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Our government has the funds. It’s up to us to demand them for Visionary Transit!
My name is Kelda Gorman, and I’m an activist member of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. This year, PPT launched its Visionary Transit Service campaign, which invites riders like you and me to reimagine what our transit system should be. I’m so excited to be part of this fight. Can I count on you to fight with me?
Invest in Visionary Transit today!As a disabled rider who can’t drive for safety reasons, I’m highly reliant on Pittsburgh Regional Transit. For me and so many others the bus is not a convenience—it’s a necessity. If my bus doesn’t come, the lift doesn’t work, or the driver doesn’t know how to secure the safety restraints, I’m stuck. Literally. And even when all those factors fall into place, I’m still afraid for my safety.
I invest in PPT because I know our transit service can do better. PPT’s Visionary Transit Service campaign helps me dream big about:
- Efficiency: Buses should run frequently and on time, so we don’t have to “gamble at the bus stop” wondering when or if a bus will come
- Safety: All drivers should be fully trained in how to use wheelchair safety restraints and be empowered to safely intervene when a rider is being attacked
- Accessibility: PRT should maintain a large enough fleet of paratransit vehicles and drivers so folks like me can call for service one hour in advance, rather than the 24-48 hours required now.
I know this all takes money. But the secret is: our government HAS the money! It’s up to us to convince them to allocate it to PRT. I experienced this first hand when I joined PPT’s lobbying trip to Harrisburg this year. One of our elected representatives told us that hearing about transit troubles directly from constituents brought it home to him in a new way. We put a human face on this issue and helped him understand why we need a fully-funded, inclusive vision for public transit.
Join us as we Visualize and Mobilize for a community vision of what transit can and should be. The minimum cost of joining PPT is just $2.75, the same as one ride on PRT. And this year, the Posner Foundation has offered to match every contribution made during our Year End Member Drive up to $10,000. Turn your $100 into $200. Turn your $500 into $1,000!
Ride with us today, and make your donation monthly!
Help make PRT work for the people!The post Our government has the funds. It’s up to us to demand them for Visionary Transit! appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
Help me be your voice on the PRT Board!
My name is Bobbie Fan, and I’m a proud member of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. I was recently appointed to represent riders on Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Governing Board. This feels like the work I was meant to do: ensuring that PRT meets the needs of all residents in Allegheny County. To speak up for riders like you, I need to hear your voice. Can I count on you to raise your voice by joining PPT?
Become a Member of PPT Today!Membership is the anchor of PPT’s transformative activism. When you become a member, you become an integral part of our grassroots union of transit riders, workers, and neighbors. As your representative on the PRT Board, I need you to join because:
- I need to hear YOUR voice! I need to know what everyday riders want and need, so I can advocate for an expanded, affordable, accessible public transit system that serves ALL residents of Allegheny County.
- I need to make PRT hear your voice! On my own, I’m just another Board member. Every new member who joins PPT amplifies my voice and ensures that the people speak louder than special interests.
- This is how we build power! The more we stand together as a union, the more our elected officials will have to listen to us as we push back against manufactured austerity.
In 2025, we’re going to push PRT even harder with our Visionary Transit Service campaign. For decades, transit riders have called on elected leaders to provide accessible, expansive transit that meets our community’s economic, environmental and public health needs. Instead, they’ve cut routes and services, driving down ridership while claiming scarcity. Well, we’re done with PRT telling us what’s possible. It’s time to fund a community vision of what transit can and should be. Join us in this fight.
The minimum cost of joining is just $2.75, the same as one ride on PRT. And this year, the Posner Foundation has offered to match every contribution made during our Year End Member Drive up to $10,000. Turn your $100 into $200. Turn your $500 into $1,000!
Ride with us today, and make your donation monthly! It’s time to make PRT work for the people.
Ride With PPT Today!The post Help me be your voice on the PRT Board! appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
ACTION ALERT: City Council Must Budget For More Bus Shelters!
- District 1 Bobby Wilson (Troy and Observatory Hill, Perry Hilltop, parts of Downtown, Strip District): (412) 255-2135
- District 2 Theresa Kail-Smith (West End, Sheraden, Crafton Heights) : (412) 255-8963
- District 3 Bob Charland (Allentown, Mt Washington, Mt Oliver, Southside, South Oakland): (412) 255-2130
- District 4 Anthony Coghill (Beechview, Brookline, Carrick): (412) 255-2131
- District 5 Barb Warwick (Hazelwood, Greenfield, Lincoln Place, Swisshelm Park, parts of Sq Hill and Oakland): (412) 255-8965
- District 6 R. Daniel Lavelle (Uptown, Hill District, Marshall-Shadeland, parts of Downtown) : (412) 255-2134
- District 7, Deborah Gross (Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Polish Hill, Highland Park, Morningside): (412) 255-2140
- District 8, Erica Strassburger (Shadyside, North Oakland, West side of Sq Hill): (412) 255-2133
- District 9, Khari Mosley (East Liberty, Larimer, Lincoln, Lemington, Homewood, Pt. Breeze): (412) 255-2137
Whether you are Black or white, disabled or able-bodied, an older adult or a high school student, we all deserve a safe, dignified, and comfortable way to get where we need to go.
However, Allegheny County transit riders are usually waiting for their ride out in the cold and in the rain. That is because our region has the dubious honor of having some of the fewest bus shelters installed relative to stops in the nation – only 8%, according to a recent Washington Post article. In the City of Pittsburgh alone, there are more than 230 bus stops that currently do not have any transit amenities, but which should have shelters and benches because they have over 30 riders boarding transit at these stops everyday.
The City of Pittsburgh is responsible for installing and maintaining bus shelters within the city limits, not Pittsburgh Regional Transit. Despite that, the 2025 City of Pittsburgh proposed budget has no budget line for transit amenities, just as in all the budgets prior in recent memory.
There are over 100,000 transit trips taken everyday in the City of Pittsburgh; riders deserve better! Over the past year, riders with Pittsburghers for Public Transit have done bus stop walk audits to identify stops in which shelters could be immediately deployed, done research on total ridership and rider demographics at each stop, given public testimony on the importance of transit infrastructure, and joined the Complete Streets Committee to play an active role in informing the City about transit rider needs. We have done our part. It’s long past time for the City to invest in safe, accessible, comfortable and dignified transit infrastructure.
Today, Councilwoman Barb Warwick introduced an amendment to allocate $110,000 of an approx. $540,000 surplus of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds towards Bus Shelters/Transit Amenities. We applaud her leadership, and now want to ensure that her colleagues on Council vote to approve her amendment. Tell City Council: Mo’ Money Mo’ Shelters!var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1731712778145'); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object')[0]; vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height=(divElement.offsetWidth*0.75)+'px'; var scriptElement = document.createElement('script'); scriptElement.src = 'https://public.tableau.com/javascripts/api/viz_v1.js'; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement);
City of Pittsburgh Map of All PRT Bus Stops With Ridership >30 Riders/Day without Shelters, developed by Abhishek Vishwanathan
Closing the gap on unsheltered bus stops is a critical equity issue in every Pittsburgh City Council District.Funding bus shelters is a quality-of-life improvement for marginalized Pittsburghers, and one that spans all Council districts. Every dot on this map of Pittsburgh reflects a bus stop where ridership justifies a bus shelter, but which currently does not have one. The red dots indicate that the communities adjacent to the stop have a high equity need, and include disproportionately low-income, minority, disabled, older adult or no-car households. That is why the City of Pittsburgh should consider prioritizing the installation of shelters at the red dot locations.
Nearly a third of Allegheny County transit riders are low-income, according to a 2014 Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) rider survey; it is very likely that the percentage of low-income riders has grown substantially since the pandemic. 38% of PRT riders are people of color, of which 28% are Black residents, which is double the total Black population in Allegheny County. Moreover, for many disabled residents, for youth, older adults, and immigrants public transit is the only means to travel to doctor’s appointments, to schools and grocery stores, jobs and childcare.
Let’s win riders a better place to wait: Contact your City Councilmember TODAY to ask them to support Councilmember Warwick’s amendment for transit amenities!
Contact Your Councilperson Today!The post ACTION ALERT: City Council Must Budget For More Bus Shelters! appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
¡Fiesta de fin de año de PPT!
“Fiesta de fin de año de PPT”
Fecha: jueves 19 de diciembre
Hora: 6:00 p. m. a 10:00 p. m.
