Latest Posts
Transit Workers & Riders for a Better Transit Future
“Transit riders and transit workers must advocate together for a better transit future.” Pittsburghers for Public Transit believes in living wages, benefits, safe working conditions, and union rights for transit workers. It’s in our Transit Bill of Rights. PPT’s advocacy has always centered the needs of riders AND workers because that’s how we build a system […]
Port Authority’s Q4 Service Adjustments, with comment from @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline
Each quarter the Port Authority adjusts its transit schedules and routes to account for rider’s requests, ridership shifts, construction, road closures and/or all of the other unexpected hiccups that might affect Pittsburgh roads. Additionally, Port Authority’s new Bus Stop Consolidation program aims to eliminate 20-30% of stops in the entire system. PPT’s feelings about this […]
Residents Rally for Alternate Plan to Mon Oakland Connector Project & Budget Transparency
On Monday some 100 residents and organizations attended and testified at a City Council Public Hearing demanding increased transparency and accountability through the City of Pittsburgh’s Budgeting Process. A rally was organized by the Economic Justice Circle to propose a series of improvements to the City’s budgeting process. It provided the perfect platform for residents […]
Press Release: 22 orgs & 600+ residents support alternative plan to the Mon Oakland Connector
Residents and Community Groups Affected by Proposed Mon-Oakland Roadway release Letter Calling on City Council, Foundations, Academic Institutions, and Public Agencies to Fund Alternative Transportation Proposal Entitled “Our Money, Our Solutions.” December 6, 2019 – Pittsburgh, PA – As the City of Pittsburgh continues to advance the “Mon-Oakland Mobility Corridor,” a controversial roadway project that […]
PPT Year-end Party for a Better Transit Future
Calling all transit lovers! Ride with us! Rise with us! It’s PPT’s end-of year celebration, and we want to get down with you all. 2019 has been quite a ride, kicking off with our #FairFares push, bringing Port Authority board members on the bus (and throwing one under the bus), a kick-ass organizing fellowship cohort […]
Keep Developers Accountable at Shakespeare Giant Eagle Site
Developers want to spend $15Million on a super-sized parking garage instead of providing for real community needs: affordable housing, improved transit, healthy food access, safe streets. We say no. The Giant Eagle Shakespeare site is a chance to reverse East Liberty’s legacy of gentrification and displacement. It is an opportunity to show what truly equitable […]
Meet the 12 outstanding activists who are running for PPT's Coordinating Committee. Check out the blog, and RSVP to tomorrow's meeting to hear from them directly.
[PPT Members - voting is open until Friday!]
www.pittsburghforpublictransit.org/ppts-2020-elections-for-coordinating-committee-seats/
PPT's 2020 Elections for Coordinating Committee Seats - Pittsburghers for Public Transit
www.pittsburghforpublictransit.org
Overview Pittsburghers for Public Transit is a grassroots, democratic, member-led organization that fights for racial justice and public transit as a human right. Each July, the organization holds e..."We already know that there's an issue right now with bus overcrowding and pass-ups on certain routes, particularly routes that are going through Black and Brown communities, lower income communities...[Port Authority] needs to modify their schedules to accommodate the people that are currently riding," Wiens said.
"We've been pushing them the last several months to re-allocate service to where the ridership still remains robust and move it away from where the routes that are currently not seeing very many riders, because that is likely to continue in this fashion through the duration of the pandemic."
www.wtae.com/article/port-authority-pandemic-related-driver-shortage-behind-some-missed-trips/330...
Port Authority pandemic-related driver shortage behind some missed trips
www.wtae.com
"Obviously, this has huge impact on riders if the buses they anticipate coming don't show up," Laura Chu Wiens, executive director of Pittsburghers For Public Transit, told Pittsburgh's Action News 4.This is the kind of leadership we like to see 👏🙌:
"Public transportation is an essential public good, but for too long we have not funded it like one. That’s why we are calling on Congress to pass our Freedom to Move Act, bold federal legislation to incentivize transit agencies to offer fare-free service and make long-overdue investments in public transportation for low-income and historically marginalized communities."
Thank you to US Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Senator Ed Markey and Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu for leading the effort to ensure expanded transit service that prioritizes under-invested communities, and free transit for all riders!
www.masslive.com/opinion/2020/07/freedom-to-move-act-would-increase-mobility-connect-communities-...
www.masslive.com
Instituting fare-free transit is a commonsense solution to some of the most pressing challenges our region faces.How to make mask-wearing easy and protect riders and workers? Transit agencies in Oregon and California have started giving out masks directly to riders. transitcenter.org/making-mask-wearing-on-board-the-easy-choice/
Making Mask-Wearing on Board the Easy Choice
transitcenter.org
Universal mask-wearing on transit will be fundamental to managing COVID-19's spread. Portland’s TriMet and San Francisco’s BART provide an early look at how agencies are managing this shift.Shoutout to PAAC for new data transparency! This tool can help riders who have the flexibility in their schedules - although not everyone does. We still need to look at shifting some service to assist those who keep getting passed up on crowded routes: ow.ly/zTdx50AhSTd
New Port Authority tool will give riders even more information about full buses, crowded routes
ow.ly
Port Authority hopes the Room2Ride page on its website will help riders plan trips to avoid crowded buses that could pass without stopping.