Minutes - Port Authority of Allegheny County

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The Chairman called on County Councilman Nick Futules. Councilman Futules reported that last night he started reading his packet and to tell you the truth, he fell asleep about the second paragraph. He then stated [after ripping up his speech], that he would like to speak from his heart. Councilman Futules took office on December 4, 2007, and that night was asked to vote for the biggest tax increase in the history of Allegheny County, the drink tax. The drink tax was passed [which he voted against], but noted that he did vote for the car rental tax that was passed to support Port Authority and the people who ride the buses. Councilman Futules believes this is an important issue and invited the Board to attend the Regular meeting of County Council on Tuesday, March 1 where he will be introducing a motion urging Port Authority to devote the entire $45 million in flex funding received in December 2010 to FY 2010-2011. He believes these cuts would devastate Allegheny County and create widespread hardship for our citizens. The motion being introduced on Tuesday evening advises Port Authority to follow their own resolution suggesting that if funding became available the organization would utilize it for its budget shortfalls. Councilman Futules commented that he feels that if Port Authority does not use the money that was given to them, it is sending the message that the money is not needed. The Chairman called on Mr. Bland for a report. Mr. Bland started his report by addressing a lot of misinformation that is out there. The information that we’ve seen in recent flyers and newspaper ads is not only inaccurate, but it is disingenuous and frankly, it’s become very dangerous. It only spreads misinformation and false hope that the problems we face, our riders face and our employees face can be solved at this table or even on Grant Street. Before going on, Mr. Bland thanked Councilman Futules for his comments because Port Authority really enjoys our working relationship with the Allegheny County Council. He continued by saying that the fact of the matter is, this problem [as Mr. Robison alluded to], lies in Harrisburg not Pittsburgh. The solutions lie with our community as a whole, not with some magic vote that this Board might conduct today or in a future meeting. There’s a fundamental problem with how Pennsylvania pays for transportation. It’s true of roads and bridges; it’s true of transit; it’s true in Philadelphia; and it’s true in Pittsburgh. Frankly, no amount of public pressure on him, this Board, County officials or other elected officials can change that simple fact. Mr. Bland reiterated what we’ve been saying for a long time to riders, employees, communities and neighborhoods that are affected by these disastrous cuts, is that we agree with you. You’re angry, you’re hurt, you’re frustrated, you’re tired of it, and so are we. The $45 million provided by former Governor Rendell was a one-time gift. Governor Rendell acknowledged that when he provided it to us and the most responsible thing we can do is to make that gift last as long as possible to benefit as many people as possible. Now, as much as we appreciate that gift, it doesn’t solve our funding or financial crisis. It merely postpones it to allow reasonable people time to work out an affective solution. Frankly, if we waste our time fighting amongst ourselves, we lose precious time and we lose precious money. We could use these funds to prolong service to July, but beginning July 1, 2011, 4
about four months from now, we are facing a $55 million budget deficit. Unless another gift falls from the sky, we would have to reduce service to a level even more damaging than what we are looking at. Likely more than the 35 percent this Board originally approved last November. If this Board was to keep service the way it is now, and doesn’t reverse the cuts, it only postpones them and expands them. As Mr. McMahon alluded to, we are seeing this around the county and even the world. Here in Pennsylvania, our new Governor and legislators are facing a $4.5 million budget deficit going into next year. In states around the nation, we are seeing service being slashed. Mr. Bland noted that it would be a gamble [a word he has heard used this morning] at best to spend all of this money now and then adopt an unbalanced budget in June without a hint of hope that something might be resolved in Harrisburg some time later in the year. If that gamble did not pay off, we’d be facing service cuts even larger than the 35 percent originally envisioned. Mr. Bland noted that it would be a very popular decision if this Board was to vote to reinstate services scheduled for elimination at the end of March, but it would also be thoroughly irresponsible. We all share these frustrations and the desire to keep on as many routes as we possibly can, but we cannot gamble with this public asset. It is simply too important to too many people and our region as a whole. He stated that we and he believes that he speaks for the Board in this regard, will work with anyone, any group, any individual, any elected official and any elected body who wishes to fight for public transportation and who may have viable solutions to the statewide transportation funding crisis. Mr. Bland said, “I for one, hope that some of the folks who have been directing their energy against this Board, would redirect their energies and join with us in this fight.” He continued reporting that for the individuals who are most affected and frankly caught in the middle of this, we feel for you, we hear you and we are going to continue to work with you and other interests in this community to reinstate those services. Mr. Bland noted that many people have lost track of the fact that in January when this Board adopted the current service plan, the original resolution was amended to call these temporary service reductions pending resolution of the statewide transportation crisis. My suggestion to people who may feel motivated to direct their anger against Port Authority, let’s direct our collective energy, not anger, and our creativity toward working with state legislators and Governor Corbett who have all expressed the opinion that transportation and infrastructure is critically important to the success of this Commonwealth and come up with real solutions. For the 200 or so employees of Port Authority that we are being forced to lay off, it is one of the issues that we take most seriously. We look forward to circumstances that will hopefully allow for your speedy recall. Mr. Bland ended his report by saying that as he continues to tell staff, even as we reduce the size of our system, it does not relieve us of the responsibility to continue to improve the quality of our service, the effectiveness of our service; the efficiency of our service and how we respond to our customers. One organization this month recognized the efforts to improve the overall quality of public transportation in Pittsburgh. Earlier this month, a number of Port Authority staff was privileged to attend the annual meeting of Bike Pittsburgh, the regional advocacy group for bicyclists and pedestrians in the region. Bike Pittsburgh, not always the biggest fans of Port Authority, in 5
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Page 7 and 8: The next resolution authorizes the
Page 9 and 10: Mr. Mattola reported that although
Page 11 and 12: collaboratively with numerous commu

Minutes - Port Authority of Allegheny County

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