Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The park-and-ride will be closing at the end of this week.
The Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department Park-and-Ride lot in Plum will be closed for several months beginning Thursday. The park-and-ride lot, which is owned by the volunteer fire department and located along Golden Mile Highway, will be closed for its annual Christmas tree sale beginning on Thanksgiving. However, the lot will not reopen after Christmas as in previous years. The fire department is working to expand its building and the lot will remain closed through approximately April 2013. Fliers have been placed on vehicles at the lot to alert riders of the closure. The lot serves the P12 Holiday Park Flyer bus route. _______________________ Plum-Oakmont Patch is on Facebook and on Twitter. Don't forget to sign up for our daily …
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
A 35-percent transit service cut has been postponed for a year.
Bus riders in Plum, Oakmont and Verona can continue to utilize local Port Authority routes for another year. On Tuesday, the Port Authority's board of directors agreed to postpone a 35-percent transit service reduction and layoffs for one year. The cuts were expected to take effect Sept. 2. The board also ratified a four-year contract with the Local 85 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which calls for two years of wage freezes and increases of workers' contributions to the pension fund. The union commitment provides $60 million in savings to the Port Authority over four years, or an average $15 million a year. The four-year deal will expire on June 30, 2016. The contract includes: Port Authority management also has stepped up by providing …
Monday, August 20, 2012
Local 85 of the Amalgamated Transit Union ratified a four-year contract with a wage freeze in an effort to prevent layoffs and service cuts—including some in the Plum-Oakmont area.
Tentative transit service cuts and layoffs could be prevented due to the union's agreement to a new four-year contract with a wage freeze and other concessions. According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Local 85 of the Amalgamated Transit Union voted in favor of the contract—retroactive to July 1, it calls for two years of wage freezes and increases of workers' contributions to the pension fund—in two voting sessions at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Sunday. For contract details, click here. The agreement now will be considered for approval by the Port Authority Board on Tuesday. A special meeting has been scheduled for 10 a.m. in the Neal H. Holmes Board Room, 345 Sixth Ave., Fifth Floor, in Downtown Pittsburgh. “…
Thursday, August 9, 2012
A tentative contract agreement that could prevent Port Authority service cuts has been reached.
The Port Authority, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 and Allegheny County have reached a tentative contract agreement. If approved, the agreement is the first step in preventing the 35 percent service cuts, resulting in layoffs and closing of the Collier Garage and various park and ride lots around the area. The cuts were scheduled to take effect in September. That agreement will be considered by the Local 85 membership on Aug. 19 and the Port Authority Board, which will meet in the days following the union vote. Details will be made public at that time. Continue to follow Patch as details become available.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
State and federal funding prevent the cuts from happening for at least another year.
Hold the phone. Devastating cuts facing ACCESS riders will not occur in September thanks to a special funding arrangement made possible by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and two federal programs that benefit transit riders with disabilities, according to a news release from Port Authority of Allegheny County. Port Authority's Board of Directors on Friday unanimously voted to accept the funding and rescind plans that would have reduced ACCESS service hours and service area starting on Sept. 2. Meanwhile, conversation focused on resolving broader transportation funding issues and the 35-percent Port Authority service reduction scheduled for September are ongoing and involve officials from the state, county, Port Authority and …
Thursday, July 5, 2012
KDKA reports that a new deal is in the works that could stop Port Authority cuts this fall.
A deal is in the works to avoid cuts to Port Authority service this fall, according to a report by KDKA. According to the report, negotiations between state, county and union officials are underway to avoid a one-third cut in service—including all service in the Plum, Oakmont and Verona area—on Sept. 2. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald told KDKA that if the union, management, and county can come up with about $30 million, Gov. Tom Corbett will match that amount and restore service. If an agreement isn't reached, the Port Authority most likely will move forward with the elimination of the 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…
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Plum-Oakmont riders, beware.
Plum, Oakmont and Verona residents might not have direct access to public transportation come the fall, but starting July, they will have to pay more. Increases go into effect July 1 on most Port Authority of Allegheny County fares, including cash fares for full-fare and half-fare riders, all tickets and passes. According to a news release, the fare increases are required to balance Port Authority's budget for the fiscal year of 2013, which begins on July 1. The base one-zone cash fare will increase by $0.25 from $2.25 to $2.50 one way. Two-zone rides will increase by $0.50 from $3.25 to $3.75 one way. Additionally, fare changes will go into effect for ACCESS riders that same day. Full information on fares, including instructions on …
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
State Rep. Martin Michael Schmotzer from Whitehall also wants a summer legislative session on transportation.
State Rep. Martin Michael Schmotzer will only be in office for the rest of this year, but the Democrat from Whitehall Borough is hoping to make the best use of his time. Schmotzer is calling for a moratorium on further mass transit cuts in Allegheny County and a special summer session of the Pennsylvania Legislature to deal with transportation funding. Under the cuts that will be implemented later this year, Plum, Oakmont and Verona would not have bus access. "The Port Authority of Allegheny County is dying a death by a thousand cuts," Schmotzer said in a news release. "We're at the point where, if the next round of cuts goes through—cutting 46 of the remaining 102 bus routes—we will not have a viable and legitimate mass transit system in …
Friday, May 18, 2012
State Rep. Joe Markosek said he's hoping to prevent elderly and people with disabilities from losing their form of transportation.
Amid talks of cuts in the Port Authority of Allegheny County transit system, a state representative is hoping to save the services for the elderly and people with disabilities. The Port Authority Board of Directors approved a service cut of 35-percent last month, leaving several areas in Pittsburgh—including Plum, Oakmont and Verona—without any transit service. That plan, which would help close a $64 million deficit in the budget, would go into effect in September. Rep. Joe Markosek (D-Monroeville) is co-sponsoring legislation to prevent an estimated 1,800 elderly residents and people with disabilities in Allegheny County from losing their transportation service due to these cuts. Markosek's 25th Legislative District covers Plum Borough. …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A roundup of the region's top stories.
Here's a look at some of the top stories from Patch sites in your area this week: Goodbye Crossgates Plaza? CVS May Build New Store Task Force Forming to Save Library 'Pay to Play,' Tax Raise, Staff Cuts All on the Table for 2012-13 B-W Budget Public Hearing on Transit Cuts Thursday Local Student Supports Rabbit Rescue, Fosters Furry Friends ––––––––––––––– Plum-Oakmont Patch is on Facebook and on Twitter. Don't forget to sign up for our daily email newsletter by clicking here.
Ed M
10:56 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
The trolley's use to go all over the city! West End, Oakland but PAT eliminated those routes decades ago, They kept the trolley routes where the population boom was - the South Hills. Remember, NYC and Boston have had a subway system in place for decades. Comparing Pittsburgh's T to NYC & Boston is apples to oranges. Did you ever drive a subway car??? If you answer is no, then you have no idea … more ›