tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post4886098779101199071..comments2023-07-15T10:49:51.578-04:00Comments on TransitBlog - Port Authority of Allegheny County: "We're frustrated too" -- Steve Bland's Remarks to Open Today's Public HearingPort Authority of Allegheny Countyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087210880576559477noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-301747487917108562010-09-15T22:29:07.197-04:002010-09-15T22:29:07.197-04:00The bulk of the budget is union labor and union re...The bulk of the budget is union labor and union retiree labor costs. They have to be cut.<br /><br />Set a maximum annual pension amount. $50,000 a year would be reasonable. They way its been for decades is union employees worked huge amounts of overtime in their final few years to pump up their pension amoungs and got full pensions by their late 40s. Time for the gravy bus to end. Cut both union and non union management pay 10% top management cut pay 20%. THen get rid of transit cops - let regular police handle calls. Why are public union employees immune from the pain that private sector workers are feeling? Bland says legally he cant do it. Well if Harrisburg wont change the law then shut the system down, dump the unions and hire back drivers as non union only. Slash and burn baby!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-78918318016039654342010-09-01T18:52:24.180-04:002010-09-01T18:52:24.180-04:00You need to have bus riders and bus drivers on you...You need to have bus riders and bus drivers on your board because they are the ones who truly know about the routes. The people on your board very likely has never been on a bus in thier lifetime and know squat about what is needed.<br /><br />I'm taking these threats with a grain of salt anyway. You guys try to scvare us with service cuts every year anyway and the money magically appears. Pleaseclean upyour act PAT or privatize.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-11579782945075144392010-09-01T14:19:18.018-04:002010-09-01T14:19:18.018-04:00$160 a month for a so called "premium" e...$160 a month for a so called "premium" express route is outrageous! <br /><br />Especially after the fact that that those express routes aren't even express. You STILL make stops, therefore you're not express. <br /><br />For example: Monroeville's East Busway is only half the trip to Downtown, the traffic before Wilkinsburg is a total nightmare. <br /><br />Why should I be paying 160 bucks a month for that? This is the bus system we're talking about, not a subway or a train that doesn't have to deal with traffic. <br /><br />I don't think the NYC subway system charges that much. When I was in Boston I paid 2 bucks to ride the train into town, and this is Boston we are talking about. Isn't Pittsburgh supposed to be the most livable place? <br /><br />If that's the case, then you guys are making it harder and harder.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-47403717088330054302010-09-01T14:13:13.809-04:002010-09-01T14:13:13.809-04:00Drewbert, you hit the nail right on the head.
T...Drewbert, you hit the nail right on the head. <br /><br />There were so many times when the fare boxes went broke. It practically happens every week. So you're losing money there, your loss. <br /><br />Secondly, the routes you have now even after the changes went into affect for some of the buses are still costing you money.<br /><br />Case in point: HP flyer is now P12, and yet there are still a lot of empty buses and each is 5 min. apart. I realize that a lot of people live in the Holiday Park area but this is not efficient for you guys to have huge coach buses pull up to stops practically empty. And it happens every time. Even after this so called change that was supposed to streamline your system. You need to start thinking about cutting some of those routes so you wouldn't have to eliminate the Cranberry bus, the Wexford bus, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-62017576007996868092010-08-30T10:19:14.396-04:002010-08-30T10:19:14.396-04:00Talk about cart before the horse! Implementing Sma...Talk about cart before the horse! Implementing SmartCards *after* making changes to the routes is entirely backwards. Right now you haven't a CLUE about the routes your riders are taking because you can't track movements through the fairs. <br /><br />SmartCards would shed a huge light on what riders are doing and then you would be able to design a route system around that.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08270873072287048758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-80337566020392882002010-08-26T09:03:35.570-04:002010-08-26T09:03:35.570-04:00By raising the price of the Trolley to $160 a mont...By raising the price of the Trolley to $160 a month you now made it cheaper for me to drive and park in town. Based on a 21 days of work in a month. Your lossAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-53166892416399419712010-08-25T21:29:39.786-04:002010-08-25T21:29:39.786-04:00I am currently beginning my studies as a graduate ...I am currently beginning my studies as a graduate student. When moving to a new apartment, I made sure I was on the trolly line because of it's convenience and affordability. $80 for a monthly pass is do-able; the $160 premium price simply is not. That is a lot of money for a college student to endure. I'm not sure how I'm going to get to school come January.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-39956734160627475592010-08-25T19:05:49.594-04:002010-08-25T19:05:49.594-04:00To put it simply, you don't care about anyone,...To put it simply, you don't care about anyone, but yoursleves. Just say it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-66135241600171331872010-08-25T18:33:22.538-04:002010-08-25T18:33:22.538-04:00They're only doing these drastic cuts to help ...They're only doing these drastic cuts to help themselves. They don't care if you can't walk, can't get to the doctors, shopping, work, school, etc. Lies, lies, and even more lies! They say the same thing 100,000 times over. They've messed us up before and they're doing it again. Faster, Smarter, Better? HA! How is it better to have to go Downtown to get to Walmart? Some people have to do that now. Next year we'll have NOTHING! One route per area to no routes hardly in any area. Real brilliant. You're not broke. If you can build tunnels under a river and add new fare boxes, no you're not broke! I've had it with your greed. So heartless. You don't care who's life you mess up so long as your pocketbooks are safe. You disgust me!