Drastic Service Cuts
Yesterday, Pittsburgh's Port Authority of Allegheny County Transit System began the process that could result in a fare increase by July and drastic service cuts by September. The fare increase, which will likely happen regardless of additional state funding, would increase Zone 1 fares by 25 cents and Zone 2 fares by 50 cents.
The rail, bus, Monongahela Incline, and ACCESS Paratransit (service for the disabled and elderly) service cuts are proposed at 35 percent of the current service levels. A 15 percent cut in transit service also occurred last March.
An estimated $64 million deficit expected in the Port Authority's Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget, which begins July 1, is the reason PAT believes these actions are necessary, to keep the transit system from bankruptcy and a complete shutdown.
Here are links to reports from the two Pittsburgh daily newspapers regarding yesterday's meeting of the Port Authority's Planning and Development Committee --
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
>>> http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12019/1204465-147-0.stm
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
>>> http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_777313.html
At this link, the Port Authority gives details of the fare increase and service cutback proposals:
>>> http://www.portauthority.org/paac/CompanyInfoProjects/BudgetFinances/ServiceReductions.aspx
This link includes information regarding how to submit comments to the Port Authority regarding these proposals, as well as how to register for a day-long public hearing, which will be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Wednesday, 2012 February 29:
>>> http://www.portauthority.org/paac/CompanyInfoProjects/BudgetFinances/ServiceReductions.aspx#Public
Inadequate state funding is one of the reasons, cited by the Port Authority, for the current transit funding crisis. PAT supports the recommendations of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett's Transportation Funding Advisory Commission. Although, the Governor has not yet indicated whether he will follow these recommendations. You can read the Commission's Final Report with the recommendations at this link:
>>> http://www.tfac.pa.gov/
If you would like to communicate your views, regarding this public transit funding crisis, to the Governor, here is his contact information:
Governor's Office
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA 17120
Telephone: 717-787-2500
Telefacsimile: 717-787-8284
Electronic Mail can be sent via the Governor's Internet Web Page, at this link:
>>> http://www.governor.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/contact/2998/e-mail_the_governor%27s_office/465341
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Thursday, January 19, 2012
gaw
Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,
Friends of the Zeiss < http://friendsofthezeiss.org >
Electronic Mail - < gawalsh@planetarium.cc >
SPACE & SCIENCE NEWS, ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR:
< http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.
Twitter: < http://twitter.com/
Facebook: < http://www.facebook.com/pages/
Blog: < http://spacewatchtower.
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh:
< http://www.planetarium.
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
< http://adlerplanetarium.
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
< http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries:
< http://www.andrewcarnegie.
* Civil War Museum of Andrew Carnegie Free Library:
< http://garespypost.tripod.com >
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh:
< http://inclinedplane.tripod.
* Public Transit:
< http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.
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