Lugar: East End Cooperative Ministries
6165 Harvard Street, East Liberty, 15206 Visualiza y moviliza: Ganamos cuando imaginamos un mundo mejor y nos comprometemos a construir una comunidad unida para hacerlo realidad.
El transporte público es una necesidad fundamental, y todos merecemos tener
acceso a él, sin importar si somos blancos, negros, vivimos en la ciudad de
Pittsburgh o en alguna de sus comunidades vecinas.
2024 fue un año de crecimiento y éxito para Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT).
Logramos importantes victorias en nuestras campañas:
– El programa de tarifas reducidas a la mitad para beneficiarios de
SNAP/EBT.
– Logramos que uno de nuestros miembros fuera nombrado para la Junta
Directiva de Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT).
– El programa de tarifas al por mayor, que permite a los empleados acceder a
transporte sin costo.
– Expandimos nuestra comunidad, llegando a 325 miembros activos.
Acompáñanos en la fiesta de fin de año para celebrar el increíble trabajo realizado
por esta comunidad llena de amor y compromiso.
Qué esperar: Se ofrecerá una cena completa gratuita para todas las personas
que confirmen su asistencia. La música estará a cargo de nuestro amigo DJ Juan
Diego, ¡y seguramente habrá baile! También contaremos con la participación de
integrantes de diversas campañas, quienes compartirán sus experiencias,
hablarán sobre lo que se necesita para alcanzar el éxito y cómo estos logros han
impactado a sus familias y comunidades. No te preocupes si no puedes quedarte
hasta el final del evento.
Menú: el servicio de catering estará a cargo de Salem’s Market and Grill. Aunque el menú aún está por definirse, garantizamos opciones vegetarianas, veganas y sin gluten. Por
favor, indica cualquier restricción dietética en el formulario de confirmación de
asistencia. Compartiremos el menú final en cuanto esté confirmado.
Accesibilidad: el edificio de East End Cooperative Ministries es de fácil acceso.
Cuenta con una rampa desde la acera hasta la entrada y un baño disponible. El
espacio está dividido en dos áreas cercanas, conectadas por una rampa
ligeramente inclinada. La zona superior estará destinada para socializar y
participar en juegos, con iluminación disponible toda la noche. La zona inferior
será el espacio para la música, el baile, los discursos y la comida y la iluminación
podrá ajustarse para crear un ambiente más acogedor. Contaremos con
interpretación en ASL y español a lo largo de todo el evento.
Cómo llegar: la fiesta se realizará en East End Cooperative Ministries, acceso por
la Entrada B, en 6165 Harvard St. No hay escaleras en ninguna de las áreas. En
East Liberty hay acceso al transporte. La avenida Penn está a solo dos cuadras, y
la parada de East Busway se encuentra a 0.3 millas (unos 10 minutos caminando).
Hay estacionamiento disponible para bicicletas y automóviles. Si los costos de
transporte representan una dificultad, no dudes en comunicarte con Nicole de PPT al 312-307-2429 o escribir a nicole@pittsburghforpublictransit.org para explorar opciones de apoyo.
Procedimientos de COVID: La fiesta se llevará a cabo en un lugar cerrado.
Habrá mascarillas disponibles para quienes las requieran, y recomendamos
realizarse una prueba rápida de COVID antes de asistir. Por favor, permanece en
casa si te sientes mal o has tenido contacto reciente con alguien que tenga
COVID-19. También contaremos con un espacio al aire libre sin calefacción en la
acera frente al edificio y en el patio, ideal para tomar aire fresco durante el evento.
¡Te esperamos para disfrutar de una noche inolvidable!
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Huge Victory: Our Transit for All PA! wins millions for public transit
Transit for All PA! is a growing statewide movement to expand public transit access for all Pennsylvanians. Learn more about who we are and get involved here.
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Year End Transit Justice Victory Party!
Thursday, December 19th, 6-10pm
East End Cooperative Ministries
6165 Harvard Street in East Liberty, 15206 Visualize & Mobilize: We win when we have a vision of a better world and commit to building community to make it real.
Transportation is opportunity and everyone deserves access. That is true whether we’re white or black or whether we live in the City of Pittsburgh or a surrounding community.
2024 was an exciting year of growth and success for the Members of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. We won huge victories for our campaigns; including a fully-permanent half-fare program for SNAP/EBT recipients, we had one of our members get appointed to the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board of Directors, we won a bulk fare program that can give employees access to zero fares, AND we grew the community at Pittsburghers for Public Transit to 325 active dues-paying members!
Come celebrate all of this work with the love-filled community that made it all possible at the PPT Year-end Victory party.
Accessibility information What to expect:The celebration will be one to remember. We’ll be inside at the East End Cooperative Ministries. The entrance is at 6165 Harvard St. The party will go from 6pm-10pm. The tickets are pay what you can, $20 suggested donation, but no one will be turned away! There will be a full dinner served free to all people who RSVP. Music will be provided by our friend DJ Juan Diego and dancing will most certainly happen. PPT members from different campaigns will talk about what it takes to win and what it means for their families and our communities. Attendees should not feel obligated to attend the entire event, so feel free to arrive and leave at whatever times work best for you.
Menu:Catering will be provided by Salem’s. Food will include:P
Veggie Samosa (Veetarian, Vegan)
Meat Samosa
Chicken Samosa
Basmati Rice (GF, Vegan, Vegetarian)
Chicken Tikka Masala (GF)
Veggie Curry (GF, Vegan, Vegetarian)
Spinach Paneer (GF, Vegetarian)
Greek Salad (GF, Vegetarian)
Walnut Baklava (contains nuts)
Please specify any dietary restrictions on the RSVP form. We’ll post our final menu as soon as we order!
The East End Cooperative Ministries building is an accessible space. There is a ramp into the building from the sidewalk and there is an accessible bathroom. The space has an upper and a lower area that are very close together and connected by a slightly inclined ramp. You enter the space into the upper area where attendees can mingle. The lighting will be good and consistent in this room throughout the night. The lower area will have music, dancing, speeches, and food. Lighting may be turned down for dancing and speeches. There will be interpretation in both ASL and Spanish.
Getting there:The party is accessible through the East End Cooperative Ministries’ Enterence B, at 6165 Harvard St. There are no stairs in any of the party spaces. There is great transit access in East Liberty. Penn Ave is just two blocks away. And the East Busway stop is .3 miles, or about a 10-minute walk. There is bike parking and car parking in the parking lot. If any of these transportation modes are cost-prohibitive for you, contact PPT to discuss options, 551-206-3320 or info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org.
COVID procedures:The party will be held indoors. Masks will be available. We encourage everyone to take an at-home COVID rapid test before arriving. Please stay home if you are feeling sick or have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19. There is an unheated outdoor space available on the sidewalk in front of the building and in the courtyard for a breath of fresh air during the event.
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More Bus Shelters! Check Our New Map, Testify at City Council, Call for Better.
No one wants to wait in the wind and rain for a bus. The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure controls nearly all the bus shelter in the City. They want to do better for transit riders, but they need the budget to do it!
Join PPT this Tuesday to call for a city budget to provide more bus shelters, sidewalks, and infrastructure that supports transit. Check out this map that PPT’s research committee made that shows stops inside the city that have 30 or more boardings each day – these stops need shelters and it won’t happen unless budget money gets approved. Testify with us to make it happen:
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Click the button below to sign up to testify with PPT for more funding to improve bus shelters, sidewalks, lighting and infrastructure to support transit! RSVP to join us!The post More Bus Shelters! Check Our New Map, Testify at City Council, Call for Better. appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
The Future of Transit Justice! Give Input On PPT’s 2025 Strategic Plan
Every year, our grassroots union engages in a collaborative planning process to chart a path for our growth in the coming year. We brainstorm ideas for our internal organizational development to create goals for how we support our members and build up the PPT family. We also brainstorm ideas for campaigns we can take on to win improvements to benefit transit riders and our communites – things like making fares more affordable, improving service, or building better sidewalks and more affordable housing.
This ongoing collaborative process between our membership, our committees, our board of directors and our staff is what makes our work so special. Everyone has a voice in our plan and everyone plays a part in making it a success.
Below are 6 target areas we want to focus on in 2025, and some ideas for specific goals within each area. We want to hear your input on them, so please share your opinions and wisdom below.
