While Harrisburg Politicians Fiddle, Pittsburgh Transit Riders Burn (more massive cuts ahead)

[JPZenger]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11333/1193283-53.stm

"Corbett Delays, Pittsburgh Pays.

From www.hypocrisywatchpa.com

"The Guv doesn’t see any urgency to pass a transportation bill, but the rest of his hometown does. “The Port Authority has begun preparing for service cuts that are more than twice the size of the reductions that took effect in March, when thousands of riders were stranded and others jammed into overcrowded buses. CEO Steve Bland told the authority board last week that planning has begun for a 35 percent reduction in service hours that will come next fall if Gov. Tom Corbett and the Legislature fail to act on a statewide transportation funding shortfall,” the Post-Gazette notes.

“Mr. Bland said the cuts would include elimination of 30 to 40 of the remaining 98 bus routes; layoffs of 500 to 600 of the agency’s 2,500 remaining employees; and closure of one or two more bus divisions.” The last round of cuts have left overcrowding so bad that bus drivers routinely skip many of the remaining stops. “Those looking for someone to blame should aim their anger at Gov. Tom Corbett,” the PG added.

Not that the Guv minds. “In remarks in Pittsburgh last month, the governor signaled that transportation funding was not a top priority before year’s end.” Corbett’s own transportation secretary says it’s less likely to pass if they wait till next year. Good thing Pittsburghers are getting used to waiting."