As a (soon to be former) daily 77D passenger, I don’t have much to add to the general frustration but more of the same. However, while we do seem to go through this particular performance every season, this year’s act has a bit of a different flavor: The troubles worsened when a key component of the state's Act 44 transportation funding law, tolling Interstate 80, was rejected by the Federal Highway Administration in April. That would have provided the Port Authority with about $27 million. The toll rejection caused an immediate statewide transportation funding shortage of $472 million, which so far the Legislature has done nothing to address. Gov. Ed Rendell this week said he wants to summon lawmakers back to Harrisburg next month to deal with the problem. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10202/1074071-147.stm - July 21, 2010. (There may be something more recent but I’m having trouble navigating the post-gazette website.) PAT is claiming a shortfall of ~$50mm, so this covers < 60% of the deficit. Earlier in the story the usual suspects are mentioned: gas prices, salaries, pensions, flat state contributions over the past 5 years, etc. All in all, I suppose we’d have a smaller version of the same crisis on our hands even if the legislature hadn’t acted as imprudently as it did regarding I-80 tolling. However, the funding crisis goes beyond local mismanagement to real funding issues at the state level; the Carnegie Library is currently experiencing a budgetary crisis due to stagnant state funding over the past decade even as they’ve trimmed to the bone. “Contact your legislators!” has the unfortunate ring of “Let them eat cake!” but it’s been known to work from time to time. Jospeh Preston – Representative for the 24th Legislative District 208 North Highland Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (412) 361-3692 Fax: (412) 665-5501 Homepage - http://www.pahouse.com/preston/ Contact - http://www.pahouse.com/contact/viaLDPC.asp?district=24 Jim Ferlo – Senate District 38 3519 Butler Street Pittsburgh, PA 15201 (412) 621-3006 Homepage - http://www.senatorferlo.com/ Contact - ferlo@pasenate.com Find your legislators: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm ~Brendan -----Original Message----- From: neighborhood-bounces@highlandparkpa.com [mailto:neighborhood-bounces@highlandparkpa.com] On Behalf Of ckulk44@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 9:51 AM To: ethanwinograd@hotmail.com; chris.sandvig@comcast.net; neighborhood@highlandparkpa.com Subject: Re: [Highland Park] bus service cuts--PAT hearing Neighbors: I knew I couldn't be the only one thinking the thoughts expressed below by Ethan. Pittsburgh likes to claim the slogan of being "America's Most Livable City," but how can that be if there isn't a viable public transportation system? I don't know who's really to blame for the mess PAT keeps getting itself into, but it does seem that those who have some power in the decision-making process aren't doing their jobs. They can't really believe (can they?) that cutting back on services and raising fares is really a solution or that this will encourage more people to use the pathetic system we currently have? I'm all for making the system more efficient, but given the past history (as Ethan notes), this clearly hasn't happened (and won't with these changes). I can work around these cuts, but many others can't. It will be a hardship for the poor, the working poor, the elderly, the disabled, etc. I wish I could say that all of this is simply short-sighted, but I don't think I can give them that way out. With people losing jobs and trying to find work, how can any of this be a good idea? Claudette -----Original Message----- From: Ethan Winograd <ethanwinograd@hotmail.com> To: chris.sandvig@comcast.net; hp list serv <neighborhood@highlandparkpa.com> Sent: Fri, Aug 20, 2010 11:12 am Subject: RE: [Highland Park] bus service cuts--PAT hearing It baffles me that every year we go through this. The state gov't blames the port authority for mis management. There are a series of hearings. Teeth are gnashed, and then PAT gets funded but routes get cut and rates go up. How does anyone expect to have a functioning economy without a public transportation system? Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:37:41 +0000 From: chris.sandvig@comcast.net To: neighborhood@highlandparkpa.com Subject: Re: [Highland Park] bus service cuts--PAT hearing Folks, Please don't assume that the map you are looking at tells the whole story. It's a fair assumption that we could see a drastic reduction in both 71a and 500 frequency. The new 87 could see a huge drop as well. ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Ghrist" <ghristwd@verizon.net> To: neighborhood@highlandparkpa.com, kennedyamyp@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 11:04:05 AM Subject: Re: [Highland Park] bus service cuts--PAT hearing It depends where you are in Highland Park. The 71A Negley goes from Bunker Hill down St. Clair and Bryant to Negley, then down Negley past Stanton. On 8/17/2010 4:08 PM, marcie mcguire wrote: Having checked out the Port Authorities website, it seems that Highland Park will be left without any bus service to the corner of Stanton/Negley once the 77D is eliminated. For many residents that take the bus, it's just too far to walk to catch the 87 Friendship (if one needs to go via Liberty Ave), the replacement bus for the 77D. Perhaps I've missed something on the website that tells how HPer's that can't walk that far, yet need public transportation, will get to Stanton and Negley. If anyone know anything differently, please let me know? Thanks, Marcie On Aug 16, 2010, at 12:53 PM, Amy P. Kennedy wrote: Hello neighbors, The listing of the proposed Port Authority service cuts effective Jan 9, 2011, has just come out. In a nutshell, those that I've identified that run through our neighborhood are: Proposed cuts: 500--split into two routes (HP to downtown, and downtown to Westview), service reduced on our half of the route 71A--service reduced 74B--eliminated 77D--eliminated starting this September 94A--service reduced, eliminated on Sundays EBA--service reduced EBO--service reduced If you transfer to any other buses, you might want to check on the Port Authority website how your route might change, since there seem to be changes to most all of the routes. www.portauthority.org Cash fares will go to $2.25 for zone 1 with $1.00 for a transfer. Premium fares of $4.00 will be instituted on the flyer routes and the 28x. Pass prices will all go up proportionately. There is a hearing this Thursday 8/19 from 8 am to 8pm downtown at the convention center. To speak at the hearing (3 minutes max per speaker), call 412-566-5437 to register. If you can't attend the meeting, you can send written comments to the Port Authority (online or via mail) until August 31. Bus service is really important to a vital city, even for those who don't take the bus. To me, the Port Authority appears to be an organization greatly in need of new ideas and feedback. If you have something to contribute, now would be a great time to do it. Thanks! Amy -- <http://lists.highlandparkpa.com/mailman/listinfo/neighborhood> -- <http://lists.highlandparkpa.com/mailman/listinfo/neighborhood>; -- = -- <http://lists.highlandparkpa.com/mailman/listinfo/neighborhood