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Image Description: Old-school blue and white PRT sign, edited to read "PPT Monthly Meeting"

Feeling overwhelmed by the Bus Line Refresh? Learn it with your fellow transit riders!

Four drafts and several years later, the final draft of the Bus Line Refresh is here —and riders have until September 30th to learn the entire plan and give feedback to PRT.

Here's the good news: you don't have to learn the entire plan alone. Join the PPT monthly meeting to learn the ways your bus route could change , and strategize ways to win a transit system that works for us!

RSVP for the monthly meeting [[link removed]]

If you can't make the meeting tomorrow evening, check out these tools for understanding the Bus Line Refresh on your own [[link removed]] —maps, lists, and detailed analysis galore! You can also read this great Public Source article, which situates the Refresh in the context of the ongoing state funding crisis. [[link removed]]

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Image Description: Transit riders holding signs next to the Bus Line Refresh logo

Spread the word about the Bus Line Refresh!

This is transit riders’ last chance to comment before the plan is finalized. During PRT's public hearing on September 10th, PPT members will talk to the press—and transit riders—about what's at stake, and how to influence the final draft.

RSVP for the canvass! [[link removed]]

We'll start with an inspirational kickoff & press conference Downtown, hearing from transit riders across the County about what the Bus Line Refresh means for them—and why it's important to speak up.

Then we'll move to the Smithfield & Sixth Street bus stop to meet PRT riders, talk with them about proposed changes to their routes, and prep them to make a comment during the ongoing PRT hearing across the street.

RSVP for the canvass! [[link removed]]

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Image Description: a blue PRT bus with yellow graphics overlaid

The Week Without Driving is in one month!

Whether we live in suburban towns or city neighborhoods, everyone in Allegheny County deserves safe, reliable, dignified access to the places they need to go. 30% of Allegheny County residents do not drive a car—yet the experience of non-drivers is often difficult or unsafe.

The Week Without Driving (October 1-8) is a national effort led by disability justice champions Nondrivers Alliance [[link removed]] . It is a nationwide movement to link disability justice, elder justice, environmental justice, and accessible community planning. Together, you can help illustrate the challenges and opportunities for non-drivers—and call for change that improves mobility for all.

Here's 3 ways to get involved with the Week Without Driving:

* Pledge to take the challenge! [[link removed]] To participate, pledge to get around for one week—to the best of your ability—without the use of a personal car. Transit, carpooling, bike, ride-share, it's all on the table. If you need to drive, or ask for a ride, reflect on the choices you have, and the choices others in your community might not.

* Share your story! As you get around, talk to your neighbors and friends about your experience. What is difficult? What is joyous, different, or unexpected? If you share your story on social media, tag us and use the hashtag #weekwithoutdrivingpgh!

* Save the date for events! Alongside our partner organizations Bike PGH, Access Mob, Age Friendly Greater Pittsburgh, and Complete Streets at Pitt, stay tuned for fun events celebrating and uplifting the non-driver experience in Pittsburgh. The centerpiece will be a fun happy hour and multi-modal mobility challenge on October 9th—more details to follow!

Pledge to join the Week Without Driving! [[link removed]]

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Image Description: Transit riders hold clipboards on a sunny Pittsburgh bus route

Final sidewalk audit of the season in Allentown!

The fabulous PPT Sidewalk Audit crew has been hitting the streets all summer, measuring and cataloguing sidewalks to help the City get more bus shelters built where they're needed.

The final sidewalk audit of the summer is this Thursday, September 10th in Allentown! If you're looking for a direct, fun, hands-on way to help build a better transit system, you won't want to miss it.

RSVP for the Allentown audit [[link removed]]

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Image Description: Three transit riders hold colorful signs, with graphics of a camera and a writing hand surrounding them

Tell your story on social media with the Communications Committee!

Organizing is all about sharing your story—and short-form social media videos are where people are listening. Join the PPT & Transit for All PA! Communications Committee for a mini-training on telling your story for socials, Tuesday 9/15 from 6-7 PM!

It's easier than you think to tell your story in a social media video; no experience or special equipment required, just a smartphone or tablet! This is a great opportunity to practice for the upcoming Week Without Driving.

Join the Communications Committee! [[link removed]]

PRT sees ridership increase 🎉

This past month, PRT announced that ridership has reached its highest point since the pandemic! This is great news—ridership is a key metric in the health of any transit system, and represents more people on buses and trains. PRT riders can celebrate this win as the result of their dedication to the system that moves them!

The pandemic was a low point for ridership in transit systems across the country, including Pittsburgh's. PRT's ridership is around 60% of what it was before the pandemic, while other peer cities have made more full recoveries. PRT can continue this great progress, and go further! Together, riders have been calling for helpful public metric reporting [[link removed]] like this, and organizing for the robust state funding [[link removed]] that would help PRT bring its ridership back to pre-pandemic levels.

News from the PPT universe 🌌

* Over 400 city workers have signed up for their free PRTner passes since it launched—over 250 of whom didn't have transit passes before! This is a smashing success for the new PRTner pass bulk fare program, and its largest client to date.

* A coalition of advocates, union nurses, community members, and elected officials are calling for new paid parental leave legislation in Allegheny County! This is a critical step for the maternal and infant health crisis, and ensures that families and kids in our county can thrive. You can sign up to speak at County Council on September 22nd [[link removed]] in support of this crucial measure!

* College is back in session, and The Pitt News has a great article for its students and community about how to navigate the Steel City via bus 🚌 [[link removed]]

Upcoming Events:

🚌 Deep Dive into the Bus Line Refresh 3.0: September Monthly Meeting [[link removed]]

Wednesday, September 9th, 7:00-8:30 PM, optional social hour at 6:30, virtual

📣Press Conference & Rider Canvass: Bus Line Refresh final draft [[link removed]]

Thursday, September 10th, 9 AM-12 PM, IN PERSON Downtown

🚶PPT Sidewalk Audit: Allentown [[link removed]]

Thursday, September 10th, 5:30-7:30 PM, IN PERSON in Allentown

🔎 PPT & Transit for All PA! Research Committee [[link removed]]

Friday, September 11th, 3-4 PM, virtual

📝 PPT & Transit for All PA! Communications Committee [[link removed]]

Tuesday, September 15th, 6:00-7:00 PM, virtual

[[link removed]] [[link removed]] Pittsburghers for Public Transit is a grassroots union of transit riders, transit workers and neighbors. Get involved with PPT: Come to an upcoming event [[link removed]]

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

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