For each of the 6 goals, consider these questions as you give your feedback:- What needs to be changed or added to this plan?
- What parts feel particularly aligned with PPT? What parts get you fired up for the year to come?
- What seems most important to prioritize over the coming year?
- How will we measure success?
All feedback is welcome–after all, you’re the expert on your own experience riding local transit!
For each step, share any thoughts you have about the listed target area and goals. If you don’t have anything to write, just write “n/a”.
——
¡Gracias por ayudarnos a dar forma al futuro de la justicia de transporte público en Pittsburgh!Cada año, nuestro sindicato de base participa en un proceso de planificación colaborativa para trazar un camino para nuestro crecimiento el próximo año. Realizamos una lluvia de ideas para nuestro desarrollo organizacional interno para crear objetivos sobre cómo apoyamos a nuestros miembros y fortalecemos la familia PPT. También hicimos una lluvia de ideas para campañas que podemos emprender para lograr mejoras que beneficien a los usuarios del transporte público y a nuestras comunidades, cosas como hacer que las tarifas sean más asequibles, mejorar el servicio o construir mejores aceras y viviendas más asequibles.
Este proceso de colaboración continuo entre nuestros miembros, nuestros comités, nuestra junta directiva y nuestro personal es lo que hace que nuestro trabajo sea tan especial. Todos tienen voz en nuestro plan y todos desempeñan un papel para que sea un éxito.
A continuación se presentan seis áreas de objetivos en las que queremos centrarnos en 2025 y algunas ideas para objetivos específicos dentro de cada área. Queremos escuchar su opinión sobre ellos, así que comparta sus opiniones y sabiduría a continuación.
Para cada uno de los 6 objetivos, considere estas preguntas mientras brinda su opinión:- ¿Qué es necesario cambiar o agregar a este plan?
- ¿Qué partes se sienten particularmente alineadas con PPT?
- ¿Qué partes le entusiasman para el próximo año?
- ¿Qué le parece más importante priorizar durante el próximo año? ¿Cómo vamos a medir el éxito?
Todos los comentarios son bienvenidos; después de todo, ¡usted es el experto de su propia experiencia viajando en transporte público!
Para cada paso, comparta cualquier idea que tenga sobre el área objetivo y los objetivos enumerados. Si no tienes nada que escribir, simplemente escribe “n/a”.
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Sign-on to Support a PRT Bus Line Redesign that Works for All! // ¡Regístrate y apoya un transporte público para todos!
Whether you live in McKeesport or McKees Rocks, the Hill District or the South Hills, our public transit system needs to work for everyone. // Ya sea que viva en McKeesport o McKees Rocks, Hill District o South Hills, nuestro sistema de transporte público debe funcionar para todos.
PRT has proposed changes to nearly every route, stop, every schedule. These are the most substantial changes proposed in our lifetime. Tens of thousands of people who use the system every day will be impacted. Some communities will get cut out from service, while others will receive new access. With changes this big, it is critical that PRT do deep and sustained public outreach and have a process for incorporating what people say. // El nuevo plan de PRT propone cambios en casi todas las rutas, paradas y horarios. Estos cambios afectarán a usuarios y trabajadores del transporte por todos los lados del condado. Algunas comunidades quedarán excluidas del servicio, mientras que otras recibirán nuevo acceso. Con cambios tan grandes, es fundamental que PRT haga una difusión pública profunda y sostenida y tenga un proceso para incorporar lo que dice la gente.
When it comes to the Bus Line Redesign, transit advocates believe that: // Cuando se trata del rediseño del red de autobuses, los defensores del transporte público creen que:- The Bus Line Redesign should increase ridership and minimize disruption to current riders. // El rediseño del red de autobuses debería aumentar el número de pasajeros y minimizar las interrupciones a los pasajeros actuales
- The Bus Line Redesign should make more key destinations like food, healthcare, jobs and schools accessible with faster, more reliable and direct trips. // El rediseño del red de autobuses debería hacer que más destinos clave como alimentos, atención médica, trabajos y escuelas sean accesibles con viajes más rápidos, más confiables y directos.
- The Bus Line Redesign should prioritize service to low-income communities, older adults and people with disabilities, youth, and Black and Brown riders. // El rediseño del red de autobuses debe priorizar el servicio a las comunidades de bajos ingresos, adultos mayores y personas con discapacidades, jóvenes y pasajeros negros y latinos.
- Slow down this process, and set ambitious, public goals about gathering target numbers of feedback by different demographics and regions. // Disminuya la velocidad de este proceso y establezca objetivos públicos ambiciosos para reunir cantidades determinadas de comentarios de diferentes grupos demográficos y regiones.
- Show us that our time and feedback matters! PRT must disclose how they will review and incorporate the feedback received. // ¡Demuéstrenos que nuestro tiempo y nuestros comentarios son importantes! PRT debe informar cómo revisará e incorporará los comentarios recibidos.
- Make all feedback publicly available along with regional and demographic data on responses. // Hacer que todos los comentarios estén disponibles públicamente junto con datos regionales y demográficos sobre las respuestas.
And check out this blog to learn more about the specifics of the Bus Line Redesign and share for feedback with advocates. // Consulte este blog para obtener más información sobre los detalles del rediseño del red de autobuses y compartir comentarios con los defensores.
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PPT Movie Night! Watch “Union” @ Harris Theater
Wednesday, October 23. 8-10pm
$10-$20, but no one turned away for lack of funds
Pittsburghers for Public Transit believes in the power of the people to do great things when we organize together! Come join your PPT fam at the Harris Theater to watch “UNION”. It’s an exciting new film about how Amazon workers at a Staten Island warehouse successfully organized 8,000 coworkers to win the first union at an Amazon facility in US history! We’ll get inspired together and also learn some lessons about what it takes to run winning campaigns.
Purchase your tickets below! No one turned away because of lack of funds. And if you’re able, please donate some extra to help another PPT member join us who might not have the funds to go!: What to expect: event & accessibility detailsDetails: The movie is being shown by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust at the Harris Theater. PPT is purchasing a block of tickets for members to join in. The movie is scheduled to show at 8pm on October 23rd. It is 100 minutes long. Look for Dan in the lobby before the screening (white man with a mustache and yellow glasses). He can connect you with your tickets.
What to expect: This is a movie shown in a movie theater. Its dark. Talking is discouraged.
Food: Snacks, popcorn, and beverages can be purchased for full price at the concession stand
Accessibility: Location has accessible seating in the theater, and an accessible bathroom downstairs. You can see the Harris Theader’s accessibility info here.
Getting there: Many buses will bring you into downtown where it won’t be much more of a walk to get to the theater. Street parking and bike parking are available on surrounding blocks.
COVID procedures: This event is being held by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust you can view their safety procedures on their website: https://trustarts.org/pct_home/visit/safety
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Week Without Driving PGH Boosts Stories & Calls for Change!
Across the county, 30% of the population does not drive a car. The Week Without Driving was developed by disability advocates in Washington state and is now a national initiative, led by America Walks and the National Campaign for Transit Justice.
Locally, we’re proud to join this movement to raise awareness for greater mobility needs in every community. With Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s diminished service, crumbling sidewalks, disconnected bike lanes, and insufficient ACCESS services, the lack of investment in safe and accessible mobility options for non-drivers leaves too many residents stranded and struggling to access basic needs.
Join us in pledging to take a Week Without Driving, and call for true mobility options for all in Allegheny County. You can participate as an individual, organization or elected official. Take the pledge! Week Without Driving PGH Kickoff with County Exec Innamorato & Mayor Ed Gainey is a success! Take the Week Without Driving pledge! Whether due to disability, age, or income – non-drivers come from all walks of life.These 8 inspiring stories from Pittsburgh non-drivers show there is a spectrum of people who don’t drive a car and urge elected officials make improvements for transit, biking, and walking.
Read the Spotlights Tell your story!The post Week Without Driving PGH Boosts Stories & Calls for Change! appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
New “Bus Line Redesign” Proposes Biggest Changes of Our Lifetimes
Whether you live in McKeesport or McKees Rocks, the Hill District or the South Hills, our public transit system needs to work for everyone.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) just released the first draft of the “Bus Line Redesign”. The redesign proposes a completely redrawn map of where transit routes will run. It includes new schedules for how frequently and how late at night buses and trains operate. It even proposes renaming all the routes in the system.
