anytime @PGH_BUS_INFO

The PGH Bus Info Hotline will be back on PPT’s blog in for the next set of changes. See ya then.

We condemn the irresponsible decision by the Port Authority of Allegheny County to stop enforcing mask-wearing on public transit, following the Florida court ruling yesterday regarding the CDC mandate. The decision by PAAC comes as COVID-19 cases are rising in Allegheny County and nationwide due to a new and more transmissible strain of Omicron. Transit agencies including Chicago’s CTA and Portland’s TriMet (…and NYC’s MTA, San Fran’s Muni, BART and SFMTA, Denver RTD, Caltrain, AC Transit, Seattle’s King County Metro and Sound Transit, and Kitsap Transit…) have elected to continue local requirements and enforcement for mask-wearing despite this latest challenge to federal CDC directives. PPT is calling on the Port Authority to immediately pass and enforce its own transit rider and worker mask requirements, because the agency has an obligation and has stated its intention to make its facilities safe for all users.

Requiring masks for all riders and workers is critical to ensuring that public transit is safe and accessible. Mask-wearing has been shown to be effective only when it is universally adopted, and not solely by those who elect “to wear masks for their own comfort and safety.” Many people with disabilities, including those who are immunocompromised, rely on public transit to access essential services. Without a mask requirement and enforcement, these riders must compromise their health in order to go to the doctor, to buy fresh food, to visit with family and more. Children under 5 years old are still unable to access the vaccine.

 “The decision to stop enforcing mask usage on buses doesn’t consider people like me, who are immuno-compromised. This latest COVID-19 variant is more transmissible than any other we’ve seen, and people are still getting sick and dying from the virus. Port Authority’s choice makes me afraid to ride,” says bus rider and PPT Board Chair, Verna Johnson

This decision acts in stark opposition to the agency’s goals around the worker vaccine mandate, which stressed their commitment “to promot[ing] the health, wellness and safety of Port Authority’s workforce… and the riding public.” (from Port Authority’s Jan 10, 2022 news release) The Port Authority’s catastrophic rollout of the transit worker vaccine mandate has caused weeks of unsafe, overcrowded buses and transit riders left waiting at the stop, as hundreds of experienced transit workers were put on disciplinary leave. The rollback of the mask mandate will likely lead to even worse transit service: in the UK, the lifting of mask requirements in public spaces recently led to a significant increase in illnesses among airline employees and the abrupt cancellations of hundreds of flights.  

Pittsburghers for Public Transit will be holding a rally downtown at 1 pm this Friday, April 22nd to highlight how transit service is linked to survival for both individuals and our broader community, to demand service improvements, and to insist on increased safety for transit riders and workers. 

Transportation emissions are now the largest contributor to climate change in the United States. There is no managing or reversing the climate crisis without getting more people on transit. 

As we approach Earth Day, however, public transit is the worse its been since the start of the pandemic, and Port Authority is cutting back service April 24th with the likelihood of further cuts in June. Poor transit service is more than an inconvenience. It is a threat to our jobs, our air quality, our climate, and our future.

Join the rally on April 22nd, 1-2pm, to demand more transit, not less.

From rider testimonials:

• Because of late buses, his boss has told him not to bother coming to work, and he has missed days of pay.
• Out-of-service trains means her son can’t get home from school in time to join afterschool activities with his friends. 
• True time transit apps have had her standing in the rain for hours, waiting for buses that never come.

This downward spiral of transit service is devastating for individuals and families all throughout Allegheny County, and it needs to stop. We need more transit, not less.

For the lives of the people riding transit, for the future of our climate and planet, we need the Port Authority to reverse this trend of declining service quality.

Join PPT and riders from across the county at this Earth Day rally to call on the Port Authority to restore and improve transit service. If you have been affected by the recent spat of transit outages, share your story here to advocate for change. If you need a ride or the rally, or if you have any questions or accessibility needs, please reach out to PPT at info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org.org or 412-626-7353.

