[PRCo] Re: From This Mornings Pgh Post Gazette

[Derrick Brashear]

On May 10, 2012, at 9:43 PM, "Dwight Long" <dwightlong at verizon.net> wrote:

> 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?
> 

I wish.

I am not a regular bus user, (nor, anymore, driver) but my wife is.


> 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
> 
> 
> 
> 
>