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Pittsburgh Transit Blog
Topic Started: Aug 27 2009, 06:50 PM (21,951 Views)
ctrabs74
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Jan 19 2012, 02:15 AM
The fact that everything hinged on I-80 being tolled (which didn't happen) really added onto the funding crisis. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is now in severe debt due to mandatory payments to PennDOT. The funding that was promised to transit agencies is now significantly below what they were expecting...all while expenses are going up drastically.

I wonder if the Airport would be willing to fund the 28X...or at least provide a subsidy for that line.
I think Rendell knew there was no chance that I-80 tolls would've been approved by the Feds.

As for PGH Airport funding the 28X: Don't count on it. The airport is operated by Allegheny County. If Allegheny County isn't exactly jumping to fund PAT in the first place, I seriously doubt they would use the county's aviation authority as a source for the 28X.
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http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12019/1204465-147.stm Makes me glad I don't live in Pittsburgh. How sad. :(
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Jayayess1190
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Port Authority says even its most heavily used routes affected by cuts

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The Port Authority of Allegheny County's financial problems are so severe that it could eliminate five of its 30 most heavily used routes or discontinue weekend service.

"We're beyond cutting fat out of the system," Port Authority CEO Steve Bland said on Wednesday of proposals to erase a $64 million budget deficit for the fiscal year starting in July.

The proposals include cutting service by 35 percent, laying off up to 500 of the agency's 2,500 workers and closing up to two of four bus divisions, along with increasing fares for all routes that run outside Downtown.

"These magazines and websites keep saying Pittsburgh is the Most Livable City in the country. For who? Not for anyone who needs to catch a bus," said Donna Stagno, 64, of Lawrenceville, who commutes to her job at a Market Square law firm every day.

Edited by Jayayess1190, Jan 20 2012, 04:11 PM.
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Mark
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Jayayess1190
Jan 20 2012, 04:09 PM
Port Authority says even its most heavily used routes affected by cuts

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The Port Authority of Allegheny County's financial problems are so severe that it could eliminate five of its 30 most heavily used routes or discontinue weekend service.

"We're beyond cutting fat out of the system," Port Authority CEO Steve Bland said on Wednesday of proposals to erase a $64 million budget deficit for the fiscal year starting in July.

The proposals include cutting service by 35 percent, laying off up to 500 of the agency's 2,500 workers and closing up to two of four bus divisions, along with increasing fares for all routes that run outside Downtown.

"These magazines and websites keep saying Pittsburgh is the Most Livable City in the country. For who? Not for anyone who needs to catch a bus," said Donna Stagno, 64, of Lawrenceville, who commutes to her job at a Market Square law firm every day.

My question is where does PAT gets its money? Do they have a setup like SEPTA in which each jurisdiction SEPTA serves plus the State contribute money towards the operation of the system plus fares and other revenue, or does PAT has a totally different setup?

Couldn't the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheney County scrounge up some cash to keep PAT afloat?

Does PAT get any money from these two jurisdictions?

Is PAT dependent on fare revenue and State money only?

I cannot understand why PAT is in deep fiscal trouble, while much-larger SEPTA is relatively fiscally stable.
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Jayayess1190
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Jan 19 2012, 02:54 PM
When did BCTA discontinue its route 6? This bus used to run from Rochester to Robinson Town Center via the Airport.
July 6th, 2009 Rt. 6 to Airport, Robinson cut. And last year Rt. 6 was discontinued.
Edited by Jayayess1190, Jan 20 2012, 06:30 PM.
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ctrabs74
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Mark
Jan 20 2012, 06:18 PM
My question is where does PAT gets its money? Do they have a setup like SEPTA in which each jurisdiction SEPTA serves plus the State contribute money towards the operation of the system plus fares and other revenue, or does PAT has a totally different setup?

Couldn't the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheney County scrounge up some cash to keep PAT afloat?

Does PAT get any money from these two jurisdictions?

Is PAT dependent on fare revenue and State money only?

I cannot understand why PAT is in deep fiscal trouble, while much-larger SEPTA is relatively fiscally stable.
There is no local subsidy from the City of Pittsburgh. All funding at the local level is provided by Allegheny County. The entire nine-member PAT board is appointed at the county-level by the County Executive.

The County provides $27.6 million in operating subsidy for the current fiscal year, which is the same amount allocated two years ago. In FY 2007, Allegheny County provided $25.4 million in subsidy.

PennDOT operating assistance, on the other hand, went up from $150.2M to $173.3M between FY 2009 and FY 2011. In FY 2007, it was $75.3M.

The overall PAT operating budget (expenses): $202.7M in FY 2007 to $352.4M in FY 2011.
Edited by ctrabs74, Jan 20 2012, 10:56 PM.
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Jayayess1190
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Allegheny's angling just for a fair share from state transit aid

Save the Port Authority: We must invest in public transit or watch our economy wither

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We know the Port Authority is dependent on state money for its survival, but consider how much the state reaps from the people riding the buses.