The quality of our transit service has been changing in Allegheny County, and it hasn’t necessarily been for the better…

Has your bus not come? Have you been waiting for ages? Have the recent service cuts impacted you?

Share your story and advocate for change:

Canceled buses. Late arrivals. Crowding. Transit shutoffs. Since the start of the pandemic, Port Authority transit has hit a new low. What’s worse, PRT has continued to make service reductions and changes to our routes and bus stops. Riders won’t take it any longer. We need transit expansion, not cuts, and it’s time we speak up for change.

Help advocate with Pittsburghers for Public Transit for improvements to public transit by sharing your story about how bad service is affecting your life.

Did you miss an interview? Were you late for school, work or childcare? Was it impossible to get home because buses had stopped running?

Now is the time. Use the form below to share your story and help advocate for better public transit. All comments will be kept anonymous until an organizer connects with you.

Share your story about how you are affected by bad transit service and help riders advocate for change.

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La calidad de nuestro servicio de tránsito ha estado cambiando en el condado de Allegheny, y no necesariamente ha sido para lo mejor…

¿No ha llegado su autobús? ¿Has estado esperando por mucho tiempo? ¿Le han afectado los recientes cortes de servicio?

Comparta su historia y abogue por mejoras:

Autobuses cancelados o llenos. Llegadas tardías. Desconexión de tránsito. Cambios de servicio. Desde el comienzo de la pandemia, el tránsito del condado de Allegheny ha alcanzado un nuevo mínimo. Lo que es peor, PRT ha continuado haciendo reducciones a nuestras rutas y paradas de autobús sin participación pública. Los pasajeros no lo aguantarán más. Necesitamos expansión del tránsito, no recortes, y es hora de que hablemos por el tránsito que merecemos.

Ahora es el momento. Ayude a reformar el transporte público compartiendo una historia de cómo el servicio malo está afectando su vida. Utilice el siguiente formulario para compartir su historia y las soluciones que desea ver. Todos los comentarios permanecerán anónimos hasta que un organizador se conecte contigo.

¿Perdiste una entrevista? ¿Llegaste tarde a la escuela, al trabajo o a la guardería? ¿Era imposible llegar a casa porque los autobuses habían dejado de funcionar? Comparta su historia sobre cómo le ha impactado el servicio malo de tránsito y ayude a los pasajeros a abogar por el cambio.

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Feel free to reach out to Pittsburghers for Public Transit with any questions stories: 412-626-733 or info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org

Puede comunicarse con Pittsburghers en Defensa del Transporte Público con cualquier pregunta o historia: 412-626-7353 o info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org

PennDOT’s Fern Hollow Bridge Public Comment Form is OPEN

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Opportunity in a crash

PPT Blog written by Emily Howe

The collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge on January 28, 2022 has fueled discussions at the city, state, and federal level about investing more in critical infrastructure.  One outcome of these discussions is that PennDOT will provide funding to rebuild the city-owned Fern Hollow Bridge.

This is good news. PennDOT recently released a rendering of the Fern Hollow bridge design and has stated they plan to begin construction in April. This rendering and the quick timeline has fueled concerns from local officials like City Controller Michael Lamb that there has not been enough community input and that the needs of non-motorized bridge users haven’t been adequately assessed.

While not mentioned on PennDOT’s Fern Hollow page, we recently learned that the impetus for this quick timeline along with the depiction of tractor trailers on the new bridge is due to another pending PennDOT project that predates the bridge collapse: replacing the Commercial Street Bridge. Beginning in summer 2023, PennDOT plans to close the Commercial Street Bridge and detour I-376 traffic between Regents Square and Squirrel Hill via the Fern Hollow Bridge. This detour explains both PennDOT’s urgency to repair the Fern Hollow Bridge and why the rendering resembles a highway and prioritizes car and truck traffic.

While the current design for the Fern Hollow Bridge makes sense as a short-term solution given the upcoming replacement of the Commercial Street Bridge, these constraints do not eliminate the need for consulting with communities around both short- and long-term opportunities that these bridge replacements present.

