Minutes - Port Authority of Allegheny County

with our elected leaders, officials and with other transportation providers who also are concerned
about this solution. We cannot afford to sit back and expect that someone else will represent transit
riders.
On behalf of the Stakeholder Relations Committee, Ms. Ellenbogen respectfully requested approval
of the resolution as presented.
It was moved by Mr. Mattola, seconded by Mr. Taylor and unanimously agreed that the resolution be
approved as presented.
The next resolution provides authorization to adopt the Pennsylvania Public Transportation
Association’s (PPTA) 2011 Public Transportation Legislative Reforms Agenda. PPTA is a non-profit
professional trade organization that advocates for, and supports the interest of, public transit and
public transit agencies across Pennsylvania. Over the past several months, PPTA has collaborated
with its members and stakeholders, including the Authority, to develop a comprehensive legislative
reforms agenda to advance the needs and interests of public transit and public transit agencies with
Governor Corbett and the new legislature.
Appropriate staff reviewed the final Public Transportation Reforms Agenda, included in this resolution
as Exhibit A, which PPTA proposes to advance with the Governor and Pennsylvania Legislature this
year. Staff and the Stakeholder Relations Committee believe that the PPTA agenda addresses
issues and concerns that are critical and relevant to the long-term viability of the Authority and public
transit across Pennsylvania. While the reforms outlined in the agenda would not solve our annual
budgetary challenges, they would help stop the bleeding.
It is our recommendation that the Board adopts the PPTA agenda and authorizes the Authority staff
to support and advocate for adoption of the legislative reforms it proposes.
Ms. Ellenbogen wanted to make it perfectly clear that this resolution does not limit us to supporting
only the PPTA agenda, adding that we absolutely should support additional legislative initiatives
and/or reforms not included in this agenda that advance the interests and needs of the Authority and
public interest in Allegheny County and across the Commonwealth.
On behalf of the Stakeholder Relations Committee, Ms. Ellenbogen respectfully requested approval
of the resolution as presented.
It was moved by Mr. Mattola, seconded by Mr. Taylor and unanimously agreed that the resolution be
approved as presented.
Ms. Ellenbogen continued reporting that the committee also received a presentation from Mr. Chris
Sandvig, project manager for the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG). As many of
you know, Mr. Sandvig and PCRG have been very involved and active in the efforts to solve the
statewide transportation funding issue and restore funding for Port Authority. Mr. Sandvig has
addressed this Board on two occasions in that regard.
In his report, Mr. Sandvig explained that PCRG is a 22-year-old membership organization of
community development corporations and community-based organizations. PCRG’s vision
incorporates what he calls “the three E’s [economy, environment and equity]. PCRG works
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