On Nov. 24, the Port Authority of Allegheny County voted to enact massive service cuts, fare hikes, and layoffs that would cripple public transportation in Pittsburgh. Outside, nearly 100 community members held a weekday, daytime rally to protest the Port Authority’s decision and the lack of funding for such a vital service.
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Under the recently approved plan, 35 percent of bus routes will be cut, and over 15,000 people from 55 communities will have no access to public transportation at all. Over 500 workers will lose their jobs, and fares will be increased by at least 12 percent. These measures were scheduled to go into effect between Jan. 1 and March 13.
Although the Port Authority acted with complete disregard for the well-being of working-class residents, the state government, which provides 60 percent of the funding for Pittsburgh’s public transportation system, deserves much of the blame. The Port Authority’s budget was cut by $27 million, exacerbating already serious financial problems and contributing to a $47 million dollar budget gap.
Protesters were outraged that working-class people had to foot the bill for a massive shortfall caused by wealthy politicians and their backers. Recognizing this, the newly-formed organization Pittsburghers for Public Transit called for taxes on corporations, banks, and the rich to adequately fund transportation.
Patrick McMahon, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85, pointed out the ramifications of the cuts and layoffs for workers across the region: “Transit cuts kill jobs. I’m not just talking about good transit jobs. I’m talking about jobs all over the county. We have people who rely on transit to get to work. They will lose their jobs” (Post-Gazette, Nov. 25). The ATU, which has won decent pay and working conditions for its members, has been hypocritically targeted in recent months by right-wing officials in an attempt to divide riders and transit workers.
Some of the most vulnerable public transportation users participated in the rally. Olga Stanko, an elderly Pittsburgh resident, vented her frustration by saying, “I’m almost 81 years old, and now I have to walk a mile to catch a bus… I just want my bus, I’m too old for this” (Tribune-Review, Nov. 25).
In a recent development, outgoing Governor Ed Rendell bowed to increasing pressure and announced a last minute rescue package on Dec. 2, allocating $45 million of federal development funding for the Port Authority. This will prevent the service cuts and presumably the layoffs, but it is unclear whether or not the fare hikes will still go into effect. While the details are still developing, poor and working people need to remain alert and ready to continue the struggle to protect jobs and affordable public transportation.
