Public Hearing on Transit Cuts to be Held Thursday

The Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing Thursday, May 3, at 10 a.m. on the economic impact of public transit cuts. State Representatives Dan Deasy and Matt Smith, both D-Allegheny, will co-chair the hearing.

"We have heard from many constituents on how the proposed cuts to the Port Authority will impact them, but the outcry from area businesses has greatly increased in recent months," Smith said. "They are being hit from both sides with reduced accessibility for customers and employees."

Under the proposed cuts that would be effective Sept. 2, all service in the Plum-Oakmont area will be cut.

The plan calls 78 Oakmont route; and the P78 Oakmont Flyer and the P12 Holiday Park Flyer, express routes in Oakmont and Plum, respectively. The P16 Penn Hills Flyer (which services parts of Plum and Oakmont) and the P67 Monroeville Flyer also would be cut.

"In order for continued regional economic growth to occur, we must ensure that we have an effective and broad-reaching public transit system. Hearing from local businesses and experts on how we address our mass transit crisis will be invaluable as we move forward on this crucial issue," said Deasy.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and officials from Green Tree Borough, the Port Authority of Allegheny County, Amalgamated Transit Union, area non-profit organizations and numerous area property managers and businesses are scheduled to testify.

The public hearing will be held at the council chambers of the Green Tree Municipal Center at 10 West Manilla Ave. in Green Tree.

For more information, see the Port Authority website. For a list of the routes that will see service reductions or will be cut completely, see the PDF attached to this article.

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