Allegheny County workers do more than their share for the commonwealth's coffers. Among taxes that can be tracked by county, Allegheny contributes 11.6 percent of the state's revenue. That's not bad, considering we represent less than 10 percent of the population.

The lion's share of that money we send to Harrisburg is earned Downtown and in Oakland, the second and third biggest employment centers in Pennsylvania. With about half of Downtown workers and a quarter of those in Oakland riding public transit, the state shouldn't throw a wrench in those gears.

Allegheny has about 300,000 fewer people than Philadelphia County, but we've amassed a higher aggregate personal income than the state's biggest county every year since 1989. The only county producing more taxable personal income is the state's third most populous, Montgomery, in suburban Philadelphia.

Allegheny County can't match the suburban Philadelphia counties in average income, but what we send to Harrisburg via the state sales tax is more generous. Allegheny County sent $700 million in sales taxes in the last fiscal year. Philadelphia was second, but not particularly close, with $543 million.
Edited by Jayayess1190, Jan 22 2012, 10:57 AM.
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Mark
Jan 20 2012, 06:18 PM
Jayayess1190
Jan 20 2012, 04:09 PM
Port Authority says even its most heavily used routes affected by cuts

Quote:
 
The Port Authority of Allegheny County's financial problems are so severe that it could eliminate five of its 30 most heavily used routes or discontinue weekend service.

"We're beyond cutting fat out of the system," Port Authority CEO Steve Bland said on Wednesday of proposals to erase a $64 million budget deficit for the fiscal year starting in July.

The proposals include cutting service by 35 percent, laying off up to 500 of the agency's 2,500 workers and closing up to two of four bus divisions, along with increasing fares for all routes that run outside Downtown.

"These magazines and websites keep saying Pittsburgh is the Most Livable City in the country. For who? Not for anyone who needs to catch a bus," said Donna Stagno, 64, of Lawrenceville, who commutes to her job at a Market Square law firm every day.

My question is where does PAT gets its money? Do they have a setup like SEPTA in which each jurisdiction SEPTA serves plus the State contribute money towards the operation of the system plus fares and other revenue, or does PAT has a totally different setup?

Couldn't the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheney County scrounge up some cash to keep PAT afloat?

Does PAT get any money from these two jurisdictions?

Is PAT dependent on fare revenue and State money only?

I cannot understand why PAT is in deep fiscal trouble, while much-larger SEPTA is relatively fiscally stable.
From what I understand, one of the big things is that SEPTA had a back-up plan in case Act 44 failed, but Port Authority did not.

SEPTA's limping along thanks to its back-up plan and higher than budgeted ridership (and revenue!) but the Capital Budget is really suffering though. I think they are ok for FY 2013, but if things aren't fixed by FY2014, we could face some issues as well.

Act 44 failed miserably, and funding for all state systems are WAAAAYYYYY below projection. Hopefully the plan Corbett approves will solve the issues once and for all for all modes of transportation in the Keystone State.
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State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, is pushing a bill that would devote all that turnpike money to mass transit statewide. A fraction more sales tax money would also be shifted to mass transit. The money that used to go to roads could be made up by lifting the cap on the Oil Company Franchise Tax, which would add about 13 or 14 cents to the price of a gallon of gasoline.

That was the recommendation of the governor's Transportation Funding Advisory Commission anyway. Maybe there is another way, but the rest of Pennsylvania has a lot riding on the people of this county getting to work.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12022/1204912-155.stm#ixzz1kIHjsZti


Unless they are building a train line or creating an express bus service that I can use as a reasonable alternative to my daily commute on the turnpike (they won't), I am highly against this. Turnpike revenue should be used for turnpike maintenance and enhancements. Because Act 44 demands money from PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is now in SEVERE debt, and its existence is in danger.

http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Department/Press/WagnerSaysDebtRiddenPATurnpikeinJeopardy.html

Quite frankly, my tolls are high enough, I already went through that %25 toll increase back when Act 44 started to pay MY fair share to road maintenance in this state, and I would rather not be paying a significant premium to pay for my ride while others on Route 422 and I-80, who are outraged at the very idea of paying 1 dime in tolls, would be taking MY toll money while the turnpike would have to compete with these and other "free" roadways to get funding for basic maintenance and enhancements.
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Jayayess1190
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I can definitively identify with this editorial.

Walkabout: More ways than one, bus rides can be a moving experience

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A middle-aged woman in career casual looks grimly at the purse on her lap as the bus doors open. A young mother struggles on board folding a stroller, with a toddler on one hip. The young woman shoehorns herself into a seat across from the purse lady and props the child on one leg.

The bus rumbles north. The mother raises a cell phone to her ear and the child starts to blubber. The kid's distress escalates, and soon she is screaming. The knee under her begins to bounce.

Purse lady is looking at the child. Her downturned slit of lips softens as she tries to gather the little face into her eyes. She leans forward and makes puckering motions with her mouth.

Soon she is rooting in her purse and pulls out a lollipop. Motioning to the mother with it, she raises her eyebrows. Still on the phone, the mother moves her head. Acquiescence...
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