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-19998023117103770792010-08-25T13:49:18.549-04:002010-08-25T13:49:18.549-04:00Where are people supposed to park in robinson to t...Where are people supposed to park in robinson to take the G1?? Ikea has a warning sign and now the strip mall across from it(which has empty stores and will never have a full parking lot)has one as well that threatens to tow. Is anyone dealing with these people or do we have to fend for ourselves again?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-85268086059994561322010-08-25T13:46:28.999-04:002010-08-25T13:46:28.999-04:00if G3 is going to be premium price, then we bette...if G3 is going to be premium price, then we better have the "coach" buses so people don't have to stand (like they already are now) and be an express!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-54245557480954032302010-08-25T12:54:47.092-04:002010-08-25T12:54:47.092-04:00I take the 41, 41D, 41G, and 42 to school each day...I take the 41, 41D, 41G, and 42 to school each day. After January, only the 41 and 41D will remain. I now have to take two busses to Oakland because the 42 was discontinued. The bus is packed during the morning rush hour. Please reconsiderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-30056436203054284942010-08-24T15:02:27.352-04:002010-08-24T15:02:27.352-04:00This is getting crazy every year. We need dedicate...This is getting crazy every year. We need dedicated funding for transit. Future contracts have to eliminate lifetime healthcare. Philadelphia only covers three years of healthcare benefits after you retire. The previous workers got theirs the current workers wont. Be happy you people have jobs, time to realize, this aint your fathers Port Authority.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-2515045957832221112010-08-24T08:11:01.321-04:002010-08-24T08:11:01.321-04:00How much money could be saved by charging students...How much money could be saved by charging students to ride. They ride free. Seniors ride free, I am sure they would pay versus losing service all together! I also heard that Port Authority workers have lifetime health benefits, if that is true, no wonder the Port Authority is in trouble!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-64663590834149431392010-08-23T07:14:39.197-04:002010-08-23T07:14:39.197-04:00Me and my fiance live in clairton/wilson if they c...Me and my fiance live in clairton/wilson if they cut the 55 out we have no way to doctors grocery shopping it is bad enough i can't catch a bus to clairton hill to my doctors but my fiance has has really bad seziures and if he has to go to the hospital then he has noway to get home because he depends on the 55 and. We are also dependent on 61C 59 Y46 with out them we are really in big touble it is hard for me to walk up hill because i have Asthma and my legs swell really bad so please try to keep the buses running please there are so many of us that can't drive that depend on the buses how will people who depend on the bus get back and forth to work and suppot there families and the drivers need there jobs as well the have families and even have grandchildren they have to supportAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-75387915823048823302010-08-23T00:13:00.946-04:002010-08-23T00:13:00.946-04:00I am disappointed in the changes. There is enough ...I am disappointed in the changes. There is enough money in society to run a top-quality bus service, there is certainly enough to run what we have now. There is the difficult matter of getting the funds together - a higher tax burden for this would be worth it. Those of us who don't have a car and use the busses are saving society money by doing so - we use fewer resources and when the costs are summed, we consume less. The private/public divide just obscures an accurate comparison - public transit is more efficient than private vehicles. The costs I would pay to own, run, maintain, and insure a vehicle (combined with bayesian cost of accidents and the like) is higher than what I would pay in taxes even for a public transit system that did not collect fares and would be entirely funded through tax dollars. I think this is true for most people. That's what I would like to see. In hard financial times *or* good ones, it's no good to pay fewer taxes when you have to pay more for the private-sector services to replace them. For those few of you who are wealthy who actually would pay more, your taxes come out of funds that are in the realm of luxury, not necessity - it's your duty to help support societal institutions.<br /><br />Please don't cut transit - raise our taxes if you must. People depend on reliable public transit, and it's the most efficient way to get around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-36592581457685113212010-08-22T22:25:55.965-04:002010-08-22T22:25:55.965-04:00Transit cuts to this large degree will have impact...Transit cuts to this large degree will have impacts on those who are NOT riders. Consider how many commuters use public transit on a daily basis. Now consider a day without those commuters using public transit on the proposed routes to be cut, with all of those commuters driving solo on Pittsburgh's already overwhelmed highway system, further contributing to air pollution. Just another unfortunate ramification of this unfortunate plan.John Marinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02589438484560780166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-34024357152490181262010-08-22T08:32:52.294-04:002010-08-22T08:32:52.294-04:00Wasn't the drink tax supposed to solve many of...Wasn't the drink tax supposed to solve many of the Port Authority's financial issues? Where has all that money gone?