[PRCo] Re: From This Mornings Pgh Post Gazette

[John Swindler]

  I've never heard of a transit system that did not maintain "extra" boards to cover for sick days, missed runs and vacations.  Others can draw the two possible conclusions.   > From: hrbran at cavtel.net
> Date: Thu, 10 May 2012 10:22:55 -0400
> Subject: [PRCo] From This Mornings Pgh Post Gazette
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org
> 
> The ire of the Allegheny County Government has now been raised. I'm not so
> sure, however, that Mr. Fitzgerald really knows how public transport works.
> He has the idea of "finding" an empty bus running around somewhere in the
> county and sending it off-route to handle a crowd somewhere else in the
> county. Easier said than done. As usual he failed to mention "dedicated
> funding" as a cure for the problem.
> TodaysPPG Article:::::
> 
> Fitzgerald vows to fix weekend T problems
> May 10, 2012 9:49 am
>     By Jon Schmitz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
> 
> Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald vowed today that transit
> problems that caused major delays for riders over the weekend will be fixed.
> 
> "This problem is going to get solved. If it can't get solved by the people
> who are here, we'll find people who can solve it," Mr. Fitzgerald said in a
> phone interview.
> 
> He clearly was irate about reports that large numbers of riders waited 45
> minutes or longer on crowded station platforms after the Pirates game on
> Saturday night, when Light Rail Transit service was plagued by a shortage
> of operators and trips were missed.
> 
> He also said the authority needs to redeploy service to better accommodate
> large crowds after events. Jim Ritchie, authority spokesman, said this week
> that the agency cannot afford to add service after major events as it has
> in the past.
> 
> "I'm certain there were empty buses running somewhere in the county on
> Saturday. They have to redeploy," Mr. Fitzgerald said. "We need to adjust
> to the marketplace. They certainly get paid enough to know when the crowds
> are going to require this service."
> 
> Pirates games on Saturday typically draw crowds of 30,000 or more, and
> having inadequate service at the ballpark after more than $500 million was
> invested extending the T there is "unacceptable," he said. "It's one of the
> reasons we sold this to the public years and years ago."
> 
> Mr. Fitzgerald also was unhappy that no announcements or messages about
> next-train arrivals were provided. That has been an ongoing problem during
> breakdowns and other service interruptions on the T.
> 
> In addition to the Pirates game Saturday, there was a Marilyn Manson
> concert at Stage AE and pre-Pittsburgh Marathon festivities.
> 
> Mr. Ritchie said a shortage of operators caused by various leaves and
> illness kept 10 trains from their scheduled operations, including five
> after 4 p.m. He said there was "no excuse" for the situation and that the
> authority was working to correct it.
> 
> Today, Mr. Ritchie said "we're confident riders aren't going to experience
> a repeat of last Friday and Saturday ... riders will see more service in
> the system this coming weekend."
> 
> Mr. Fitzgerald also wants improvements to signage at the new stations. He
> said people are having trouble finding them.
> 
>  Jon Schmitz: jschmitz at post-gazette.com or 412-263-1868.
> First Published May 10, 2012 9:23 am
> 
> 
> -- 
> Herb Brannon
> In Cuyahoga Valley National Park
> 
> 
>