Pittsburgh Public Transit:
Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT)

This Internet web site provides information on issues relevant to public transportation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania U.S.A., provided by the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT).

Public Transit - Pittsburgh
Philadelphia Public Transit:
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
Quick-Reference Page - Transportation

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2007 Pittsburgh Public Transit Funding Crisis:
Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT)
PAT Fare Increase Will Go Into Effect 2008 January 1
2007 Philadelphia Public Transit Funding Crisis
News Regarding North Shore Connector
Rapid Transit Extension Project
Proposed Elevated Pedestrian Walkway: Convention Center to Penn Station
Pittsburgh * 2006 July
News Articles Regarding Philadelphia [SEPTA] Public Transit Strike - 2005
News Articles Regarding Averted Pittsburgh [PAT] Public Transit Strike - 2005
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Note: The news reports listed in the news archives are a bibliography of selected news articles and other materials related to the topic indicated. In most cases, clicking on the active link will transfer the full-text version of the news article to your monitor. Although all of these links were good links when originally placed on the web page, as time goes on, you may find that some of these links become dead-links. This occurs as the host periodical transfers the news article from the original URL address to a different address for an archive.

In the case of many periodicals, these news articles would then be available only from a specific free-of-charge or a pay-per-view archive sponsored by that periodical [or the periodical's commercial archive service]. Hence, those articles which cannot be read from this web page could be accessed by accessing the archive of the particular newspaper or magazine of interest.

In the case of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a pay-per-view archive is used for articles written more than three years ago, back to 1990 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette articles date back to 1993; articles from The Pittsburgh Press, which suspended publication permanently in 1992, date from 1990 to 1992). Check < http://www.newslibrary.com/nlsite/region_pgs/pa_search.htm > for this archive. HOWEVER, if you have an Electronic Information Network public library card issued by The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh or one of the suburban libraries in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania [with the possible exception of the Monroeville, Northland, or Upper Saint Clair Public Libraries], you may receive free-of-charge access to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette news archive by going to the following web page and entering your library card number: < http://infoweb.newsbank.com/cgi-bin/welcome/libcard.pl/einetwork >. More recent articles are accessible for no charge; hence the articles below, less than three years old, should have active links.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is one of the few major metropolitan daily newspapers which has a free-of-charge archive, back to 1988. Check the following Internet address for the archive page: < http://library.triblive.com >.

Otherwise, these articles could be read from microfilm archives, for no charge, at many of the Carnegie Libraries in the Pittsburgh region.

However, there are active links to the majority of articles cited.

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Proposed Elevated Pedestrian Walkway: Convention Center to Penn Station
Pittsburgh * 2006 July

News Articles Regarding Philadelphia [SEPTA] Public Transit Strike - 2005

News Articles Regarding Averted Pittsburgh [PAT] Public Transit Strike - 2005

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Proposed Elevated Pedestrian Walkway: Convention Center to Penn Station
Pittsburgh * 2006 July

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* Walsh, Glenn A. Letter Response to Christopher J. Hess, Assistant General Manager, Legal and Corporate Services, Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT), Regarding PAT Response to 2007 August 31 Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law Request. 2008 March 17.

* 2007 Oct. 31 - Letter to PAT CEO Stephen G. Bland from Glenn A. Walsh (By Certified Mail, Return-Receipt Requested):
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law Request—SECOND ATTEMPT !!! regarding
PAT Abandonment of ALL Rail Service on Penn Station Rail Line (Penn Station to Steel Plaza)

* 2007 Aug. 31 - Letter to PAT CEO Stephen G. Bland from Glenn A. Walsh (By Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested):
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law Request regarding
PAT Abandonment of ALL Rail Service on Penn Station Rail Line (Penn Station to Steel Plaza)

* 2007 Aug. 22 - PAT News Release:
Regular Rail Service Resumes September 2
Includes statement briefly announcing abandonment of all light rail service on Penn Station Rail Line (Penn Station to Steel Plaza):
"Ø Both weekday Penn Park “quick getaway” trips will be eliminated;"

* 2007 Aug. 16 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Letters-to-the-Editor
What's unconscionable is the condition of buses - THERESA PETROCELLY, Stowe
More than enough (Pension of former PAT CEO Paul Skoutelas) - ANNA MARIE CASTROVILLARI, Beechview
(North Shore Connector) Key to expansion (of Light Rail Transit System north) - JOHN D. WEINHOLD, Beechview

* 2007 Aug. 8 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Transit chief got padded pension
Port Authority paid $181,530 to add 11 years to Skoutelas' service time
By Joe Grata

* 2007 July 11 - News Release:
Health Dept. Asked to Study
Air Quality Impacts of Transit Cutbacks Long-time public transit advocate Glenn A. Walsh addresses [prepared text included] Allegheny County Board of Health asking that the Allegheny County Health Department be directed to study the air quality impacts of service reductions, and fare increases, implemented by Pittsburgh's Port Authority Transit (PAT) system over the last four decades.

