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

[John Swindler]

 ACCESS is subsidized by the state.  In some counties, the para-transit service is operated by the transit authority, such as Harrisburg and Lancaster.  In some counties, the transit authority subcontracts the service to another organization, which is the case in Allegheny, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties.  In both cases, it is subsidized by the state.   The state funding comes from multiple sources from multiple agencies.  Some is 'pass through' federal funds for vehicle purchases.  Much of it is matching money, such that a trip might be funded by both PennDOT and Health & Welfare.  Or PennDOT and the client.  Or PennDOT and the client's sponsoring agency.  Fortunately there is computer financial software that can track this mess.  But as with any organization, it is open to management playing games with available funding.  Such as using capital money to pay for operating expenses so as not to cut the service.  That happened in the eastern part of the state. But transit - and most government - is labor intensive.  So when wages go up - or management doesn't make the most efficient use of its labor - then there is a cry for more funding.  Then comes the fight:  do you raise taxes, do you take funding from other programs such as education, or do you cut the transit program.  This is the 'hard decision' that local politicians avoid. With an apology for the digression.  Guess the simple answer is that state, federal, county, client organizations, and the client themselves is involved with ACCESS funding.  Depends on the purpose of the trip. CheersJohn    > Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 22:27:44 -0400
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Port Authority approves huge cuts in bus, trolley service | Allegheny Co. News - WTAE Home
> From: shadow at gmail.com
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
> 
> On Wed, May 2, 2012 at 11:18 AM, John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >  There's just something strange about PAT's expenses, but could never figure it out.
> 
> So what's the deal with ACCESS here? (well, "here"; I'm in the Hotel
> Roanoke at the moment)
> apparently there are things which in other cities are subsidized by
> the state but in Pittsburgh
> it's pulling from the general budget? I'm struggling to find the
> reference but I saw it in the last week.
> If we're unique in the state I'd certainly say that's strange.
> 
> -- 
> Derrick
> 
>