[PRCo] Re: Port Authority approves huge cuts in bus, trolley service | Allegheny Co. News - WTAE Home

[John Swindler]

 I like the idea of a mix of support for transit.  The state provides a 'floor', and then the locals can decide how much additional transit service is wanted.  As it is, $184 million can buy a lot of transit service.  That was the state operating subsidy last year for PAT.  But PAT costs are about $150 per vehicle hour, about the same as SEPTA which runs a commuter rail service.  The costs elsewhere is around $70-$90 per vehicle hour.  There's just something strange about PAT's expenses, but could never figure it out.  Remember what Ed once said about West Penn power dividends?? 
 > Subject: [PRCo] Re: Port Authority approves huge cuts in bus, trolley service | Allegheny Co. News - WTAE Home
> From: shadow at gmail.com
> Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 10:59:30 -0400
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
> 
> apply the same equation to the road you drive and the gas taxes you pay. when your parents don't play by the same rules with all the kids, the kids get bitchy. want the kids to stop bitching? give them all the same toys. or find some way of encouraging sharing better. I pretty much assume people who have tried none of those must actually be masochists
> 
> Derrick
> 
> 
> On May 2, 2012, at 10:25, John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > 
> >  The political term for this is  'mobilizing our constituency'  for the purpose to lobby the state legislature.  It's been almost an annual charade for past dozen plus years. What the state legislature should do is authorize counties to impose a sales tax for transit.  But local politicians will not want that - it would mean making the local taxpayers responsible.  It is easier to blame the state. As a general question, what does it cost PAT to put a bus on the road for one hour???  What does it cost Beaver County, Westmoreland Conty, Allentown, Harrisburg or Mid Mon Valley to put a bus on the road for one hour??? And each time you ride a PAT vehicle, what percentage of the cost of your trip did you pay??  Did the state pay??  Did Allegheny County pay?? CheersJohn    > From: trombone at windstream.net
> >> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
> >> Subject: [PRCo] Port Authority approves huge cuts in bus, trolley service | Allegheny Co. News - WTAE Home
> >> Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 07:13:14 -0400
> >> 
> >> The posturing continues as the end of the current labor agreement looms.
> >> http://www.wtae.com/news/local/allegheny/Port-Authority-approves-huge-cuts-in-bus-trolley-service/-/10927008/12148822/-/13v1kfs/-/ 
> >> 
> >> DF Cramer
> >> 
> >                         
> > 
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>