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* Rujumba, Karamagi. "Allegheny County to expand busway mural project."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2008 April 25.

* Ove, Torsten. "Judge throws out pension suit against Port Authority."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2008 April 17.

* Grata, Joe. "Getting Around: Port Authority ridership up as gasoline prices increase." Column.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2008 April 13.

* Grata, Joe. "Getting Around: Another sign emerges that Act 44 was ill-advised." Column.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2008 April 6.

* Ritchie, Jim. "Wood Street station has museum-worthy LeWitt mural."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2008 March 29.

* Donahoo, Melanie. "$500,000 rehab revives Edgewood's landmark rail depot."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2008 March 27.

* Vellucci, Justin. "Development around T stations will spur economy, officials say."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2008 March 13.

* Vellucci, Justin. "Study shows how growth may fit around T stations."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2008 March 6.

* Ritchie, Jim. "Transit strike possible: Pittsburgh chamber."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2008 March 4.

Save Our Transit, Pittsburgh, Mass Transit Appreciation Day Rally:
Wednesday, November 16, 2005, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. EST
Pennsylvania State Office Building, 300 Liberty Avenue at Commonwealth Place
Gateway Center in Downtown Pittsburgh

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - 2005 November 13:
Getting Around: Port Authority labor stalemate spurs Onorato, Rendell to action
By Joe Grata
Compares Philadelphia transit strike with possible Pittsburgh transit strike.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 2005 November 13:
Column: Transit strike ready for launch By Eric Heyl

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - 2005 November 11:
Trying to head off strike, Onorato joins transit talks
By Joe Grata

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - 2005 November 11:
Editorial: Transit squeeze / Port Authority pressures don't favor the workers

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 2005 November 11:
Onorato vows to keep talks going By Mike Wereschagin

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 2005 November 11:
Editorial: Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances: Please, Ed, no
Opposes mediation of public transit talks by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 2005 November 9:
Rendell willing to mediate transit dispute
By Jim Ritchie

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 2005 November 9:
Editorial: Transit talk gridlock: Public be damned

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 2005 November 8:
Transit union board approves strike vote By Jim Ritchie

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - 2005 November 8:
Transit strike possible Nov. 25
Buses, trolleys could be idle on busiest shopping day of the year
By Joe Grata

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 2005 November 8:
Agreement ends Philadelphia mass-transit strike By The Associated Press
Also, PAT union approves November 20 vote for Pittsburgh transit strike.

From the Pittsburgh Trib p.m. - 2005 November 7:
Port Authority union leaders vote for driver strike

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - 2005 November 7:
Philly transit strike ends By John Loviglio, AP, The Associated Press
Also, PAT union approves November 20 vote for Pittsburgh transit strike.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 2005 November 6:
Rendell warns against strike By Rick Wills

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 November 5:
Bus drivers may strike Nov. 20 By Jim Ritchie

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 November 5:
Port Authority union criticizes talks, to meet Monday

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 November 2:
Same issues, different routes By Jim Ritchie
Compares Philadelphia transit strike with possible Pittsburgh transit strike.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 November 2:
SEPTA strike enters third day By The Associated Press

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 November 1:
Philly commuters scramble By The Associated Press
Philadelphia public transit strike began October 31.

From the Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh - 2005 October 13:
The T Stops … Where? Writer: Julie Mickens

Regarding proposal for elevated walkway to Penn Station replacing proposed Convention Center subway spur.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 October 13:
Port Authority, one union reach new labor agreement By Joe Grata

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 October 8:
Redrawn maglev route eases some concerns By Richard Gazarik

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 October 6:
Port Authority police union OKs contract proposal By Joe Grata

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 October 6:
New York increases subway security after word of threat to transit system
By The Associated Press

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 October 5:
Port Authority-union talks progressing By Jim Ritchie

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 October 4:
Guest Commentary: In Rebuttal: North Shore Connector nonsense
By Jake Haulk, President, and Frank Gamrat, Senior Research Associate,
Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 October 3:
High-speed train plan moves slowly
Report on maglev's impact out this week
By Joe Grata

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 October 1:
200 properties in maglev's way By Rich Cholodofsky

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 September 29:
Letter-to-the-Editor: Transit dreams & boondoggles By Jack Ciak of Greensburg
Supports Maglev project or similar commuter rail line.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 September 28:
Guest Commentary: Henry Nutbrown: Why the North Shore Connector makes sense
Extending light rail to a fast-growing area will serve many people and catalyze more growth
By Henry Nutbrown, Assistant General Manager for Engineering and Construction,
Port Authority of Allegheny County [PAT]

