PPT roundtable highlights how legislators at all levels of government can expand funding to improve & expand our buses, trains, and access to opportunity
What do we want? A visionary baseline transit service for Allegheny County residents:
1. Service Coverage
All residents should have access to transit within walking distance of their home.
2. High Frequency
Buses and trains should come at a minimum of every 30 minutes, and higher ridership routes should come a minimum of every 15 minutes.
3. Available at all hours, to service many kinds of jobs and needs
Transit should run at least from 4:30 am-1:30 am for all rapid, local, and coverage routes, with 24 hour service for high activity locations. 7 day/week service should continue to be available on all routes.
How can we pay for it? Through Elected Officials at all levels of government taking action:
Local
City and County officials could advocate for such a program to be implemented at PRT, purchase passes for City and County staff, and then pass Transportation Demand Management (TDM) policies to encourage employers to participate.
State
Elected leaders in the House and Senate can support Gov. Shapiro's budget proposal to reapportion the State's sales tax to fund that would provide PRT with $40M annually for more reliable and expanded service.
Federal
Support the "Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act" from Rep. Hank Johnson (and Senator Ossof's companion legislation in the Senate) that would could increase transit service in Allegheny County up to 37%.
