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Pittsburgh Transit Blog
Topic Started: Aug 27 2009, 06:50 PM (21,954 Views)
Jayayess1190
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Bikes now allowed at all times on light rail cars

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Port Authority announced today that it has lifted the ban on taking bicycles onto Light Rail Transit vehicles during rush hours.

Bikes will now be allowed at all times, provided there is room in the handicapped seating areas, spokeswoman Heather Pharo said. Disabled riders will continue to have priority.

The announcement was made at Transportation Exploration, an event in Market Square to encourage alternative ways of commuting, including bicycling.

The event also marked completion of a project to equip all Port Authority buses with front-mounted racks that can carry two bikes.

PAT is now 100% equipped with bike racks on buses, that means New Flyer's, Gillig's, Neplan's (artics, Metroliner's, and low floors) plus some Nova's all have bike racks.

Plus, PAT "death spiral" could come with more cuts. No light rail on weekends and 40 more bus routes gone!
Edited by Jayayess1190, Sep 24 2011, 11:59 PM.
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ctrabs74
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Question on Mid-Mon Transit:

I saw a photo of a New Flyer D30LF with a full wrap for California University (CalU) on a university file for a parking lot shuttle. Did MMVTA purchase New Flyers second-hand from someone recently? I thought most of their buses were Gilligs.
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Jayayess1190
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ctrabs74
Oct 28 2011, 07:59 PM
Question on Mid-Mon Transit:

I saw a photo of a New Flyer D30LF with a full wrap for California University (CalU) on a university file for a parking lot shuttle. Did MMVTA purchase New Flyers second-hand from someone recently? I thought most of their buses were Gilligs.
I have no idea, I will try to find out about that.
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Mark
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Why is PAT is in such poor financial condition while SEPTA is reasonably healthy? Why do I hear of "PAT's death spiral" and rounds of service cuts, while SEPTA is just humming along? Is it union contracts? Is it the way the system is set up? WTF is going on over there?
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Septa3371CSX1
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Mark
Oct 30 2011, 10:50 AM
Why is PAT is in such poor financial condition while SEPTA is reasonably healthy? Why do I hear of "PAT's death spiral" and rounds of service cuts, while SEPTA is just humming along? Is it union contracts? Is it the way the system is set up? WTF is going on over there?
SEPTA has been silently cutting service. Look at the new 127 schedule. Also look at the trips on the 18 and L that have been cut. The biggest reason SEPTA isn't crying wolf is because they have been robbing Peter to pay Paul - as in taking money from the Capital Budget to pay for the Operating Budget. PAT is not doing such and is trying to get dedicated state funding established. IMO the best thing for PAT to do is just run the system as is until they run out of money.
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Tritransit Area
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Mark
Oct 30 2011, 10:50 AM
Why is PAT is in such poor financial condition while SEPTA is reasonably healthy? Why do I hear of "PAT's death spiral" and rounds of service cuts, while SEPTA is just humming along? Is it union contracts? Is it the way the system is set up? WTF is going on over there?
The main problem with PAT is actually the union contracts..."legacy costs" if you will. Apparently someone way back when agreed to cover all of union members health care costs and the typical pension for the rest of their lives one they retire. I think the age the workers can take their pension is low too - around 55 years and/or 25 years of service (I need to try and find articles about that, but they may be posted earlier in the thread).

Now, the costs for retirees from PAT is about equal to the salaries of current employees. With the increased costs in health care (and its insurance) and the fact that people are living longer, this agreement is just unsustainable. Because of this, I'm pretty sure that when the transportation funding reform goes through, some serious changes are going to have to happen at PAT before they get the funding they desire.

As far as I know about SEPTA, they aren't using capital dollars to place into the operating budget these days. With the backlog of projects that desperately need attention, that would be irresponsible.

SEPTA has been looking at every opportunity to bring in revenue (such as ATT station and potentially the renaming of other stations in the future) and other methods of advertising (and exterior advertising on the Silverliner Vs is not out of the question...told ya so Silverliner II). Also, ridership has been at record highs lately, despite the economy, bringing in additional revenue that's overbudget. Finally, if things don't go well, they have a small "Service Stabilization Fund" that was put into place in 2008 once Act 44 was approved that they may dip into if they fall into a deficit.

Finally, unlike PAT and the "Tunnel to Nowhere" SEPTA has firmly held the line on service expansion. All of the changes you've seen lately are either cost neutral or was at the expense of another service. Like Joe said, SEPTA has been making minor service reductions when necessary, trying to be as lean as possible, but thankfully they haven't had to reduce service by a significant percentage like other systems out there.

Note: Running transit service until PAT literally runs out of money without making every attempt to balance the budget is a surefire way to destroy the system and wreak havoc on peoples' lives. Just ask the now former riders of the Street Road and Newtown rushbus lines (especially those that work along Township Line Road in Yardley) how they enjoy not having bus service now because the services no longer qualified for continued funding. Enough with the political ballgame and throwing spare change to keep the system running a little bit longer - it doesn't work in the long term.
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Jayayess1190
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Naming rights for sale for free T rides to North Shore

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Someday soon, riders might hear an announcement like this on the T as it rolls through the tunnel toward Station Square: "Approaching XYZ Corporation Station. You are now entering the Free Fare Zone presented by Monolith Enterprises."

Port Authority and a Downtown business organization are trying to find a corporate sponsor or sponsors to make rides free on the Light Rail Transit system from Station Square to the new stations being built on the North Shore.

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership has hired consultants who are contacting businesses and other potential sponsors. They are asking them to consider buying naming rights to any of the seven stations or pay to attach their name to the free-fare zone.

Among those who have been contacted are the three major pro sports teams, UPMC, Highmark and EQT.
Edited by Jayayess1190, Nov 4 2011, 05:23 PM.
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Jayayess1190
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There is a rip in this Neo AN440LF, you can see outside:
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Edited by Jayayess1190, Nov 4 2011, 06:47 PM.
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Nabi60SFW9620
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I dont think that is a rip. It might be the interior cover to the headsign isnt closed all the way or something. Ive seen that here in Baltimore numerous times and Im sure its happened on the SEPTA as well. I should have rode one of the Neos when I was in Pittsburgh.
Edited by Nabi60SFW9620, Nov 4 2011, 06:57 PM.
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MichaelBug
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Nabi60SFW9620
Nov 4 2011, 06:56 PM
I dont think that is a rip. It might be the interior cover to the headsign isnt closed all the way or something. Ive seen that here in Baltimore numerous times and Im sure its happened on the SEPTA as well. I should have rode one of the Neos when I was in Pittsburgh.
I agree with NABI on that-the interior headsign cover on the Neoplan just isn't latched. That seems to be an issue with Neoplans everywhere. You are actually looking outside, but from the inside surface of the glass that covers the destination sign!

That panel opens so that both the sign itself and any light tubes that may be inside can be serviced.
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