Broadly, we at Pittsburghers for Public Transit are approaching the Bus Line Redesign process both knowing that transit service needs to be improved for people in Allegheny County AND being cautious about whats included in the proposal.
We are cautious for two reasons. One, the agency is approaching the redesign as a “cost neutral” project. This means that the proposal contains the same (or a little less) service than we have today. A “cost-neutral” redesign is a problem because better transit service in some communities will mean worse service in others. When we consider that we’ve already lost 20% of our service since 2020, and 40% since 2000, we’re very concerned that a “cost-neutral redesign” will lock in lower levels of service. We know more service isn’t possible without more funding, which is why we are organizing with riders and workers across Pennsylvania to fight for increased transit funding – you should lean more about the Transit for All PA! campaign and join us as well!
The second reason we are cautious is because we know a redesign of nearly all routes, stops and schedules will be a major disruption for communities. This should be a cause for concern because any disruption could result in decreased ridership – no matter how small. This is understandable because people have built their entire lives – where they live, work, shop, socialize – around a system that’s existed in roughly the same layout for decades.
As transit advocates, we approach PRT’s Bus Network Redesign process with the belief that a redesign should increase people’s access to the system and better support marginalized communities. We’re also supporting a robust conversation with existing riders to give feedback – and then that PRT shows us that our feedback matters! We can create a redesign that works for all if we organize together. Make sure to sign-on with fellow transit advocates to support this vision.
Sign this petition to tell PRT that we need a Bus Line Redesign that works for all!PRT has proposed changes to nearly every route, stop, every schedule. These are the most substantial changes proposed in our lifetime. Tens of thousands of people who use the system every day will be impacted. Some communities will get cut out from service, while others will receive new service. With changes this big, it is critical that PRT do deep and sustained public outreach and have a process for incorporating what people say.
Sign-on to Support a Redesign That Works For All Learn more about the PRT’s proposed Bus Line Design and give your input today!PRT has the Bus Line Redesign draft up on their website, and has some tools that you can use to assess the ways that your trips and neighborhood will be impacted here. Take a look, and share your feedback with them (and us!) we consider how we respond to this
PRT is also holding several Bus Line Redesign feedback sessions online and across the County. You should join them and promote them to your network.
Check out the Cheat Sheet that we put together to help analyze how the redesign will impact you – and share your input with transit advocates! See the Cheat Sheet!The post New “Bus Line Redesign” Proposes Biggest Changes of Our Lifetimes appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
Election Results! New Board Members Elected to Lead Pittsburghers for Public Transit
Pittsburghers for Public Transit is a democratic, grassroots, member-led organization and we practice what we preach.
Each Spring into Summer, our members participate in a democratic process to determine a new group of leaders who will join our organization’s highest decision-making body: our Board of Directors. During May and June, members nominate fellow members to run for the Board. If the nomination is accepted, the member is placed on the ballot with other nominees. Then, from mid-July to our Summer Party in August, all other members in good standing cast their votes. The winners are all invited to serve a two-year term. You too can join as a member of PPT and participate in this grassroots union, voting on our Board of Directors and the annual Strategic Plan that guides all of our campaign work and organizational development!
This democratic, participatory leadership process is at the heart of our organizing. It keeps a core team of enthusiastic and committed members at the helm. Our Board of Directors is responsible for guiding the direction of PPT’s campaigns and organizational development.
We’re so excited to welcome this group of new and re-elected Coordinating Committee members in 2024 who’ll be leading us until 2026!
2024 Board Members elected from our General Membership Andrew Husseinimage of Andrew Hussein reading a book
My name is Andrew Hussein, and I live in Penn Hills. My primary routes are 77, 79, P17, 86, and P16…. but to be truthful, you can find me on just about any route (no exaggeration) because I eat/sleep/breath/live all things public transit. Anyone who knows me knows that that is true. Transit is my sole means for transportation so I am acutely aware of the very real need for public transit to have a positive community impact.
I am a long-time member of PPT who has been working with the org since a brief few-month stint in the early days, back in an earlier iteration of the org called “Save Our Transit”. Years later I reconnected with PPT on their community campaign in Baldwin. We won that campaign and restored service to that neighborhood and I never looked back.
The skills that I bring to PPT are a significant all-around and general knowledge of the Port Authority system. I have a sincere passion for transit and its improvement. When I think of better transit I think of transit that is Fair, Equitable, reliable, useable, sustainable, readily and widely available – for as many folks as possible. Transit needs to fit as diverse a clientele and public needs as much as possible and I think that that is what we need to fight for together.
List of 3-5 projects or campaigns that the nominee has been involved with related to PPT, transit justice, activism, and/or movement building:
- Current Vice President of the Allegheny County Transit Council (ACTC), current Executive Committee Member, and have been involved here for 8 years
- I am also the founder and COO of the Bus Info Hotline, a Twitter and phone info line that is open for people to find out info and ask questions about Port Authority that I’ve been running for nearly 25+ years. Check out our Twitter at @PGH_BUS_INFO
- Involved in many of the successful neighborhood service campaigns started in 2014 that restored service to transit deserts through our county.
- I am a PPT Communications Committee Member. I lead the creation of our Blog Series on the Quarterly Service Updates.
- I have a significant all-around and general knowledge of the Port Authority system, PPT staff calls me all the time with questions about our system.
image description: image of Bill at a bus stop shelter holding up a fist
Bill McDowell is a long-time disability rights advocate. He has been a member of PPT for more than eight years and is passionate about equitable infrastructure, accessibility, and fair fares.
Bill has been a member of the PRT’s Committee for Accessible Transportation for many years and in that role has listened to the concerns and needs of the disability community in depth and has learned from those conversations over the years. Bill also believes that no one should be turned away from public transportation for the inability to pay a fare. Bill’s fight for an equitable transit system in Pittsburgh has been long, but is long from over. He appreciates the ability to do the work alongside so many other passionate transit justice advocates.
List of 3-5 projects or campaigns that the nominee has been involved with related to PPT, transit justice, activism, and/or movement building:
- PRT Committee for Accessible Transportation
- PPT Research Committee
- Fair Fares Coalition
- PPT Organizing committee – organizing for better sidewalk infrastructure
image of Fawn Walker Montgomery with red hair and a white t-shirt
Fawn Walker-Montgomery is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Take Action Mon Valley (TAMV). She is a former candidate for Mayor in McKeesport and a past candidate for State Representative in the 35th District. Fawn was the first black person & woman to run for a State seat in the Mon Valley. She has a B.A. in Political Science from Johnson C. Smith University (HBCU) and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Point Park University. Fawn has worked with PPT on various projects such as the BRT, fair fees, and removing cops from transit stops. She is also a past second-term Councilwoman in McKeesport and has 18 years of experience in the human services field. Fawn’s vision for PPT is that they increase membership in the smaller communities outside the City of Pittsburgh such as the Mon Valley. In addition, create specific campaigns to address the lack of transportation in these areas. Thus, having more of a county-wide focus.
List of 3-5 projects or campaigns that the nominee has been involved with related to PPT, transit justice, activism, and/or movement building:
- CEO of Take Action Advocacy Group-A Black liberation organization who has worked on various efforts such as police accountability and food insecurity.
- Leading efforts on environmental justice in the Mon Valley and beyond.
- Has supported various PPT projects over the years, including community organizing to defeat the Bus Rapid Transit service plan that would have cut service to her city, co-developed & launched the “Fair Fares” platform, and many more!
image description: image of Ms. Pearl with white hair in a green shirt
Pearl Hughey is a resident of Rankin Borough, a Mon Valley community in the East portion of Pittsburgh. Over the years Pearl has been involved in many activities within her community as well as participant in activities in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Pearl was a public official in her community, a member of the Rankin Christian Center board of directors, a founding member of the Rankin Community Development Corporation and actively participated in a computer tutoring program for Woodland Hills youth.
Most recently Pearl became involved with Pittsburgh Public Transit (PPT) when the expansion of the East Busway was being discussed. Pearl has been a transit rider for her entire work career (40+ years). She feels that transit opportunities for people in the Mon Valley are essential for the livelihood, growth and development of people that live in this region. It is important for all voices to be heard, and that is the main reason Pearl stays involved with PPT.