In the short-term, Port Authority should work with residents to strategize how their public transit needs can be better served with the current detours on the 61A and 61B buses due to the Fern Hollow Bridge closure. Residents have already proposed a few ways that the 61A and 61B detours can better meet their needs:

• These long-term detours should be incorporated into the regular schedule with appropriate running times and established bus stops to better serve residents (e.g., between Forbes and Wilkins on S Dallas Avenue and between Forbes and Penn on S Braddock Ave)
• Port Authority/Pittsburgh/PennDOT should evaluate the possibility of transit signal priority for buses along Penn Ave or bus only lanes during rush hours.
• On-street parking along Penn Ave from Dallas to Braddock should be prohibited.

In addition, the future 3-week closure of the Commercial Street Bridge also presents an opportunity for Port Authority to capture new riders as drivers seek to avoid high congestion and increased travel times by car. However, this will require Port Authority to establish more efficient connections from Regents Square and Squirrel Hill to popular destinations like Oakland and Downtown during the Commercial Street Bridge closure/I-376 detours. Improved P3, P7 and P71 service along with a targeted advertising campaign could encourage residents of Wilkinsburg, Edgewood, Regent Square, Swissvale and Rankin who drive to try the bus. Using the bus will help residents avoid causing and sitting in congestion, and help them to realize the benefit of the East Busway to their communities The campaign could also showcase the East Busway as the only route with excess capacity for more users. Penn Avenue and the Parkway East barely had enough capacity prior to the bridge collapse. This is a chance for the East Busway to shine and prove its worth to the communities it serves.

In looking towards long-term solutions, the City needs to work with residents to create a design plan for the Fern Hollow Bridge once PennDOT relinquishes it (post Commercial Street Bridge reconstruction). The goal of the Fern Hollow redesign should be to address shortcomings with the prior bridge, including:

• pedestrian walkways that were too narrow for wheelchair and stroller access
• bicyclists being funneled into traffic
• the high speeds of cars and related safety concerns
• outbound congestion that slows transit during rush hour

There have already been a few proposals to address these problems. For example, having one inbound lane and two outbound lanes could lessen congestion, while also creating more space for bike lanes and sidewalks.

While we support PennDOT in moving swiftly to replace the Fern Hollow Bridge, we do not have to trade off speed and efficiency at the expense of community input. In fact, the replacement of the Fern Hollow and Commercial Street Bridges creates opportunities for The Port Authority to capture new riders and for the future Fern Hollow Bridge to better meet community needs. Now is the time for residents to come together to determine how our public infrastructure will look and function for decades to come.

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PennDOT has released their comment form for the public to give input into the bridge design. Take 2 minutes to give your input today:

Because transit workers rock, we roll. Help PPT to celebrate Transit Worker Appreciation Day, 2022

Transit workers are the muscle in our county. Each year they carry hundreds of thousands of riders to the places they need to go. They have been on the front lines through this whole pandemic working to keep our county moving and it’s about time they get some appreciation. 

The pandemic has been hard on everyone, but especially transit workers. 7 Port Authority transit workers have passed away from COVID. But still, their brave colleagues continue to show up to keep the county moving.

March 18th marks Transit Worker Appreciation Day, a national celebration of transit workers and the heroic effort that these workers put in. Help us make it special by sharing your story and volunteering to help the effort.

Thank and celebrate transit workers by sharing a story about a time that transit workers have made a difference in your life.

Use our form below to share a personal story about the importance of transit workers and send your thanks. PPT will be collecting stories and thank-you notes from 250 riders and delivering them directly to transit workers at their workplace.

Volunteer with us to canvass riders and collect their stories and thanks to transit riders

Sign up below to volunteer with PPT to help our efforts on Transit Worker Appreciation Day the week of March 14th. We’ll be holding a number of canvasses where we’ll be talking to riders at bus stops and collecting their stories about how transit workers have made an impact on their lives. We’ll also be handing out thank-you cards for riders to hand to their bus drivers.