Transportation

I-80

PG Admin24 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:17:16 GMT

The Pennsylvania Turnpike is reviving its application to impose tolls on Interstate 80. [Read Story]

Should I-80 be a toll road? Tell us what you think.

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The G-20 summit to curtail Golden Triangle traffic

PG Admin24 — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:26:44 GMT

The Downtown business district will be closed to most vehicular traffic during the G-20 summit. [Read story.] Is it right to virtually shut down the city? Tell us what you think.

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Cycling in Western Pennsylvania

cyclingdan — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:02:15 GMT

As the numbers of people who ride bikes continues to grow in Western Pennsylvania, have the local authorities responded by providing save trails and bike lanes for its citizens?

Your opinion is important. Some say that there are too many bikes on the streets and roads and other say share the road, it's the State Law.

My view is that we spend far too much money on professional sports and far too little on the taxpaying citizens. We need more bike trails, parks and playgrounds to keep ourselves and our children active and healthy. What do you think?

Port Authority planning fare increase

PG Admin1 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:33:48 GMT

The Port Authority board has approved a 2009-10 operating budget that will require a Jan. 1 fare increase, with a Zone 1 fare increasing a maximum of 25 cents from the current $2 base fare [ read PG story ].

What's your reaction? If you're a transit rider, how will an increase affect you?

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Proposed Port Authority service changes

PG Admin24 — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:54:04 GMT

The Port Authority is proposing service changes that will eliminate or revise routes, change route numbers and establish stops that are farther apart. Officials say more riders will be served more efficiently and at a lower cost. [Read PG story: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09240/993808-147.stm] What's your reaction?

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That B-25 that went in the Mon in '56?

swaybar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:23:00 GMT

Just read a fascinating book called "The Incident That Could Have Killed Pittsburgh" by Robert H. Johns.

Don't know if it proves anything one way or the other but it sure is well researched and detailed.

Casino Garage

bossman — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:50:58 GMT

I see there is still fuss over the height of the garage.

Why didn't they use common sense and build it underground like Mellon Square is?

This would have given more green space on top, as well as as many floors needed underneath. Maybe the water table prevented this, but if they can drill tunnels underground, I think it would have been possible. The height of the garage would not be in question as it has been.

Again, common sense.

Bossman Mike

the port authority

beauty — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:56:23 GMT

as a long time user of public transpotation, it is high time that the public (demand) that the port authority be federally investigated. the PA has abused our tax monies for over 30 years. this fraud ridden agency has been allowed to (constantly) to rip the taxpayers off and all of the 'people' that are supposed to be able to take charge of this fraud ridden agency, always ends up giving the agency and the union what they want. hmmmm.. i wonder why. the feds need to come in and clean the PA(port authority) up. they are abusing federal money, and have been doing so for many years, and it needs to stop. and as far as onorato is concerned, he sold out too. i wonder why. what a farce he put on. he was talking all that tough stuff about the PA cleaning up their act, and all the time he had other things in mind. i wouldn't vote for him for gov if he was was running against bozo the clown. all riders and taxpayers that don't ride need to contact harrisburg to demand a federal investigation of the port authority.

I miss Joe Grata's column

swaybar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:04:12 GMT

I really think he performed an important service.

The tunnel to nowhere

ttomkins — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:37:01 GMT

Who didn't see this little chestnut coming? How stupid does the board at the port authority have to be to get the answer 120 million times wrong? To be $120 million short is, well, an undersight beyond all excuses. These people need to be run out of town on one of their own rails.

"Let's pretend it's only gonna cost these suckers in Pittsburgh only $400,000,000.00 to build a tunnel that adds NOTHING to the transit system. At $300,000,000.00 a mile, it's a steal (literally) and we can wrap this puppy up and sell it like the hog it is. Now, we KNOW it's gonna cost these fools more than $550,000,000.00 to build this oversized ground hog tunnel, but we're the Port Authority, and we take no crap from anyone, so let's start building it, and when we need more money to cover our bloated salaries and Bone-Us's, we'll just tell these fools that it will cost more money to stop it than to finish it."

Pittsburghers- when are you going to wise up? How long can you take this stuff? These jackasses built the Overbrook trolley line at a cost of more than $500,000,000.00 just a few short years ago at the same time we were screaming that we didn't want to spend $400,000,000.00 on new stadiums. They slapped THAT puppy together when all eyes were on the stadiums. There was no talking about it, no discussion, it was just done, and I challenge anyone to find ONE PERSON who didn't previoulsy ride a bus who is now taking the Overbrook trolley. Ridership didn't increase ONE BUTT. How long can we afford this absofreakingly useless board on the payroll??????

Airport Parking

bossman — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:42:37 GMT

I'll admit I have not been out there for a while, but can someone tell me why Parking fees are being raised?

Did the employees all get a larger than usual raise?

Are there some major structural improvements being made?

If none of these two, why the increase? I don't want to hear that it costs more to do business today. Every organization could make that statement.

I didn't read or hear about an advanced warning this was going to happen.

You don't think they were trying to sneak it in on us do you? Dan Onorato wouldn't do that, would he?

Anybody with any input have any ideas why this increase would go through at this time?

Bossman Mike

Good Morning to you!

ambellina — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:24:27 GMT

I would really like to thank the man in the white van who screamed at me this morning as I crossed the street (with 4 others BEHIND ME) because he assumed I was not watching where I was going, I was not aware of my surroundings and was texting.

Screaming at someone who is attempting to cross a street in Station Square where you must yield to pedestrians anyway, "WHY don't you walk a little SLOWER WHILE YOU TEXT!" is a grand way to start a Monday morning. Thank you.