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-91909450043022348352010-08-21T14:17:50.986-04:002010-08-21T14:17:50.986-04:00Drivers and management should make a goodwill gest...Drivers and management should make a goodwill gesture and take paycuts or freezes. This will put out to everyone that they care about the people and are willing to put some skin in the game.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-40220971243177872392010-08-21T04:49:22.238-04:002010-08-21T04:49:22.238-04:00I just don't understand how you can build a wh...I just don't understand how you can build a whole new Market Square downtown and not have money for buses. Who in the positions of power is all thumbs? If you guys do not start thinking about the middle class and the communities involved, we as the people will vote out whoever is in office making these ridiculous, selfish, insenitive decisions. Point the fingers all you want to but we will find out who is making careless decisions on our behalf. Pittsburgh is going through enough hardship as it is, now you want to add on to it. Are you trying to make Jesus come back sooner? You're mind is corrupted and I hope it has not gone to your heart. You estimated 500 jobs lost, you're wrong. It will be estimated over 500 jobs lost including yours should you not start thinking about the people that are struggling to find way to get to their jobs. How about the elderly? How about the poor? Doesn't anyone think about others anymore or is it just money,how can we get more money in our pockets and pretend we work for the people. Here's an idea toll the interstate so we can have money for transportation. You guys are causing ripples in a calm sea. You're not spending money wisely and maybe next political term we should pick someone who could. The mayor is already trying to raise the parking meters and garages, now are buses.What is wrong with you people? Are you trying to get this city enraged we already have enough violence in this city. Do the right thing please.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-13852906698078021982010-08-20T21:44:44.943-04:002010-08-20T21:44:44.943-04:00Legislators don't care about the poor,the elde...Legislators don't care about the poor,the elderly or handicapped. I hope gas goes to five dollars or more, let the rich suburbanites drive there suvs. Public transportation was never meant to be profitable. If it were privatized they still wouldn't service the poor lower class areas. Thousands will lose there jobs including port authority employees. Guess the suburbanites can now pay for there two year unemployment and added welfare people. Its always about what's in it for me philosophy. You gotta pay one way or another.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-68833683218625773032010-08-20T21:34:27.987-04:002010-08-20T21:34:27.987-04:00you simply cannot remove blue line south hills ser...you simply cannot remove blue line south hills service on weekends. that is not a small "nothing" route. the "t" is one of the most used parts of public trans. Furthermore, the mall is more, not less, popular to travel to on the weekends; as well as the workers out at the south hills (I included) need to work on the busy weekends and rely on the "t" to get to and from work.<br />We (transportaion users) know that a higer cost will happen, but I think many of us (thinking like me) will galdly pay more money to keep the "t" running all 7 days, rather than loosing our jobs; which is what a loss of weekend service will do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-4544468372116563232010-08-20T13:53:26.762-04:002010-08-20T13:53:26.762-04:00As a resident of Forest Hills, the 68J is my lifel...As a resident of Forest Hills, the 68J is my lifeline to my job Downtown and the reason I moved into the community in the first place.<br />the current plan to eliminate the route makes no sense as the buses are nearly always full during peak rush hour both inbound and outbound. It's elimination will cause extreme hardship for many.<br />An earlier proposal would eliminate the 68J and replace it with another route that would bypass Forest Hills entirely. That makes little sense either since by your own studies 38 percent of the passengers board along Ardmore Boulevard in Forest Hills. <br />Please reconsider and save the 68J.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-72512813881717521522010-08-20T12:31:05.568-04:002010-08-20T12:31:05.568-04:00I'll start with a disclaimer. I haven't r...I'll start with a disclaimer. I haven't ridden a bus in years. So, cuts in service will probably not affect me. Taxes and fees to support the system will. It is sad to hear so many people express the hardship cuts will create. The fact of the matter is, there is not enough money to run the bus system. Period. The system has been a money loser for years. Money has been squandered. Money has been misappropriated. Money has been diverted from road projects to labor contracts. At some point, the bill comes due. And in these financially strapped times, the bill is due now. I wonder how much riders think about the insolvency of the system? If there were no service cuts, and the system contiunued to run in the red, would riders be speaking out? I'm not suggesting that there will be no hardship. I am suggesting that hardship is a fact of life. Especially when people put their faith in an untenable public transportation system. It's time for riders to start brainstorming about transportation alternatives. Ask yourself, "What would I do if the buses stopped running permanently?" Give up? I doubt it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899602846859544461.post-1646373741777717342010-08-20T09:35:41.014-04:002010-08-20T09:35:41.014-04:00I ride the 68J and I dont understand how the Port ...I ride the 68J and I dont understand how the Port Authority came to the decison to completly eliminate the route. The 68J is always filled with riders and at least once a week the driver can't fit another body on to the bus! I will not be able to get to work if the 68J is eliminated and I fear that I am not alone. I am willing to pay the premium price for a bus, so please dont eliminate the 68J.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com