List of 3-5 projects or campaigns that the nominee has been involved with related to PPT, transit justice, activism, and/or movement building:
- East Busway Project
- Continued P3 Service to Swissvale Stop
- Fair Fares Coalition
image of Ms. Verna wearing glasses and smiling
My name is Verna Johnson and I am a resident of Lincoln-Lemington. I am a disability justice activist and serve as the current chair of PPT’s Board of Directors.
I first became involved with PPT in 2015 during the campaign to save service on the 89 Garfield Service campaign. The fight for better public transit in communities receiving less and less public transit resonated with me, and I continued to join PPT meetings and joined as a member. One benefit of being a PPT member that surprised me was the democratic decision-making process, and I felt that my lived experience was valued. I began to see how people from different walks of life could work together and make decisions that directed campaigns and the course of PPT. I have helped grow PPT by organizing riders during my time on the board. Being a board member has given me a greater understanding of how change can happen on a systemic level.
In addition to working on issues surrounding transit justice, I have been co-chair of the Allegheny County Coalition for Recovery’s Commission on Health and Human Services as co-chair and helped people receive financial assistance. I’ve also rallied outside of elected officials’ offices to support federal workers during the previous government shutdown with fellow members. I also phonebank with Just Harvest and register community members to vote at Veterans Affairs. I am deeply committed to bringing more people into the fight for transit justice and holding our transit agency accountable to the riders and workers.
List of 3-5 projects or campaigns that the nominee has been involved with related to PPT, transit justice, activism, and/or movement building:
- 89 Service Restoration Campaign
- #FairFare for a full recovery in 2020
- Don’t Criminalize Transit Fares campaign
- Canvassing at transit stops, talking with riders, and public speaking on behalf of PPT
image description: photo of Sue Scanlon
I absolutely love PPT. I am so proud of all the work we’ve done to defend jobs, expand routes, and help passengers. The work we have done over the last 10+ years has saved the whole community because we connect people to the things they need in our city and region. We have built such a community with our organizing. It feels like being part of a superhero squad.
I have been a bus operator at Port Authority (ahem, I mean, Pittsburgh Regional Transit) for 22 years. I have seen the agency during its highs and its very lows. Unfortunately, we are now at one of those lows. I want to continue being part of the movement to fix it. I consider myself a pretty good activist. I have the conviction to be out in the street, although I am always learning as an organizer.
How can we bring people together with love and consciousness to fight for our common good? When I look to the future of PPT, I want to see us keep building our base of organizers and activists. We are going to keep spreading our message across the city, state, and the entire country. We will remain on the cutting edge of activism for transit justice.
Our movement isn’t about me or any individual person. It is about what we can all do when we work together. It is about building a better world out of the situation we are in today. Everything is about community.
List of 3-5 projects or campaigns that the nominee has been involved with related to PPT, transit justice, activism, and/or movement building:
- The very first campaign I was involved with was restoring transit service in Baldwin, circa 2014. It was such a great campaign because it showed how communities can come together to fight for each other’s needs.
- I was also involved in the fights for Act 89, rallies Downtown, and Squirrel Hill, circa 2011. We shut down Forbes Avenue and Murray Avenue. It was an example of how labor and organize together with communities to improve service and jobs.
- In 2020 and 2021 I helped my ATU brothers and sisters start and eventually win the right to wear Black Lives Matter masks on the job. We staged protests and brought the case to court. You can read more about the win here.
- I’ve also been involved with helping other unions in solidarity – I started the campaign for workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to get a contract. Helped organize PPT members to picket in front of John Block’s house and at the Post Gazette. Met a ton of great people in this work.
- I also represent PPT on the PA Poor Peoples Campaign steering committee. I have traveled to DC, I don’t even remember how many times, to fight for the working class. I have been working to help people realize we’re all in this together and that we all have to work together to get what we need.
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Testify Now to Help Win a Pathway to More Affordable/Free Fares
We at Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) celebrate the opening of the public comment period for the long-awaited bulk employer and developer discount fare program, or the “PRTner Pass.” At the July 26th Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) board meeting, PRT announced the proposal of a new fare program for employers, schools and developers to purchase bus passes for all their employees, renters and students, at the deeply discounted cost of $28/month per person.
This program has the potential to provide working class people across the county unlimited transit passes- freedom of movement- that will both save money on their existing transit trips and incentivize more travel by transit. Moreover, it will increase the amount of dedicated operating revenue for the agency, through new transit fare payments by corporations and developers, large non-profits, and even municipalities like the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
For too long, Pittsburgh Regional Transit has relied on regressive user fees for operating revenue to run transit service: at $2.75 a trip, fares can be a huge cost burden on riders, many of whom are low-income or working class, and the high cost of fares lowers ridership because many passengers cannot afford to pay for all the trips that they would otherwise choose to take. It’s a no-brainer for PRT to sell bulk transit passes at a discount to employers, particularly because there is excess capacity on buses and trains- PRT gets new revenue and new ridership, with no added costs.
It’s time for our transit agency to stop leaving this money on the table. In the Seattle region, more than half of the Sound Transit total fare revenue comes from bulk discount employer fare purchases similar to the PRTner Pass.
If you are a renter, a worker, an employer, and school board representative, a developer or anyone else that could benefit from the availability of a bulk discount fare program, we need you to share your story about why we need the PRTner Pass! Support the PRTner Pass program by submitting your comment here, or by registering to speak at the PRT Public Hearing on Thursday, September 12th from 1-3 pm! This proposal is a win that came from years of organizing, now it's time to make it real!Here in Allegheny County, a bulk fare discount program has long been a demand of riders. We have known that there is a big demand by employers, schools and developers to buy transit passes, to provide a benefit similar to the student pass programs at CMU, Pitt and Pittsburgh Public Schools. Since 2019 and the launch of our Fair Fares Platform, PPT has called for Pittsburgh Regional Transit to offer common-sense fare products (we called them “fare incentive programs”) that would increase both revenue and ridership for the agency.
We have envisioned opportunities for large employers like UPMC to purchase passes for their workers, helping ease some of the transportation costs on our region’s healthcare staff and reducing the need for shuttles and parking lots that increase congestion and disallow more housing or commercial developments in the city. For service employees like those at Giant Eagle or janitors in the downtown office buildings, monthly transit passes could be a substantial commuter benefit, but it could also be used for all sorts of necessary trips outside of the workplace- for recreation and childcare, for grocery shopping and healthcare appointments.
At the Giant Eagle Shakespeare site at Shady and Penn, we have organized since 2018 for bulk passes to be purchased for all renters in the future housing development, to reduce the demand for structured parking, and to increase transit usage in one of the most transit-rich corridors in the County. This demand was included in our 100 Days Transit Platform for Mayor Gainey in 2021 and our Riders Demands for the Next County Executive in 2023. And in February of this year, we made bulk discount employer fares- like this PRTner Pass proposal- a cornerstone of our goal to have elected officials play their part to fund transit at all levels, by calling on the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to purchase passes for their employees.
It’s not over the finish line yet! Speak up for the PRTner Pass program by submitting your comment here, or by testifying at the PRT Public Hearing on Thursday, September 12th from 1-3 pm!The post Testify Now to Help Win a Pathway to More Affordable/Free Fares appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
Our Own Lorena Peña Sits Down with La Mega Pittsburgh to talk Transit
La Mega Pittsburgh sat down with one of our PPT members who has shown herself to be a leader in her community, and ours. Lorena has been working fiercely to get the Latino community in Pittsburgh connected to transit resources and to bring Spanish language access to the transit system in our county. Along with PPT and Case San José Lorena has been a driving force in planning and implementing the Transit Tours showing Latino residents and their families the ins and outs of the PRT transit system. We are so proud and excited that Lorena got to share with La Mega the work that she has been doing with us.
Through Lorena and PPT’s other member-led organizing there have been some crucial wins for Latino households in Allegheny County.
Transit System Wins for the Latino Community and BeyondOne win has been the integration of the Spanish language throughout our transit system including: bilingual stations along the Red Line have gained Spanish language access, as well as Spanish access on PRT’s Customer Service line (412-422-2000), and Spanish language info on some LED info boards along the Red Line.
Another win has been that after years of fighting for free fares came a pilot which demonstrated how access to transit without the barriers of fares dramatically improved the lives of transit riders. This year Allegheny County won a permanent half fare program.
In addition, after the terrible shutdown of the Red Line in 2022-2023 left passengers stranded in the cold, relying on shuttles that were completely unreliable and there was no communication from Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), much less communication in Spanish, groups like PPT and Casa San Jose fought hard to make it known that this was not acceptable and this year when they were going to announce the Red Line repairs to the community, they reached out to PPT and Casa to help organize a community meeting and spread the message. That meeting was well-attended and prepared residents for the changes in the transit system that they knew would heavily impact their day to day lives.
Lastly, as previously mentioned, Pittsburghers for Public Transit and Casa San Jose are organizing Transit Tours for Latinos who have just arrived in the area, to help orient them to our public transportation system, how to get to important destinations and general customs in this new city. Lorena says that she has seen people’s lives change after these tours.
image description: a group of people on the Transit Tour standing in front of Casa San Jose, smiling How You Can Help Your Community, TooThe work doesn’t end here. While we’ve had wins, we look forward to continuing to work closely with our Latino community and organizers in that community to bring transit justice to that community, along with many others. One way we know we can deliver on improving transit is by providing a roadmap for Visionary Transit Service. That’s why PPT has recently launched its Visionary Transit Service campaign, because we know that visionary transit is possible, necessary and transformative to the residents of our county.
To get involved in envisioning transit service that we know is possible please visit our website: pittsburghforpublictransit.org/vts to share your story with us and read the report from PPT’s research committee on Visionary Transit Service. Thank you to Lorena for sharing some of PPT’s vision with her community and with La Mega Pittsburgh radio. We hope to see you out there with us fighting for your community soon. The work continues!
Listen to the full interview with Lorena Peña and La Mega Pittsburgh here:The post Our Own Lorena Peña Sits Down with La Mega Pittsburgh to talk Transit appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
PHOTOS! Visionary Transit Service Campaign Kickoff & PPT Summer Party!
image description: photo collage of PPT Members having a great time at the Summer Party and Campaign Kickoff!
PPT kicks off the brand new Visionary Transit Service Campaign at the Summer Party – and spent a beautiful night enjoying delicious food, super-fun music, and the beautiful community we’re building together!What an amazing time we had at our annual summer party! Thank you to the 130 PPT members and supporters who made it such a special night by attending and participating in the fun. Together, this crew has done some amazing work and we’re got so many more wins coming on the horizon. To recap here’s what our party had in store for us:
- Launched our NEW Allegheny County VISIONARY TRANSIT SERVICE campaign
- Had delicious food from Chicken Latino and Aladdin’s
- Danced the night away to DJ Juan Diego!
- Were amazed by O’Ryan the O’Mazing and played lawn games with our family and friends
- Heard powerful stories from some of our PPT members, up close and in person
- Met and/or reunited with over 100 PPT members and supporters
- Voted for our new PPT Board of Directors
- Wrapped up our successful Summer Member Drive, with 150 new and renewing members!
- Celebrated our victories so far this year
image description: PPT Member and Visionary Transit Service Report Co-author Tayveon Kevin Smith launches the new report and campaign
Whether you’re black or white, whether you live in the North Hills or the South Hills, McKeesport or McKees Rocks, everyone deserves access to opportunity. Public transit gives us a healthy, clean, and affordable way for everyone to get around and can be that link. After decades of decline in our transit service and the possibility of every single transit line changing during Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Bus Line Redesign, Pittsburghers for Public decided that the time for a big vision of what transit service can be is now.
The new Allegheny County Campaign for Visionary Transit Service says that better transit service is possible, neccessary and would be transformative for Allegheny County Communities. The campaign shows how frequent, accessible transit enabling all residents to reach their jobs, critical services, friends, and family is possible. It sets goals for expanded coverage, increased service and wider span of coverage throughout the day.
But most importantly, the Allegheny County Campaign for Visionary Service lays out how we can win this service by organizing together, electing politicians who will fight for public transit, and winning back the funding to move our communities.
The time for Visionary Transit Service in Allegheny County is now. Learn more and get involved here:
Learn more about the campaignCheck out these photos from the campaign launch and summer party, but first – BECOME A PPT MEMBER TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT WORK!
Image description: Portrait of PPT Member Lorena Pena with a caption that reads “Lorena Pena PPT Member organizing with the Latino Community for better transit.” next to text that reads “Summer Member Drive”
Become a PPT Member Today! Check out the Flickr AlbumThe post PHOTOS! Visionary Transit Service Campaign Kickoff & PPT Summer Party! appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
Join us for the PPT Summer Party to Celebrate Our Members’ Vision for the Service We All Deserve!
Image Description: Blue, Tropical themed background with poppy, yellow summer text stating “Save The Date, PPT Summer Party”, with the dates and details. We have image bubbles of our members smiling, and laughing outside at the last summer party in 2023.
We have big dreams, and big goals for our transit system this year. PPT members will share what it will take for us to accomplish our ambitious goals and what those wins mean for our families and our communities to live full, and vibrant lives, starting with the launch of our Visionary Transit Service Campaign!
Safe your spot by registering at https://www.mobilize.us/ppt/event/649297/
Details: The event will be a casual indoor/outdoor, mid-year celebration of the transit victories by PPT members in 2024! Wear what makes you feel comfortable and your best self. The picnic will be on August 14 at the indoor facility at Olympia Park in Mount Washington. Feel free to arrive and leave at whatever times work best for you. The event will begin at 5:00pm and end at 9:00pm.
Not a PPT Member? You can join TODAY!What to expect: This is a family friendly event, with activities for kids and adults. Olympia Park has a playground and we will provide art supplies and games. Before/After our members’ remarks on our current campaigns, music will be provided, and we want to see you on the dance floor. Attendees should not feel obligated to attend the entire event.
Food: Come hungry! We will have food by Chicken Latino serving up the flavors of Peru, for free! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options will be available, along with water and non-alcoholic drinks. While the food is complimentary with registration, please RSVP so that we can have a count of how many people to expect.
Accessibility: The distance from the 40 Mount Washington Bus stop is on a slight grade. Take care when using a manual mobility device. Some games and activities will take place outside of the shelter in grass. The bathrooms are indoors and have an accessible stall, but do not have an access button. There will be a DJ playing music inside the shelter, which could be loud, but we will do our best to play it at a volume that is comfortable for all attendees. Attendees should be ready for variable mid-August weather and lighting. There will be interpretation in both ASL and Spanish, upon request.
Getting there:The party will be held at Olympia Park Indoor Shelter House. Address; Olympia Rd. and Virginia Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15211. The 40 Mount Washington-Duquesne Heights bus stop is within a 5-10 minute walk or roll and the Duquesne Incline is within a 10 minute walk or roll. Entrance for parking is on Virginia Ave, turn into the park across from Olympia Street. There is reserved disability parking closer to the shelter. There is a designated parking lot located at the end of Hallock Street and there is residential parking on Hallock Street. If you need help with transportation, contact PPT to discuss options, 312.307.2429 or info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org.
COVID procedures: Our event will be indoors with areas to socialize outdoors and areas surrounding it. The health and safety of our members is important to us. Masks are not required, but will be provided to everyone. We encourage everyone to take an at-home COVID rapid test before arriving. Please stay home if you are feeling sick or have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19.
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It’s time for Board Elections! Meet this year’s candidates and cast your ballot before 8/14/24
We are excited to announce the following slate of candidates who were nominated to join the PPT Board of Directors. PPT Member can vote for the next round of leaders who understand the importance of our work for transit justice in Allegheny County – leaders who are looking to become more involved in directing the course of our campaigns, communications and actions.
Learn more about the nominees in their bios below and select the one who you feel can help usher our organization and movement into a new era of advocacy, connectivity and engagement.
As a reminder, there are 5 board seats available for PPT General Members and 1 seat available for a unionized transit worker PPT Member. All those elected will serve from August 2024 to August 2026.All candidates are listed below in alphabetical order by first name. There is a photo and short bio for each candidate to give background on their past work for transit justice and other issues. Each nominee has approved and contributed to their bio.
PPT Members can vote for up to 5 of the following candidates to fill PPT General Member seats on our Board of Directors: Then, PPT Members can vote for up to 1 of the following candidates to fill seats reserved for Transit Workers on our Board of Directors: PPT MEMBERS – VOTE HERE Andrew Hussein image of Andrew Hussein reading a bookMy name is Andrew Hussein, and I live in Penn Hills. My primary routes are 77, 79, P17, 86, and P16…. but to be truthful, you can find me on just about any route (no exaggeration) because I eat/sleep/breath/live all things public transit. Anyone who knows me knows that that is true. Transit is my sole means for transportation so I am acutely aware of the very real need for public transit to have a positive community impact.
I am a long-time member of PPT who has been working with the org since a brief few-month stint in the early days, back in an earlier iteration of the org called “Save Our Transit”. Years later I reconnected with PPT on their community campaign in Baldwin. We won that campaign and restored service to that neighborhood and I never looked back.
The skills that I bring to PPT are a significant all-around and general knowledge of the Port Authority system. I have a sincere passion for transit and its improvement. When I think of better transit I think of transit that is Fair, Equitable, reliable, useable, sustainable, readily and widely available – for as many folks as possible. Transit needs to fit as diverse a clientele and public needs as much as possible and I think that that is what we need to fight for together.
List of 3-5 projects or campaigns that the nominee has been involved with related to PPT, transit justice, activism, and/or movement building:
- Current Vice President of the Allegheny County Transit Council (ACTC), current Executive Committee Member, and have been involved here for 8 years
- I am also the founder and COO of the Bus Info Hotline, a Twitter and phone info line that is open for people to find out info and ask questions about Port Authority that I’ve been running for nearly 25+ years. Check out our Twitter at @PGH_BUS_INFO
- Involved in many of the successful neighborhood service campaigns started in 2014 that restored service to transit deserts through our county.
- I am a PPT Communications Committee Member. I lead the creation of our Blog Series on the Quarterly Service Updates.
- I have a significant all-around and general knowledge of the Port Authority system, PPT staff calls me all the time with questions about our system.
Bill McDowell is a long-time disability rights advocate. He has been a member of PPT for more than eight years and is passionate about equitable infrastructure, accessibility, and fair fares.
Bill has been a member of the PRT’s Committee for Accessible Transportation for many years and in that role has listened to the concerns and needs of the disability community in depth and has learned from those conversations over the years. Bill also believes that no one should be turned away from public transportation for the inability to pay a fare. Bill’s fight for an equitable transit system in Pittsburgh has been long, but is long from over. He appreciates the ability to do the work alongside so many other passionate transit justice advocates.
List of 3-5 projects or campaigns that the nominee has been involved with related to PPT, transit justice, activism, and/or movement building:
- PRT Committee for Accessible Transportation
- PPT Research Committee
- Fair Fares Coalition
- PPT Organizing committee – organizing for better sidewalk infrastructure
Fawn Walker-Montgomery is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Take Action Mon Valley (TAMV). She is a former candidate for Mayor in McKeesport and a past candidate for State Representative in the 35th District. Fawn was the first black person & woman to run for a State seat in the Mon Valley. She has a B.A. in Political Science from Johnson C. Smith University (HBCU) and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Point Park University. Fawn has worked with PPT on various projects such as the BRT, fair fees, and removing cops from transit stops. She is also a past second-term Councilwoman in McKeesport and has 18 years of experience in the human services field. Fawn’s vision for PPT is that they increase membership in the smaller communities outside the City of Pittsburgh such as the Mon Valley. In addition, create specific campaigns to address the lack of transportation in these areas. Thus, having more of a county-wide focus.
List of 3-5 projects or campaigns that the nominee has been involved with related to PPT, transit justice, activism, and/or movement building:
- CEO of Take Action Advocacy Group-A Black liberation organization who has worked on various efforts such as police accountability and food insecurity.
- Leading efforts on environmental justice in the Mon Valley and beyond.
- Has supported various PPT projects over the years, including community organizing to defeat the Bus Rapid Transit service plan that would have cut service to her city, co-developed & launched the “Fair Fares” platform, and many more!
Pearl Hughey is a resident of Rankin Borough a Mon Valley community in the East portion of Pittsburgh. Over the years Pearl has been involved in many activities within her community as well as participant in activities in Greater Pittsburgh area. Pearl was a public official in her community, a member of the Rankin Christian Center board of directors, a founding member of the Rankin Community Development Corporation and actively participated in a computer tutoring program for Woodland Hills youth.
Most recently Pearl became involved with Pittsburgh Public Transit (PPT) when the expansion of the East Busway was being discussed. Pearl has been a transit rider for her entire work career (40+ years). She feels that transit opportunities for people in the Mon Valley are essential for the livelihood, growth and development of people that live in this region. It is important for all voices to be heard, and that is the main reason Pearl stays involved with PPT.
List of 3-5 projects or campaigns that the nominee has been involved with related to PPT, transit justice, activism, and/or movement building:
- East Busway Project
- Continued P3 Service to Swissvale Stop
- Fair Fares Coalition
My name is Verna Johnson and I am a resident of Lincoln-Lemington. I am a disability justice activist and serve as the current chair of PPT’s Board of Directors.
I first became involved with PPT in 2015 during the campaign to save service on the 89 Garfield Service campaign. The fight for better public transit in communities receiving less and less public transit resonated with me, and I continued to join PPT meetings and joined as a member. One benefit of being a PPT member that surprised me was the democratic decision-making process, and I felt that my lived experience was valued. I began to see how people from different walks of life could work together and make decisions that directed campaigns and the course of PPT. I have helped grow PPT by organizing riders during my time on the board. Being a board member has given me a greater understanding of how change can happen on a systemic level.
In addition to working on issues surrounding transit justice, I have been co-chair of the Allegheny County Coalition for Recovery’s Commission on Health and Human Services as co-chair and helped people receive financial assistance. I’ve also rallied outside of elected officials’ offices to support federal workers during the previous government shutdown with fellow members. I also phonebank with Just Harvest and register community members to vote at Veterans Affairs. I am deeply committed to bringing more people into the fight for transit justice and holding our transit agency accountable to the riders and workers.
List of 3-5 projects or campaigns that the nominee has been involved with related to PPT, transit justice, activism, and/or movement building:
- 89 Service Restoration Campaign
- #FairFare for a full recovery in 2020
- Don’t Criminalize Transit Fares campaign
- Canvassing at transit stops, talking with riders, and public speaking on behalf of PPT
I absolutely love PPT. I am so proud of all the work we’ve done to defend jobs, expand routes, and help passengers. The work we have done over the last 10+ years has saved the whole community because we connect people to the things they need in our city and region. We have built such a community with our organizing. It feels like being part of a superhero squad.
I have been a bus operator at Port Authority (ahem, I mean, Pittsburgh Regional Transit) for 22 years. I have seen the agency during its highs and its very lows. Unfortunately, we are now at one of those lows. I want to continue being part of the movement to fix it. I consider myself a pretty good activist. I have the conviction to be out in the street, although I am always learning as an organizer.
How can we bring people together with love and consciousness to fight for our common good? When I look to the future of PPT, I want to see us keep building our base of organizers and activists. We are going to keep spreading our message across the city, state, and the entire country. We will remain on the cutting edge of activism for transit justice.
Our movement isn’t about me or any individual person. It is about what we can all do when we work together. It is about building a better world out of the situation we are in today. Everything is about community.
List of 3-5 projects or campaigns that the nominee has been involved with related to PPT, transit justice, activism, and/or movement building:
- The very first campaign I was involved with was restoring transit service in Baldwin, circa 2014. It was such a great campaign because it showed how communities can come together to fight for each other’s needs.
- I was also involved in the fights for Act 89, rallies Downtown, and Squirrel Hill, circa 2011. We shut down Forbes Avenue and Murray Avenue. It was an example of how labor and organize together with communities to improve service and jobs.
- In 2020 and 2021 I helped my ATU brothers and sisters start and eventually win the right to wear Black Lives Matter masks on the job. We staged protests and brought the case to court. You can read more about the win here.
- I’ve also been involved with helping other unions in solidarity – I started the campaign for workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to get a contract. Helped organize PPT members to picket in front of John Block’s house and at the Post Gazette. Met a ton of great people in this work.
- I also represent PPT on the PA Poor Peoples Campaign steering committee. I have traveled to DC, I don’t even remember how many times, to fight for the working class. I have been working to help people realize we’re all in this together and that we all have to work together to get what we need.
Pittsburghers for Public Transit is a grassroots, democratic, member-led organization that fights for racial justice and public transit as a human right. The election of a Board of Directors from and by our general membership is a cornerstone of what keeps us accountable to our members. The Board is responsible for strategizing and executing the organization’s campaigns, outreach, governance, and fundraising.
The Board’s Executive Committee chooses how many seats will be up for PPT’s board election each year. Our bylaws say that our Board can be anywhere from 5 to 15 people and that 2 seats are reserved for transit workers connected to a local transit union. Earlier this year our Board’s Executive Committee decided to open 6 seats to be elected from our general membership, and 1 seat to be elected to a transit worker.
Each spring, the PPT membership nominates fellow members to run for the Board of Directors. If those members accept the nomination, then they are invited to submit a photo and bio to be placed on the ballot, and they are invited to speak about their qualifications at the July General Member Meeting.
PPT Members in good standing can cast their ballots for two weeks in July. The nominees with the highest vote totals are invited to join the Board of Directors for a 2-year term.
How can PPT members vote?PPT Members in good standing can cast their ballots from July 12th to August 9th using the form below. The nominees with the highest vote totals are invited to join the Board of Directors for a two-year term. As a reminder, all active PPT members commit to doing the following:
- Agree to uphold PPT’s Transit Bill of Rights.
- Pay dues to support our budget. We encourage members to give at least $2.75 monthly (the cost of a single PRT fare), but no one is turned away because of funds.
- Take part to help us win our campaigns. PPT Members contribute to our campaigns in many different ways, and you can find the way that’s right for you. This could mean anything from joining meetings to voting in our elections, participating in a committee, spreading the word on social media, to speaking up for transit at a public meeting.
If you are unsure of your PPT Membership status, you can check by email (info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org) or by phone ( 412-626-7353 ).
PPT Members can vote below:The post It’s time for Board Elections! Meet this year’s candidates and cast your ballot before 8/14/24 appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
New Advocate Energy on the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board of Directors!
On July 2nd, Allegheny County Council confirmed County Executive Innamorato’s appointment of Bobbie Fan to the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board of Directors. Check out the official vote here.
Bobbie Fan is a long-time member at Pittsburghers for Public Transit and an active transit rider. They have led our Research Committee for years and were instrumental in the publication of our many reports. Bobbie’s work and these reports have been the backbone of our campaigns and have led to some big victories like winning the new Allegheny Go low-income fare program, winning improvements to extend the East Busway, and defeating the Mon Oakland Connector.
It is a major win for transit riders to have Bobbie’s data-skills and deep belief in grassroots organizing added to the board. Getting riders and transit advocates appointed to the agency board was one of our core demands in last year’s County Executive Race. And because thousands of people organized with Pittsburghers for Public Transit during last year’s race to make transit a top issue, County Executive Innamorato promised to appoint riders and workers to the board. With this appointment, the Executive begins to make good on that promise.
After the County Council approved their appointment on 7/2, Bobbie said:
Pittsburghers for Public Transit has been pushing for years and years for the Pittsburgh Regional Transit board to be more representative of transit riders, workers, members of the disability community, advocates and communities of color. Joining the PRT Board as a nominee from Pittsburghers for Public Transit is just one step in continuing to make sure that rider voices and needs are heard and acted upon. I look forward to pushing for structural changes and improvements for a better transit system and more livable region that elevates the knowledge and visions of transit riders and workers.
We send huge thanks to Sara Innamorato and all County Councilmembers for the nomination an approval. This is a major win thanks to grassroots organizing. We encourage all to become a PPT Member today and grow our power! Join PPT as a MemberThe post New Advocate Energy on the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board of Directors! appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
PPT’s Summer Membership Drive is Underway: Hear the stories of our members and their transit justice why // La campaña de membresía de verano de PPT está en marcha: escuche las historias de nuestros miembros y entérate por qué luchan por mejoras en...
Every year PPT does a Summer Member Drive where we focus on our member relationships by making hundreds of calls with our members to other members to hear their stories and encourage them to get re-engaged with transit justice work. Some of our most engaged members are the best people to have those conversations, so they lead our phonebanks and conversations with other members, by sharing their experiences in the transit system, and their experiences as a member of Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
Cada año, PPT realiza una campaña de verano para miembros en la que nos centramos en las relaciones con nuestros miembros haciendo cientos de llamadas con nuestros miembros a otros miembros para escuchar sus historias y animarlos a volver a comprometerse con el trabajo de justicia del transporte público. Algunos de nuestros miembros más comprometidos son las mejores personas para tener esas conversaciones, entonces ellos dirigen nuestras llamadas telefónicas y conversaciones con otros miembros, compartiendo sus experiencias en el sistema de transporte y sus experiencias como miembros de Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
Today we wanted to highlight a PPT member who is super active in making sure that Spanish speaking people and the latino community at large, have equitable access to transit all across Allegheny County. We have learned so much and made so many more connections in the community because of Lorena.
Hoy queríamos resaltar a un miembro de PPT que es muy activa para garantizar que las personas de habla hispana y la comunidad latina en general tengan acceso equitativo al transporte público en todo el condado de Allegheny. Hemos aprendido mucho y hemos hecho muchas más conexiones en la comunidad gracias a Lorena.
Lorena encourages you to become a PPT member! Do that today by using this form: ¡Lorena te anima a convertirte en miembro de PPT! Hágalo hoy utilizando este formulario: In her own words, Lorena tells us why she is involved with PPT and transit justice work:En sus propias palabras, Lorena nos cuenta por qué está involucrada con el PPT y la lucha para justicia en transporte público:
“I have been a member of Pittsburghers for Public Transit for two years. I support their laudable mission to ensure that all Pittsburgh residents have access to efficient and equitable public transportation through advocacy campaigns, community collaboration, projects, and partnerships. As a Latina, I am proud to be part of an organization that promotes social inclusion and equity.
“He sido miembro de Pittsburghers for Public Transit durante dos años. Apoyó su loable misión de garantizar que todos los residentes de Pittsburgh tengan acceso a transporte público eficiente y equitativo a través de campañas de promoción, colaboración comunitaria, proyectos y asociaciones. Como latina, estoy orgullosa de ser parte de una organización que promueve la inclusión social y la equidad.
The Latino community is an important and growing part of Pittsburgh’s population. For many Latinos, public transportation is crucial for overcoming economic and linguistic barriers, allowing them to integrate into city life. The opportunity to provide our community with a train/bus tour to teach them how to purchase the Connect card, how to use transportation apps, and the possibility of accessing jobs, medical appointments, and essential services is a great initiative by PPT.
La comunidad latina es una parte importante y creciente de la población de Pittsburgh. Para muchos latinos, el transporte público es crucial para superar las barreras económicas y lingüísticas, permitiéndoles integrarse a la vida de la ciudad. La oportunidad de brindarle a nuestra comunidad un recorrido en tren/autobús para enseñarles cómo comprar la tarjeta Connect, cómo usar aplicaciones de transporte y la posibilidad de acceder a empleos, citas médicas y servicios esenciales es una gran iniciativa de PPT.
By advocating for more accessible and reliable transportation services, PPT ensures that all citizens have equal opportunities regardless of their background. In the long term, we will consolidate a positive impact and increase community support for PPT initiatives.”
Al abogar por servicios de transporte más accesibles y confiables, PPT garantiza que todos los ciudadanos tengan las mismas oportunidades independientemente de su origen. A largo plazo, consolidaremos un impacto positivo y aumentaremos el apoyo de la comunidad a las iniciativas PPT.”
Lorena Pena, PPT Member image description: Lorena showing members of the community how to purchase a Connect Card to ride the T and the busWe have just begun! The PPT Summer Membership Drive will end with our Summer Party on August 14th. Sign up for the opportunity to talk to our members with us! Below you will find the phonebanking schedule:
¡Acabamos de empezar! La campaña de membresía de verano de PPT finalizará con nuestra fiesta de verano el 14 de agosto. ¡Regístrese para tener la oportunidad de hablar con nuestros miembros con nosotros! A continuación encontrará el horario de la maratón telefónico:
Wednesday, July 17th | 11am-1pm
Thursday, August 8th | 11am-1pm
Monday, August 12th | 11am-1pm
Become a member today! // ¡Hazte miembro hoy!The post PPT’s Summer Membership Drive is Underway: Hear the stories of our members and their transit justice why // La campaña de membresía de verano de PPT está en marcha: escuche las historias de nuestros miembros y entérate por qué luchan por mejoras en transporte público appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
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