By the by, I wasn't in fact texting - my alarm to wake up in the morning went off and it scared the heck out of me. I looked before I crossed with the group of people and, again, I was in fact in front of others walking slower than me.

So, happy sunshiney good morning to you Mr. White Van driver with the cigarette in your mouth - If we all acted like you I should have said "Why don't you smoke that faster so you can get cancer quicker."

I hope you had a swell day.

Use them for Skate Boarding!

bossman — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:04:29 GMT

I don't know all of the details, but I caught the tail end of a news report.

I see the useless tubes under the river are in danger of not being completed because of cost overruns.

Didn't the braintrusts have a completion figure months ago? What happened? All of a sudden, that figure can't be met. It's not that the Federal Government is now throwing money around is it? We want our share, I guess.

Well, I say that all of the brass in charge of this project should be terminated. Fired. All of them. They have shown their incompetance. A few months ago, this project had a completion figure and a date. Use the excess Drink Tax funds, if necessary. If this doesn't do it, then seal the tubes up. We have bridges. Hold the bigwigs accountable. The savings in their pay, once terminated, will be substantial.

It's just ridiculous that they can't handle a project planned years ago, financed by the Federal Government for the most part, and now going to go into limbo, if something isn't done. Fire all of them!

Bossman Mike

What do you think of the proposed transit contract?

PG Admin1 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:27:28 GMT

The tentative agreement between the Port Authority and bus-trolley operators union includes four wage increases within the 37 months of the proposed contract, in addition to incremental increases in the employee share of health-care premiums, a higher retirement age and lifetime health benefits for some older, more senior employees. [ Read PG story; read text of tentative agreement ]

What do you think of the proposed deal?

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What's your reaction to news of the tentative agreement in the Port Authority labor dispute?

PG Admin10 — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:22:12 GMT

While the details have not yet been disclosed, what's your reaction to the news of the tentative contract agreement between the transit union and the Port Authority?

Both sides announced they had a reached a potential deal last night. [ Read the story ]

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How would a Port Authority transit stoppage affect you

gmoodye — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:18:58 GMT

Taxes

gmoodye — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:44:57 GMT

Do you think if PAT was turning a profit your taxes would be lowered ? I think they would stay the same, but would be spent in other parts of Pa. that were not doing so well. So your tax dollars would go to Philly, or Harrisburg, I think some are now, I don't think Philly layed anyone off like PAT did nor did they stop any service. What is going on with that?? Why is PAT the only one to give anything up??Maybe its because the GOV comes from Philly.

How would a Port Authority transit stoppage affect you?

PG Admin1 — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:42:04 GMT

The contract dispute between the Port Authority and the union representing bus and trolley workers is headed for a showdown in December, when the Port Authority intends to impose its "last and best offer" contract on Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85. The union has scheduled a meeting for Nov. 23 that may lead to authorizing a strike. [ Read PG story ]

If there is a transit stoppage, how would you be affected? Are you making alternate plans for transportation to work, school, appointments or other vital trips?

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What do you think of Pittsburgh's plan to make the city more bicycle-friendly?

PG Admin1 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:22:57 GMT

The city of Pittsburgh has hired a bike-pedestrian coordinator to make pedaling or walking through city neighborhoods safer, easier and more enjoyable [ read Post-Gazette story ]. What do you think of the plan?

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Volunteers are needed for the PNC Legacy Ride on October 4, 2008!

venture outdoors — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:53:40 GMT

As part of Pittsburgh's 250th celebration, PNC and Venture Outdoors (www.ventureoutdoors.org) have partnered to organize a Legacy Trail Ride of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath and Great Allegheny Passage from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh, PA.

The thick of the ride begins this weekend, September 27, as a group of riders embarks from Washington, D.C. with Pittsburgh as its destination. The tour, consisting of roughly 85 people, will take 8 days to make the journey. However, on October 3, the PNC Legacy Relay will begin. This relay will begin on the steps of Congress in D.C. and then continue to Pittsburgh. 18 teams of 'Trailblazers' will relay a proclamation of Pittsburgh's 250th birthday along the 335 miles of the GAP and C&O Canal Towpath. The Trailblazers will relay ride constantly over the 24 hours between October 3 and 4, through any weather conditions and even in the middle of the night, so that they can arrive in Pittsburgh on October 4th for a Community Ride from the Hot Metal Bridge at 2nd Ave (the Eliza Furnace Trail) to Point State Park for its grand re-opening celebration. The goal is to get thousands of Pittsburgh cyclists to take part in this community ride, to break the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous bike parade. More information can be found at www.bike250.org.

Naturally, with an event of this scale, MUCH volunteer support is needed. If you are free on October 4th and want to be part of Pittsburgh's history through your volunteer stewardship, please contact Rebecca Malena, Venture Outdoors Membership Manager, by e-mailing volunteer@ventureoutdoors.org or by calling 412.255.0564 x 29. This event is not possible without your help!

What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

PG Admin1 — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:50:51 GMT

The City of Pittsburgh's hiring last week of its first bicycle and pedestrian coordinator has drawn cheers from the pedaling crowd, but has inflamed some motorists who resent cyclists who don't obey traffic laws. [ Read Post-Gazette story ]

What's been your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

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Construction Opportunities

bossman — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:16:31 GMT

Attn: Penn Dot

It's still possible to get to a couple of places around Pittsburgh without being detoured or held up by construction. Somebody is slipping because not all of our roadways are under construction at this very same time.

I figure that if you planned a little better, you could successfully hinder anybody getting from here to anywhere. There are more main roads to tear up, and then their alternate routes are ripe for tearing up at the same time. You're doing a decent job of this now, but there are still opportunities out there.

bossman