Release Date: Friday, April 1st 2011

KeepPGHMoving.com Provides Outlet for Transit Riders and Supporters Impacted by Port Authority Service Cuts

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Hollie Geitner
412-325-0153
412-780-6709 (cell)
hgeitner@DowntownPittsburgh.com

March 28, 2011

KeepPGHMoving.com Provides Outlet for Transit Riders and Supporters
Impacted by Port Authority Service Cuts

Pittsburgh, PA — The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) and its coalition partners including Sustainable Pittsburgh, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and The Greater Pittsburgh Hotel Association created an interactive website (KeepPGHMoving.com) to provide information about the statewide transportation funding problem that has now resulted in the loss of transit service in 38 neighborhoods and communities. It also provides users with a quick and easy way to send messages directly to their state legislator about how the state’s inaction on transportation funding is impacting their daily lives.

According to the KeepPGHMoving Coalition, the Pittsburgh region is the first to be impacted by what it refers to as a “transportation crisis.” The Port Authority of Allegheny County enacted a 15 percent service cut yesterday which includes the elimination of service in 38 communities and neighborhoods. KeepPGHMoving.com’s home page has a button that allows users to share a message with their legislator about how the cuts are affecting their ability to get to work, to school, to doctor’s appointments and other necessary meetings or appointments. The site will forward messages to the user’s legislator based on zip code.

“Unfortunately, we are feeling the effects today because the emergency funding of $45 million awarded by the State to the Port Authority late last year is only a temporary fix. To avoid much deeper cuts down the road, they must spread the money out over the next 18 months, which means cuts need to happen now,” said Lucinda Beattie, vice president of transportation for the PDP.

“Other agencies in the state will feel financially squeezed this summer when the next fiscal year begins.”

The funding crisis isn’t limited to public transit—vital infrastructure priorities will also suffer. The result is structurally deficient roads and bridges will go unrepaired, while usage will increase due to fewer transit options.

“The state legislature in passing Act 44 tried to provide a funding solution. Unfortunately, the federal government did not approve the tolling of I-80 which contributed to this funding crisis. There is no better time than right now to log onto KeepPGHMoving.com and send a message to Harrisburg that funding for transit, roads and bridges is critically important to the vitality of our region,” said Ken Zapinski, senior vice president for transportation and infrastructure for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. “We hope the public will help state legislators keep this issue top of mind in the months ahead. And we look forward to working with our legislators on a permanent solution.”

The KeepPGHMoving movement is led by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and supported by its coalition partners: Allegheny Conference on Community Development, American Society of Civil Engineers, Beynon & Co., CONNECT, Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania, Eat ’n Park Hospitality Group, Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, Greater Pittsburgh Hotel Association, HDR Engineering, Inc., UPMC, Sustainable Pittsburgh, Service Employees International Union, VisitPittsburgh and others.

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