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

[Fred Schneider]

Mein Gott.   Herb is just as cynical as John and Fred.   Watch the  
business long enough and you get that way.

On Feb 3, 2007, at 4:21 PM, Herb Brannon wrote:

> ----- 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
>