Bills To Save Transit

Early this summer, just before their recess a bipartisan group of Pennsylvania law makers introduced legislation that moves the state a long way toward establishing a more reliable and stable source of dedicated revenue for public transit operations all across the commonwealth.

Senate Bill 1162 and its companion House Bill 2697 will increase state funding for public transit by $282 million. The Port Authority’s share of this will be around $64 million. Absent these bills, bus and light rail riders in Allegheny County will likely face major service cuts in 2005 so that the Port Authority can balance its $30 million deficit budget as state statute requires. As almost happened in FY03-04 the service cuts implemented by the Port Authority would about destroy all weekend and nighttime bus and light rail service.

On Monday, September 13th, members of the transit advocacy group Save Our Transit rallied at the City-County Building downtown to support the two bills. City council member Bill Peduto said that our city just took a major hit with the loss of the Ultra Violet Loop stating, “Economic development IS mass transit.” State representative Don Walko asked what was the point of having shows and games in our city if people can’t get to them. David Ginns of Sustainable Pittsburgh urged supporters of mass transit to keep up the pressure, noting that all 6 of our local state senators have signed on to this bill. Rich Johnston, an organizer for Service Employees International Union, said that if we take away the buses and transportation, we should also take away the jobs of the politicians. Save Our Transit organizer Stephen Donahue urged supporters to sign postcards, which can be picked up at the Thomas Merton Center, for our state legislators and reminded the crowd to get on the bus to Harrisburg on October 5 to rally at the State Capitol (call 412-361-3022 to reserve a seat). Other speakers included Fred Brown of Pittsburgh Transportation Equity Project, state senator Sean Logan and Stu Stricklan of Save Our Transit. The rally ended with an open-mic.

- Pittsburgh Independent Media