[PRCo] PITTSBURGH-$18 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR STAGE II

[Jim Holland]

Good Morning!

	In his *Transnet* magazine, Mr.Geissenheimer states the following:

	"U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa) has stated that improved transportation
is a key factor in the continued community and economic growth of
southwstern Pennsylvania.   He announced the additional funds for the Phase
II reconstruction of the Overbrook LRT which will reduce running times by
as much as 20 percent.   The Stage II project will reconstruct 12 miles of
trolley lines to light rail standards, double tracking the single-track
segments, building new bridges and adding 2,500 parking spaces.   In
addition, the project includes the purchase of 28 new LRV's from CAF and
the remanufacture of the existing 55 LRV's.   The project may be complete
by the end of 2003."

	It has been my contention since hearing of the reconstruction of Overbrook
that schedule times would be reduced and would force returning to routing
similar to what PRCo once ran  --  Library and South Hills Village thru
Overbrook (former Library and Drake Interurbans) and
42/38A-Beechview-Mt.Lebanon service to Castle Shannon and possibly thru to
the Village.

	A 20% reduction in schedule times seems overly optimistic; still, any
savings should definitely be significant.

	Hindsight   ---   but had  ({[pat]})  rebuilt the prw South Hills Lines
right from the start, it would have saved a tremendous amount of money and
time!   Say what one will about them, but  *TrolleyCar--Fans*  called this
one right!

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James B. Holland

Holland  Electric  Railway  Operation....... 
___"O"--Scale St.-Petersburg Trams Company Trolleycars and...
______"O"--Scale  Parts  mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net

______Pennsylvania Trolley Museum http://www.pa-trolley.org/
___Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.nmra.org

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