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 September 23:
Editorial: The Connector & Maglev: Stop the insanity

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 September 20:
Port Authority rejects report by fact-finder in labor talks By Joe Grata

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 September 20:
Transit agency rejects report By Jim Ritchie

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 September 19:
Maglev talks resume after 2-year hiatus By Rich Cholodofsky

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 September 14:
North Side light rail plans raise concerns at the City Planning Commission
By Mark Belko

"North Shore Connector" may include demolition of The Carnegie's Miller Printing Company warehouse building, across street from The Carnegie Science Center, which currently includes storage of historic Buhl Planetarium equipment and artifacts, including the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 September 14:
North Shore light-rail plans seem to favor sports fans
By Violet Law

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 September 14:
Stung by high bids, Port Authority restructuring North Shore rail project
Looking for a cheaper ride
By Joe Grata

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 September 8:
Column Commentary: Train sadly sidetracked as transit option
By Samantha Bennett

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 August 25:
Column Commentary: Pull the plug on the North Shore Connector rapid transit expansion project
By Jake Haulk, President of the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

From the Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh - 2005 August 10:
Letter-to-the-Editor:
RE: “Don’t rail against the T” Letter in 2005 July 27 issue
of the Pittsburgh City Paper By Glenn A. Walsh, Mount Lebanon

2005 August 10 Letter Written in Response to:
From the Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh - 2005 July 28:
Letter-to-the-Editor:
Don’t rail against the T
By Judi McNeil, Director of Media Relations, Port Authority of Allegheny County

From the Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh - 2005 June 30:
"Rant":
The T Extension Is an Abomination By Matthew Khoury, Friendship

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 July 21:
PAT closer to balancing new budget By Jim Ritchie

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 July 21:
Commission OKs shift of highway money to keep Port Authority, other agencies rolling
Another Band-Aid for transit
By Joe Grata

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 June 26:
Tunnel vision By Jim Ritchie
Regarding the proposed Norh Shore Connector rapid transit extension project.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 June 25:
Port Authority banking on benefit cuts By Jim Ritchie

Port Authority Transit [PAT] Board of Directors ratifies Fiscal Year 2004-2005 spending plan [which was implemented over the past year as a continuing resolution] and approves a 2005-2006 annual budget with no proposed service cuts or rate hikes.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 June 22:
Port Authority budget full of 'ifs'
No fare hikes or service cuts are projected,
but spending plan has rosy assumptions
By Joe Grata

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 June 15:
House leader warns on transit funding
By Brad Bumsted [STATE CAPITOL REPORTER] and Jim Ritchie

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 March 23:
Scholars reconstructing dinosaur at K.C.'s Union Station
Planetarium also recently reopened.
By The Associated Press

From The Daily News, McKeesport, PA - 2005 March 11:
Rendell's transit funding proposal gets SPC approval By Patrick Cloonan

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 March 11:
Transit borrows more time By Jim Ritchie

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 March 11:
Transit fund transfer OK'd by 47-2 vote By Mike Bucsko

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On-Line, Pittsburgh - 2005 March 10, 4:07 p.m.:
Planning agency OK's funds transfer for transit By Mike Bucsko

From the Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh - 2005 February 2:
End of the Trolley Line?
Port Authority cuts threaten the 52 Allentown, a living link to Pittsburgh's lost streetcars

Due to a PAT funding shortfall, Route 52 Allentown [which partly operates on the route of Pittsburgh's first electric trolley line] will be discontinued after the final afternoon rush hour runs on Friday, March 4, 2005 [the last two roundtrip subway runs of a different subway line, between the Steel Plaza Subway Station and the Light Rail station at Penn Station, will also be discontinued the same date, about an hour earlier!]!

* 2005 January 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Transit managers cash in on pensions
TRANSIT: A PRICE TO PAY / Last of a series
By Joe Grata

From the Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh - 2004 November 11:
How do the Port Authority bus routes get their numbers?
Question submitted by: Haley Grassel, Oakland
Writer: CHRIS POTTER

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2000 December 17:
Getting Around:
Mention of their pay ticks off Port Authority drivers
By Joe Grata

Includes proposal delivered at Port Authority fare-hike public hearing, by long-time public transit advocate Glenn A. Walsh, regarding maintaining the present transit fare as a special fare for the truly-needy, in Post-Gazette's weekly Sunday column on local transportation issues.

Other News Archives Available

News Regarding the
Historic Building, Equipment, and Artifacts of
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
Current News *** News Archives

News Related to Andrew Carnegie and Carnegie Libraries:
Current News *** News Archives

News Archive Regarding The Duquesne Incline, Pittsburgh

News Archive Regarding Public Transit in Pittsburgh

News Archive Regarding Educational Television in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Public Transit: Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT)

Pittsburgh Public Transit:
Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT)