[PRCo] Re: pat__service__cuts__2007.01.23-changed to 2/1/07

[Herb Brannon]

----- Original Message ----
From: Several List Members
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Sent: Friday, February 2, 2007 7:19:47 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: pat__service__cuts__2007.01.23-changed to 2/1/07

>John Swindler wrote:
>why did PAT need more space when system 
 >ridership was declining.
>He thought they did it so the upper management could
>have the rarefied atmosphere of the Duquesne Club nearby.

Public transit upper management, in many U.S. cities, are really "full of themselves" these days. The guy running GCRTA came here from Syracuse, NY. There he headed up a system with one operating station (garage) and 102 buses. Immediately up arriving in Cleveland he changed his title from General Manager to Chief Executive Officer. His head swelled even before the ink got dry on his contract! He forgot GCRTA is a public supported transit authority, not a private company. Many times during public meetings he has told elederly and disabled individuals who require public transit that 'they should find another method to get around.' This occured at at least two public meetings reguarding service cuts and was reported in the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Cleveland Call & Post. On one occasion tv channel 5's investigative reporter called him to task on improper use of the taxpayers money for things such as $100.00 per plate lunches, out of state golf outings and excessive personal
 telephone bills. He was so blatant that he acutally got in front of the tv cameras and said he "would spend money as he saw fit" and they (tv channel 5) should "mind their business."

I can see where the upper management of PATransit would probably be no different. Too many of them are not in touch with the needs of the public they are supposed to be serving.

 >the West Busway opened, the East Busway extension
>and Overbrook reconstruction were ongoing, and 24 hour service began
>on a few buses.

Interesting to note that 24-hour service is beginning again. When I worked at PATransit 24-hour service was offered on both the 42/38 and 35 car lines as well as many bus lines.

Herb Brannon