SOS! Stop the cuts! Stop the fare hikes! It’s time to SAVE OUR SERVICE and win transit funding to move us all!!
Devastating cuts of up to 35% of our bus and T service and 62% of ACCESS services have been proposed to take effect in Allegheny County if the Pennsylvania state legislature fails to pass new funding for transit for next year. The impact of these cuts would be staggering- for riders, for our economy and businesses, for our region’s road congestion and air quality. Bus lines are lifelines, and our lifelines are on life support.
Riders, transit workers and Allegheny County elected officials are standing together to say, “NOT ON OUR WATCH!”
On the first day of Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s first public hearing on the funding crisis, Transit for All PA!, Pittsburghers for Public Transit and Mobilify Southwestern Pennsylvania are cohosting a rally and press conference outside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Join transit riders and workers, County Executive Sara Innamorato, Pittsburgh Regional Transit CEO Katherine Kelleman, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and the Allegheny County Pennsylvania state delegation to show that we are united in the fight for state funding, for the transit service we deserve!
Riders can learn more about the proposed cuts and PRT’s Public Comment Period here
Read this recap from PPT Member Edith Abeyta:
On April 29, Denise, Grace, and I attended the Pittsburghers for Public Transit’s Save Our Service Rally at the corner of Penn Avenue and 10th located near the entrance to the convention center. It started at 1:30pm. We arrived a little bit early with our signs we made specifically for the rally. The City of Pittsburgh was setting up a platform, podium, and sound system for the speakers. A PRT bus and driver were parked in front of the rally location.
Soon the corner filled up and the parking lot where the rally was taking place was full with people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, races, and abilities with their own signs and t-shirts supporting public transportation and opposing the cuts from the state. Plenty of news cameras and reporters were there to record the speakers and interview people in attendance.
Elected representatives from the local to state level were in attendance to support the people and public transportation lending their voices and power to prevent the severe cuts to public transportation that is being proposed by the state. I saw Mayor Ed Gainey and his challenger, Cory O’Connor, Pittsburgh Councilwoman Barb Warwick, County Ex. Sara Innamaroto, and Rep. Moseley.
PPT ED, Laura kicked off the rally laying out the issues and followed up later with the solutions. She was followed by speakers from a variety of sectors including elected government representatives and private industry development.
Like all PPT events the people who are most impacted were the majority and made their concerns and demands heard. It was a great example of coalition building and solidarity across various levels of power and positions.