Statement
before Glenn A. Walsh
Allegheny County Council:
Port Authority Proposal
To Waste $2
Million Telephone: 412-561-7876
By
Abandonment of Electronic Mail: < gawalsh@planetarium.cc >
Never-Used Rail Yard Internet Web Site:
< https://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit
>
2004
July 13
Good evening. I am Glenn A.
Walsh of
In the 1980s, as part of the
Stage I Light Rail Transit project, the Port Authority of Allegheny County
constructed a seven-track rail car
storage yard, at Penn Station, Downtown, for the storage of light rail
vehicles in the middle of the day. In this way, time and electricity would not have to be wasted moving these
light rail vehicles to South Hills Village after morning rush-hours, and then
back Downtown for afternoon rush-hours.
According to information PAT
provided me, from a Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law request, the cost to the taxpayers of building this
seven-track rail yard was about $2 million. The problem is that, after more
than 15 years, PAT has never used this
rail yard. And now, with the proposed construction of the Convention Center
rail line, PAT proposes to abandon the
Penn Station rail line and this Mid-Day Rail Yard. If this rail yard is
abandoned, it will mean the complete waste of $2 million of taxpayers’ money.
I addressed the Port
Authority Board regarding this issue on April 23. The PAT Board Chairman
indicated that the Board would consider my comments at the May Board meeting.
This did not happen, and the PAT Board
has never publicly discussed this issue. Instead, I received a letter from
PAT Chief Executive Officer Paul Skoutelas giving me several excuses why the
Port Authority can not keep this rail yard. However, he did not address the fact that abandonment of the rail yard will mean
the complete waste of $2 million of taxpayers’ money!
Last month,
I attempted to
address the PAT Board, to respond to Mr. Skoutelas’ letter. My
second request to address the PAT Board
was denied. When
I claimed that the PAT Board was in violation of the
Sunshine Act, I received a
letter from the PAT legal counsel indicating that
there is a loophole in the Sunshine Act
that does not require the Port Authority Board to entertain comment from the
public!
In
my April 23 address, I
proposed ways the Port Authority could use the rail yard, while still
constructing the Convention Center rail line. The Port Authority claims that
physical limitations preclude the future use of the rail yard. It is my view
that the Port Authority has purposely
designed the Convention Center rail line in such a way, so that the rail yard
can not be used—and they can get rid of an embarrassment that has never been
used.
Of course, I cannot go into
great detail in just three minutes today. Attached to this statement is a copy
of
my statement to the PAT Board on April 23, which includes more details.
I am asking that this Council
investigate this matter and prevent the
complete waste of $2 million of taxpayers’ money.
Thank you.
gaw
