image description: graphic that contains photo of County Executive-Elect Sara Innamorato and text that reads “Congratulations, Sara” “Transit Champion & County Executive-Elect” over a photo of PPT Members at a Harrisburg rally and an illustration of a red and yellow bus.

Join us in congratulating County Executive-elect Sara Innamorato on her victory! Sara put out a big vision for what public transit can be in our county.

During her campaign for County Executive, Sara Innamorato made building a World-Class Transit System in Allegheny County a core part of her vision. Pittsburghers for Public Transit is ready to work alongside her to ensure that the needs of transit riders are met, by having frequent and reliable service countywide, by ensuring a safe and dignified working environment for transit workers, with affordable fares, and with dedicated, robust transit infrastructure on our streets. 

County Executive-Elect Innamorato was the only candidate to fill out PPT’s #VoteTransit questionnaire and participate in PPT’s transit ride and worker ride-along. And she received the endorsement of our friends in labor at the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85. Sara is primed to help us push for a big vision around what Allegheny County's public transit system can be.

Image Description: County-Elect Sara Innamorato joins a Transit for All PA! press conference to introduce a new bill to expand funding for PA's largest transit agencies.

On the campaign trail, she made a strong list of commitments for when she gets into office. Here’s a recap of what Sara said she would do:

🚌 Appoint at least one rider and one operator to the PRT board

🚌 Put a moratorium on service reductions and cuts

🚌 Create a permanent zero-fare program for all SNAP/EBT recipients 

🚌 Build more affordable, transit-oriented development

🚌 Work with Mayor Gainey and other local leaders to invest infrastructure dollars to improve transit, and pass pro-transit zoning reforms at the municipal level

🚌 Establish more communication between PRT and the community and transit advocates 

🚌 Fully implement a bulk pass discount program to get large employers to pre-pay for transit passes for their employees

🚌 Seek PILOT [Payment in Lieu of Taxes] payments or additional taxes from large employers and non-profits

🚌 Create a new position at PRT focused on language accessibility and disability access

Image Description: Photo of then State Rep Innamorato onboard the 91 during a transit town hall. photo credit @RyanDeto

Sara has been a proven transit champion in the legislature. Her track record proves that she can make it happen. 

It has been clear from the start of her political career that she understands how transit is a vital public utility and a public good. Her first town-hall as an elected representative was onboard the 91 bus, chatting with her constituents about improving transit and access to housing, food, and other critical resources.

As a state representative, she was a member of the House Transportation Committee and one of the first legislators to join our statewide Transit for All PA! Coalition. County Executive-elect Sara Innamorato also championed efforts to expand transit funding for systems across the state, institute a zero fare program for low-income families, and open new opportunities for big transit systems to fund themselves. 

Image description: Sara Innamorato speaks PPT Board Member Teaira Collins during a Spring '23 #VoteTransit bus ride along.

Members of Pittsburghers for Public Transit have shown the power of transit riders with our #VoteTransit campaign. There is potential to educate candidates for office on transit needs, and to motivate residents to vote based on candidates’ positions on our demands.

This race was its most important test: the County Executive is the most powerful single elected position to address the needs of transit riders and workers in Allegheny County. That’s why over this year, riders discussed and developed a list of goals for the incoming County Executive, had candidates for office come on bus ride-alongs with transit riders and workers, had candidates respond to questionnaires around their transit platforms, and why dozens of PPT volunteers textbanked and ORGANIZED for voters to get out and #VoteTransit. 

Image description: Illustration from PPT Member Marcel Walker that is used for PPT's 2023 strategic plan. It shows 6 riders smiling and talking getting onto a bus with a smiling bus driver. There is a bus stop sign next to the bus that says "This Bus Is For All Of Us!"

Now is the time for transit riders, workers and neighbors to organize for a public transit system that meets all of our needs.

Join PPT at our monthly meeting, tonight at 7pm, to seize the momentum and build out this vision.

Pittsburghers for Public Transit
5119 Penn Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
United States

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