Hi Neighbors! 1) I'm sure everyone is well aware of the new proposed round of transit cuts that is looming. Highland Park has been hit hard during past rounds of cuts (remember the 73B, the 93A, the 77D?). For me, with each of those cuts, I can recall how my daily commute downtown went from being a super-easy way to start the day to a rather harried and stressful experience. I no longer regularly commute to work (by bus or by car), but I'm still pretty concerned about the current proposals out there as they impact quality of life - and economic viability - for everyone of us who lives and works in the region. Next time you find yourself behind a bus in traffic, picture sitting behind 20, 30, even 40 additional cars. That's not getting any of us anywhere, but that's where we are going to find ourselves. PAT's official statements, explanations and an overview of the proposed cuts can be reviewed here, along with some general suggestions for advocacy on the issue: http://bit.ly/wzXniK I'm personally planning on going to a rally to support funding transit that One Pittsburgh is helping organize tomorrow (Wed. Feb. 29) at noon, at the convention center downtown (that's all the details I have about it - sorry). * * *If you aren't a rally type but care about the issue, the public comment period regarding the proposed cuts ends on March 9. Here's a link to the online form to submit comments: http://bit.ly/z2rDxN * 2) That being said, we all know there's issues and challenges with the way our transit and overall transportation systems are laid out - and it would be great to create some long-term viable solutions, wouldn't it? I'm also planning on going to one of these two public meetings, being held as part of Plan Pgh, and am looking forward to being part of a forward-thinking approach! ------------------------------ *From:* Pittsburgh City Planning - PLANPGH Update [mailto: no-reply@apps.pittsburghpa.gov] *Sent:* Wednesday, February 22, 2012 3:57 PM *To:* Subscribers *Subject:* MOVEPGH Vision & Goals Public Meetings [image: Pittsburgh City Planning - PLANPGH Update]<http://pittsburghpa.gov//dcp/news.htm> MOVEPGH Vision & Goals Public Meetings Tell us your goals for Pittsburgh's transportation network! Sent 02/22/2012 @ 3:57 pm *You're invited to attend a public meeting to discuss the vision and goals for MOVEPGH, the transportation component of PLANPGH!* We need you to help us develop the vision and goals for Pittsburgh’s first ever comprehensive transportation plan. We need your ideas for how you want to get around the City, and we hope you can come share them! Two identical Vision and Goals Sessions will be held *Thursday, March 8, 2012* at the *CONSOL Energy Center *in the *Lexus Club*, PNC Legends Level. The first session is scheduled to be from *Noon to 2:00pm *, and the second session will be held from *6:00pm until 8:00pm*. The sessions will include a brief presentation and an interactive discussion on transportation vision and goals for the City of Pittsburgh to guide this 25 year plan. Access to the Lexus Club is provided off Centre Avenue through the Verizon Gate. Free parking is available after 5 PM in the South Lot across Centre Avenue from the Verizon Gate. Multiple Port Authority routes service the Fifth/Forbes Corridor adjacent to the CONSOL Energy Center as well as Centre Avenue, and the Steel Plaza "T" Station is located just a few blocks away. Bike parking is also available. *Click here to download the flyer for the meeting (PDF)*<https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bw0xdSSLPcUHNWRiMTFlMDktNDExZS00YzU2LTkwM2MtNGRjMjdjOWU5ODNm> As always, you can find more information about *PLANPGH* at www.planpgh.com. Spread the word on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/planpgh>--let everyone know you're coming! *Contact:* Patrick Roberts Principal Transportation Planner Office: 412-255-2224 Email <patrick.roberts@pittsburghpa.gov> Pittsburgh City Planning Website <http://www.planpgh.com> © 2012 City of Pittsburgh <http://pittsburghpa.gov> | Pittsburgh City Planning <http://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp> | [image: Facebook]<http://www.facebook.com/planpgh>| [image: Twitter] <http://twitter.com/planpgh> Having trouble seeing this message? Click here to view it in your browser<http://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/article.htm?id=1302> . If you would like to unsubscribe from PLANPGH Update<http://pittsburghpa.gov//dcp/news.htm>, please click here<http://pittsburghpa.gov/mypgh/process/nl_unsubscribe.htm?nlid=46>. -- Martha Riecks mriecks@gmail.com