Yesterday, at the first day of PRT’s public hearings about the proposed devastating service cuts in response to the state budget crisis, hundreds of transit riders, workers, and advocates joined elected officials and PRT leadership to demand service and funding that moves all of Pennsylvania.
Take Action to Stop the Cuts:
- Send a letter to your state elected officials to stop the cuts!
- RSVP to our June 4th Rally & Lobby Day at the state capitol!
- Leave a public comment with PRT in defense of our system!
- Spread the word & organize your community!
- Become a PPT member to fund our work!
High school students, small business owners, disability advocates, the mayor of Pittsburgh, state senators and representatives, the CEO of Pittsburgh Regional Transit, the president of Pittsburgh’s Amalgamated Transit Union local, and advocates from across Allegheny County: all of these people stood under the same banner on the afternoon of April 29th, calling for expanded, equitable transit funding that moves all of us–from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between.
In the face of massively insufficient funding from the state budget, Transit for All PA!, Pittsburghers for Public Transit, and Mobilify Southwestern PA hosted a rally in Downtown Pittsburgh in support of expanded, equitable funding for systems across the state, including PRT. Speakers included PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman, ATU Local 85 President Ross Nicotero, Mayor Ed Gainey, State Rep. Lindsay Powell, State Senator Lindsey Williams, and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. Also present were high school students from nearby City Charter High and Creative and Performance Arts School (CAPA), disability advocates from across the county, and transit riders who gave public testimony about the ways PRT helps their communities thrive.
The rally rounded out a day full of vocal support for PRT, including comments made by PPT members, Transit for All PA! supporters, students, and more. Read more about the rally and hearing in some of the media covering the event. Mayor Ed Gainey summed up the impact of PRT’s proposed cuts with a strong message to Harrisburg: “Don’t take our lifeline. Fund our lifeline. Invest in our people.”
- Union Progress: Emotional testimony, Democratic funding proposal highlight hearing on transit cuts by Ed Blazina
- TribLive: ‘Our region stands to lose something’: Students, residents rally in hopes of halting PRT cuts by Megan Swift
- WESA: Pittsburgh Public Transit riders rally against ‘devastating’ service cuts, fare increases by Julia Zenkevich
- WTAE: ‘Save Our Service’ rally held on first day of PRT public hearings by Yazmin Rodriguez
After months of sustained pressure from the public, including over 100,000 letters sent to state elected officials on this issue, members of the Pennsylvania Senate and House have released memos proposing the passage of a Transit for All PA funding solution, which would protect and expand transit funding for all systems across Pennsylvania.
Transit for All PA! Will be hosting a rally and lobbying day at the state capitol on June 4th in support of these funding measures.