New report calls or COVID fare relief // National day-of-action PPT Members rally to release new report calling on Port Authority to start an emergency low-income fare program. On a sunny Tuesday, PPT members rallied under the colorful MLK mural near the Wilkinsburg Busway Station to release our new report, “No Greater Need, No Greater Opportunity: The Time for COVID-19 Fare Relief for Low-Income Riders is Now.” PPT is calling for Port Authority to implement an emergency low-income fare policy, and the fastest, cheapest way to do so would be to allow SNAP-eligible riders to show their EBT-ACCESS cards in place of fare payment. The report analyzes months of pandemic ridership data, and was a collective research effort by more than a dozen PPT volunteers. See photos & media coverage New Report: "No Greater Need, No Greater Opportunity: The time for COVID-19 Fare Relief for Low-Income Riders is Now" Key findings from the new report include: Black residents and low-income residents represent a disproportionately high percentage of transit ridership during COVID-19. Transit routes serving Black neighborhoods have seen steep ridership losses from the reinstatement of full fares. Port Authority Transit ridership is at an all-time low (down 65-70%), and an emergency low-income fare program could allow PAAC to quickly regain 9% of its ridership. Port Authority can implement the program with little to no increase in operating costs by reallocating service to high-ridership routes (which Port Authority announced it would begin doing in November). Unique revenue sources that could cover the estimated annual fare revenue loss of $4M-$8M include: The $141M in CARES Act Funding received by the Port Authority, Cares Act Funding received by the County and/or State, philanthropic partner support for emergency COVID relief efforts. Read the new report here #TrustRidersFundTransit! A national transit rider day-of-action is planned for October 6th! Local actions planned by rider-led groups in 10 cities nation-wide. On October 6th, transit riders across the country will call on congress and their local agencies to fund transit! This Day of Action will pressure elected officials to pass $32B in COVID relief for public transit agencies, and ensure that riders a real say in determining how these dollars are used. Local advocates will tie these national demands to local campaigns to decriminalize public transit, improve rider engagement, and increase service. Check this blog to find out how to get involved with #TrustRidersFundTransit on October 6th! #TrustRidersFundTransit!!! Help PPT launch a petition for low-income fares on October 6th for the #TrustRidersFundTransit national transit rider day-of-action! Join PPT 4pm on 10/6, downtown at the intersection of Sixth and Smithfield, help organize with other riders for a low-income fare. PPE will be provided, and signatures will be collected verbally so there will be no contact or sharing pens. #TrustRidersFundTransit!!! The Port Authority Board of Directors has only heard public testimony from 2 people during 2020. That's a huge problem, especially as COVID-19 has decimated riders & ridership. PPT members have created a list of 20+ improvements that the Port Authority Board of Directors can enact to fix its public engagement problem. Their recommendations include examples from transit agencies across the country that are doing things right and hearing valuable feedback from their riders. Read these recommendations We Get Sick, UPMC Gets Rich: Pittsburgh Medicaid March! UPMC got a billion dollar taxpayer bailout to help fight Covid19, yet we are no closer to stopping the pandemic in Allegheny County. UPMC got a publicly-funded bailout at the same time that thousands of us are unemployed, uninsured, and behind on rent. Stand for human rights like healthcare, housing, food, and transportation this Thursday and join our sister organization Put People First - PA for their state-wide day-of-action Tax UPMC to fund essential needs Listen to Josh Malloy, PPT Community Organizer, discuss how we can push the Transportation Climate Initiative to get funds to disinvested communities so they can improve their transit - 9/29 @ 4pm Learn More ✊🏽🖱️Click-tivist Corner🖱️✊🏽 'cus the system ain't gunna change itself Before you move on, take 2 minutes to advocate for transit & housing justice in these surveys: Affordable Housing Survey from PGH's Urban Redevelopment Authority // Deadline 10.6 Port Authority's "Next Transit" Long-Range Plan Survey & Interactive Map // Fall Deadline City of PGH's ForgingPGH Comprehensive Planning Survey // Deadline 10.1 City of PGH's Oakland Plan Survey // Fall Deadline Southwest PA Commission’s SmartMoves Regional Transit Survey // Deadline 10.1 Planning Call re Local Pittsburgh Action for #TrustRidersFundTransit // Sept 29, noon // Online // join here PPT Organizer Josh Malloy presents at Transportation & Climate Initiative Webinar on Ensuring Environmental Justice & Equity in a Regional Low-carbon Transportation Program // Tues, Sept 29, 4-6pm // Online // Register here Greater Pittsburgh Food Action Plan: Virtual Release & Strategy Discussion // Tues, Sept 29, 4-5:30pm // Online // RSVP here We Get Sick, UPMC Gets Rich: Pittsburgh Medicaid March! // Thurs, Oct 1, 4-6pm // 501 Grant St // Hosted by Put People First! PA // info here 10/1 DEADLINE for SPC's Regional Southwestern PA Transit Survey // October 2020 // take the survey here 10/1 DEADLINE for City of PGH's ForgingPGH Comprehensive Planning Survey // Oct 1 // take the survey here #TrustRidersFundTransit! National Transit Rider Day-of-Action! // Tues, Oct 6 // Hosted by Transit Riders of the US Together (TRUST), a National Coalition of Transit Rider Unions // info here Petition Launch + Canvass for COVID-19 Fare Relief in solidarity with #TrustRidersFundTransit // 4-6pm on Tues, Oct 6 // Downtown @ Sixth & Smithfield Bus Stop // FB here // Sign-up here Canvass for COVID-19 Fare Relief // 4-6pm on Thurs, Oct 8 // East Liberty Busway Station // Sign-up here Canvass for COVID-19 Fare Relief // 4-6pm on Mon, Oct 12 // Wilkinsburg Busway Station // Sign-up here 🌟 PPT General Meeting // Wed, October 14 // Social time: 6:30 // Meeting time: 7-8:30pm // Online // RSVP here Canvass for COVID-19 Fare Relief // 4-6pm on Thurs, Oct 14 // Downtown @ Sixth & Smithfield Bus Stop // Sign-up here DEADLINE for City of PGH's Oakland Plan Survey // Fall 2020 // take the survey here DEADLINE for Port Authority's Long Range Plan Survey + Interactive Map // Fall 2020 // take the survey here 🗳️🚌 VOTE FOR TRANSIT // In order to vote in the 11.3 general election.... // the last day to register to vote is 10.19 // the last day to request a mail-in ballot is 10.27 // and mail-in ballots must be submitted to your county election office by 5pm on 11.3 // Info + Registration + Ballot Request Here ‌ ‌ Pittsburghers for Public Transit | 5119 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!