Image Description: An old-school blue and white PRT/PAAC bus stop sign on a rainy day in Downtown Pittsburgh. The blue part of the sign has been edited to read "PPT Monthly Meeting" with the PPT logo in white.

It's no secret that 2025 has been a rough year for budgets. The federal government shutdown has jeopardized SNAP benefit disbursements for millions of families, and PA is one of only two states in America without a budget, causing financial chaos for public schools and services.

In our movement for public goods, budgets are a crucial piece of the puzzle: what isn't in the budget often can't be funded. 

Here's the good news: despite chaos at the federal and state level, we as advocates can still influence the budgets of Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh to win real, tangible improvements in our transit system.

At our November monthly all-member meeting, we'll learn all about the interplay between federal, state, and local budgets, and strategize how to influence them for the benefit of riders across the county. 

Image Description: PPT members of a range of ages wear red shirts and hold colorful blue and orange signs reading "bus lines = lifelines", "transit moves us", and "save our service". They stand in a crowd of ralliers at the Pittsburgh City-County Building.

If you've been looking for a way to get more involved with PPT, but aren't sure how, look no further than our committees! These are spaces to build your organizing skills, learn more about the issues facing our community, and connect with your fellow advocates. 

Image Description: a cartoon orange bus decked out with flags on an illustrated orange and yellow background. To its right, black text reads "The Future of Transit Justice: PPT's 2026 Strategic Plan". 

PPT is a grassroots, member-driven union, and we take that very seriously. Each year, our Strategic Plan is set by our members, who suggest campaigns and focus areas for the year. We need your feedback on our current draft, which we'll ratify in December. Take a look at our plan, and fill out our feedback form to let us know what you think!

Image Description: white and yellow text on a black background reads "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims". Below is a white dotted line with icons of a person walking in a crosswalk, a person in a wheelchair, a traffic light, a bus, a person on a bike, a car, and a person on a scooter. To the right are yellow lit candles.

On Monday, November 17th, join BikePGH and QCares Foundation in honoring road traffic victims by making streets in McKeesport safer. 

To recognize World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, BikePGH is teaming up with McKeesport organization QCares Foundation to conduct a walk audit of Lysle Boulevard.

With elected officials and PennDOT officials in attendance, we will demonstrate how urgently safe streets are needed in McKeesport--especially on this major road where people walk to a Senior Living Center, doctors' offices, banks, shops, and the McKeesport Transit Center. 

Join us at the corner of Lysle Blvd and Coursin Street (by the McKeesport Eat'n Park) on Monday, November 17th at 8:30 AM. The audit will end around 9:30 AM.

Image Description: A group of fellows, ranging in age, sit around a table with snacks and look at large transit service maps in the Pittsburgh region.

Our 2025 Mon Valley Organizing Fellowship just wrapped, and we had a banner session! meeting weekly for 4 months, our fellows rode the bus, audited bus shelters and stops, and met with local stakeholders to learn how transit choices get made. We couldn't be prouder of our fellows and all the amazing work they did this summer!

And we've just started our next fellowship, our 2025 South Hilltop Organizing Fellowship! We're working every week with our Hilltop fellows, leaning more about transit access, infrastructure, financial barriers, and equitable development. 

We'll be posting an update from the Hilltop fellowship every few weeks. Take a look at our first update to see what the fellowship has been up to!

Image Description: A flock of birds is featured in the center of this circular image. Framing them are the words: “YOU ARE NOT ALONE.” Illustration by Kevin Caplicki, used here courtesy of JustSeeds.

Tomorrow is November 4th, Election Day, and this year's races for our judges are crucially important for PA Supreme Court and Allegheny County Judges. These seats impact major issues like redistricting, environmental justice, and reproductive justice.

We can't tell you who to vote for, but we can urge you to make a plan to vote and familiarize yourselves with the candidates so that your voice is heard! Our local partner organization, 412 Justice, has a great slate of political education resources where you can learn more.

About 162,000 people in Allegheny County receive SNAP benefits, and around 35% of them are children. With no end in sight to the federal shutdown, SNAP benefits have not yet been disbursed for November, putting hundreds of thousands of people in uncertainty. 

CityPaper has assembled a long list of food assistance resources across the Pittsburgh area. Please, take a look at this list and share widely with your neighbors. We know that food justice and transit justice are deeply interconnected in our fight for public goods. CityPaper also recommends places to donate food, time, or money, if you are able. 

📝 PPT & T4APA Communications Committee
Wednesday, November 5th, 6:00-7:00 PM, virtual

🔎 PPT & Transit for All PA! Research Committee Meeting
Friday, November 7th, 3:00-4:00 PM, virtual

🚌 Win Local Budgets to Move Us All (PPT Monthly Meeting)
Wednesday, November 12th, 7:00-8:30 PM, optional social hour at 6:30 PM, virtual

🤝 PPT Organizing Committee Training: Membership at PPT
Tuesday, November 18th, 6:00-7:30 PM, IN PERSON at our Shadyside office

☎️ Phone Bank to Build Our Movement!
Wednesday, December 17th, 6:30-7:30 PM, virtual

Pittsburghers for Public Transit is a grassroots union of transit riders, transit workers and neighbors.