[PRCo] Re: From This Mornings Pgh Post Gazette

[Dwight Long]

Herb

I’m sure you realize that I realize that.

But would not we, and citizens of Allegheny County, be oh so much better off if we WERE talking about Thomas—running the show today?

Dwight

From: Herb Brannon 
Sent: Thursday, 10 May, 2012 14:23
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org 
Subject: [PRCo] Re: From This Mornings Pgh Post Gazette
We're not talking about Thomas. He is long gone and forgotten by most.
Rich Fitzgerald has been Allegheny County Executive for the past four (4)
months. He was on the Allegheny County Council but quit that post to run
for County Executive.

Check out this link for a brief biography about Rich Fitzgerald:  Allegheny
County Democratic Committee -- Rich
Fitzgerald<http://alleghenydemocrats.com/candidates/rich-fitzgerald>

On Thu, May 10, 2012 at 2:11 PM, Dwight Long <dwightlong at verizon.net> wrote:

> Herb
>
> Mr. Fitzgerald knew how to run a tramway probably as well or better than
> any other transit executive in the USA.
>
> The problem is that he has been dead for how many years?  And his name was
> Thomas, not Rich!
>
> Dwight
>
> From: Herb Brannon
> Sent: Thursday, 10 May, 2012 10:22
> To: Pittsburgh Railways Group
> Subject: [PRCo] From This Mornings Pgh Post Gazette
> 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
>
>
>
>
>
>


-- 
Herb Brannon
In Cuyahoga Valley National Park