image description: Photo of supporters gathered at the press conference to release the Pittsburgh 100 Days Transit Platform. Bill McDowell is holding the microphone and speaking while sitting in a chair. Others are positioned behind him and carrying signs.

The Pittsburgh 100 Days Transit Platform outlines a gameplan to equity and access for Mayor-Elect Gainey's first 100 days in office

On December 16th, riders, workers, and allies rallied in Oakland to launch the Pittsburgh 100 Day Transit Platform for the next Mayor of Pittsburgh. This platform highlights the role that the City of Pittsburgh plays in ensuring that all residents have access to quality, accessible transit, and puts forward a list of 18 priority actions that Mayor-Elect Gainey can pursue in his first 100 days.

The press conference included a packed list of passionate speakers spoke on the key categories of the 100 Days Platform during the press conference, ranging from building affordable housing next to frequent transit corridors to relocating abandoned bus shelters, to current routes and fixing broken sidewalks.
Image Description: Red text on a yellow background reads, “Pittsburgh 100 Days Transit Platform: Affording All Residents the Freedom to Move”. Under the text is PPT’s logo. On the right side of the photo is a red Port Authority bus, with three riders canvassing at a bus stop with a sign that says “Ready to Ride!”.

Read the full platform & watch the 59-second video made by PPT Board Member Dean Mougiannis
image description: image description: A rider scans their CONNECT Card at a T station

New Port Authority Fare Changes Do Not Remove Fare Cost Burden on Low Income and Minority Riders, and Highlight Need for a Low-Income Fare Program

While the bus pass changes will likely make bus pass purchases more useful and accessible to some, the stored value CONNECT card changes will not alleviate fare cost burdens on the majority of transit riders, including for low-income riders and riders of color.

 In fact, the Port Authority’s Title VI data shows that by a nearly 2:1 ratio, low-income riders and minority riders using the stored value CONNECT cards will see an increase in transit fare costs and will not benefit from free transfers, because they only take single trips within a three-hour window. This highlights why it is more urgent than ever that Port Authority implement a low-income fare program such as that called for in the Fair Fares for Full Recovery Campaign.
image description: Image description: screenshot from the cover of Mayor-Elect Gainey’s Transit Plan document. It includes a photo of Mayor-Elect Gainy outside talking with people in a park. All are wearing jackets and masks.

Public Transit is Positioned to Play Important Role in Mayor Elect Gainey's Transition Committees

Monday, December 20th, Mayor-Elect Ed Gainey held a press conference to release his plan for the mayoral transition and announce the members of the team who are going to help him in that work. Fortunately for those that care about public transit, affordable housing and an accessible city for all, Mayor-elect Gainey has given us multiple seats at the table.
image description: photo of Mayor Nickole Nesby speaking at a 2017 rally to combat the bus cuts that were being proposed in the Mon Valley as part of the Port Authority’s BRT plan

We’re Building our Dreams Beyond the East Busway: The Homestead to McKeesport Edition. Riders Show Up to Port Authority’s 837 Corridor Public Engagement Sessions, Help Drive the Rapid Transit Planning Process Forward. 

On Dec 7th, more than a dozen PPT members and residents of Homestead, Duquesne and McKeesport joined the Port Authority’s public input session to identify opportunities for infrastructure and bus service improvements. Riders also highlighted concerns, particularly around the proposed removal of every other bus stop along 8th Ave in Homestead without any clear process for evaluating the impact of stop removal. PPT has long called for the Port Authority to assess and publish clear data on the impact of bus stop consolidation on metrics like access to nearby social services, ridership levels, impact on riders with disabilities and other protected classes, and on the safety of riders navigating longer distances with questionable infrastructure to get to their bus stops. 
image description: illustration of a sinkhole bus as a fundraising thermometer. The numbers show that we are 87 people away from our 200 person fundraising goal

We're behind the mark! Help PPT rally 200 people to support transit advocacy this December.

Gifts of any amount will get us toward our goal!
🖱️ ✊ Click-tivist Corner🖱️ ✊️️️

Push for change from behind your keyboard and join us in the streets.
Image description: a photo of three people sitting down and smiling, one holds. a sign that reads "ready to ride", a bus is driving by in the background.
Image description: PPT’s Year-End Campaign artwork designed by Pedro Ibarra. Three people gather under a bus shelter while it rains and thunders outside, two are standing, one is in a wheelchair. All are smiling and holding signs for transit justice.
Image description: pre-pandemic photo of PPT members smiling and posing together at an in-person phonebank (this year's phonebanks will be online)
Image description: profile shot of red articulated Port Authority bus traveling down a busway. Text above reads "Events"

PPT Organizing Meetings

  • PPT Year-end Phonebank // Thursday, 12/28, 5-7pm (online) // RSVP here
  • 🔥DEADLINE to donate to PPT's Year End Fundraising Campaign // Friday, 12/31 // DONATE HERE
Pittsburghers for Public Transit | 5119 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
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