[PRCo] Re: Carson__St__TrolleyCars

[Joshua Dunfield]

> Bob Dietrich wrote:
> .
> 
> > Is it time to reopen the Carson Street Shuttle discussion? Other 
> > cities are connecting their entertainment/cultural areas with 
> > "trolleys" with good success. Operating a car or two between Station 
> > Square and the J&L Mill seems to me to make sense. Or dream big and go 
> > all the way to the Waterfront in Homestead.
> >
> > I know at least Derrick would ride it.

Jim Holland wrote:
> Discussion is fruitless.
> .
> When we did discuss this before I suggested that we Organize and  ACT  
> rather than just  TALK    ----    Thread  Went  Dead!!!!!
> .
> .
> .
> :-( Jim :-P

Given that PAT is shedding operating and capital expenses as fast as
it can (using the capital budget for the current FY operating deficit;
trying to dump the Wabash Tunnel; proposing major service cuts that might
actually go through, since PAT and Allegheny County are saying they won't
even try to get more money from Harrisburg, to fill an $80M deficit for
next FY)...good luck.

(Another reason these cuts might go through is that they're marginally
rational.  Previous years' noises about cutting all service after 7 p.m.,
or 9 p.m., or all Sunday service, seemed designed to inspire as much
outrage as possible.  They were otherwise bizarre and irrational.  The
current proposal would greatly reduce service to the suburbs while maintaining
a reasonable level of service within the city, including at least marginally
respectable service on Sundays.  If I still lived in Pittsburgh the only
thing I'd be really annoyed about is the planned elimination of the 28X.
That, and the stupid rhetoric about "right-sizing" PAT, as if pulling
Pittsburgh transit down to the level of, say, Buffalo is somehow desirable.)

Best,
-j.