Bethani Cameron | December 19, 2023
That’s what Senators Casey, Fetterman, Congresswoman Lee, and Congressman Deluzio brought home to fix up the East Busway and the Parkway, I-376 East. With numbers this big, it can be hard to imagine the scope of the work and how it will impact our communities. Especially considering the scale of the problem: we built transit in a way that serves some communities and completely bypasses others, cutting them off from economic, educational, and recreational opportunities the rest of us could access. But how do we achieve expanded access when we are dealing with:
- One of the most congested corridors in the US, limited geographically by hills, valleys (and of course everyone’s favorite tunnels!)
- Moving 100,000 travelers daily, averaging an 18-minute delay (that adds up to 72 hours/year which is three entire days)
So how do we safely move more people though this corridor without taking dynamite to the tunnels? We create more modes to travel from point A to point B. Here’s how this funding will change our region for the better:
- Link the East Busway to the Parkway East (aka access to highway speed/efficiency without needing to own and maintain a car)
- Connect communities once cut off from public transportation to Rapid Transit via Bus (BRT)
- Reduce asthma-causing diesel pollution by moving bus routes from surface streets to the highway
- Create bus stops that walkers and rollers (like stroller and wheelchair users) can actually use
- Add drainage to prevent busway flooding and retaining walls for landslide prevention
- Upgrade/add traffic technology to reduce crashes
- Rehab 10 bridges
- Waterproof “The Bathtub”
- Create 2500 good jobs
And more! This use of highway funds to dramatically increase access to transportation to and from our Eastern communities is an historic investment in our infrastructure which will advance environmental and economic justice. The problems we face are big, and we are thrilled to see this investment in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Huge thanks Senator Bob Casey, Senator John Fetterman, Congresswoman Summer Lee, Congressman Chris Deluzio, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission for their work to make this happen. As our current president (and a Mobilifier or two) once said, this is a BFD.
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Take the 2025 Week Without Driving Pledge!
Ditch your car from Monday, Sept. 29 – Sunday, Oct. 5. Take the Week Without Driving PGH Pledge and advocate for better mobility options for non-drivers in Allegheny County! Whether living in suburban towns or city neighborhoods, everyone in Allegheny County...
Pennsylvania, we need to talk about transit.
More of the same is where we are. It’s not serving us. Do we really think this short-term fix is what we deserve? PennDOT has approved Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s request to flex capital funds from the Public Transportation Trust Fund (PTTF) to cover operating...
Think transit funding is just a Pittsburgh and Philly problem? Think again.
Mobilify Southwestern Pennsylvania has been working to bring together groups to emphasize how important transit is to the vitality of the city and its suburbs, how essential it is to residents’ dignity and livelihoods, how important it is to the region’s economy – and...
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Mobilify Southwestern Pennsylvania has been working to bring together groups to emphasize how important transit is to the vitality of the city and its suburbs, how essential it is to residents’ dignity and livelihoods, how important it is to the region’s economy – and...
PRT is Warning of Deep Cuts that Include Fare Hikes, Service and Route Changes
Pittsburgh Regional Transit is facing a 35% service cut that could take effect as early as February 2026 due to a lack of sufficient state funding. In a worst-case scenario, PRT will have to eliminate 41 of its 100 routes and restrict service on 34 others. The cuts...
State Officials Must Work Together to Keep Transit Rolling
State transit funding is stuck in the mud, Mobilify Executive Director Chris Sandvig writes in The Tribune-Review and PennLive | The Patriot-News, and the only way out is for the administration and lawmakers to work as a team to keep us all rolling. “It’s not just a...
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