[PRCo] Slow rides on the "T"

[George W. Gula]

Concerning the stop issue, the real issue is car speed. Since all the cars
go through Beechview or Dormont at some time or another, they are all
governed down to 28-30 mph. That¹s as fast as they will go. I suspect the
legal eagles and the borough councils dictated that so the cars would not
hit drivers who are trying to beat the car at crossings or the myriad of
pedestrians that use the tracks are a shortcut. Remember, in Dormont, the
street grid  is broken up by the streetcar line which also bisects 4-way
intersections and the cars all cross right in the middle of the
intersection. Sort of like Carson & Smithfield without the visibility.
Crossing gates were deemed inappropriate because of the stupid assholes who
would drive around the gates as they woulds come down. So the cars go pretty
damn slow anyhow. This includes the Blue Line in the Saw Mill Run Valley
which has no crossings for about five miles but can have stupid trespassers
who must be allowed to continue their errant ways.
Much of the screaming has been down by riders from Washington County who
come up to take the T and want a one-stop ride. They don't even pay
Allegheny County taxes, but being used to driving that¹s the kind of ride
they want. And no one has any patience anymore, lets get there real fast,
right?

Some of the stops that are being discontinued are at the foot of long sets
of steps. On top of the  steps are long hills leading to a neighborhood with
only one or two circuitous ways in and out of them using narrow streets with
no bus access. To get to a stop in the main part of Beechview, they will
have to walk up and down several sets of hills, about a 15-20 minute walk.
On very hot or cold or icy days its almost impossible.  So they have been
essentially abandoned.

The stops in question are whistle stops now. In fact all the stops are
whistle stops. Operators don't stop unless someone is there. Its the
impatient suburbanites who want to just keep going. Don't forget that the
communities were constructed around the streetcar line and this remains
walk-on system that will never be like San Diego with its long running
become stations where commuters board after driving to and parking in a huge
lot.
A new county manager ordered this and he is not a transit rider. Hmm!!

George Gula