Proposed Pittsburgh Transit Cuts Spark Outrage

The Port Authority's proposed service cuts, "the biggest in the transit agency's 48-year history," have galvanized a diverse set of groups seeking the intervention of Pennsylvania's Governor, Tom Corbett. At a hearing held last week, "Representatives of government, business and the medical sector were nearly unanimous in their view that the reduction...would damage the region's economy, cause jobs to be lost and affect riders and nonriders alike," reports Schmit.

"Bill Griffin, a vice president of DialAmerica, said the company has shelved plans to add up to 150 jobs at its Green Tree facility because of the likelihood of transit cuts. 'We face the very real scenario of losing nearly half of our workforce due to lack of transportation. In simple terms, as many as 145 jobs would be lost and 150 potential jobs would not be created,' he said."

"Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said the service reductions also would impact the 100,000 people who attend college in Allegheny County, spend money here and generate jobs. 'That's one more component of our economy that would be stifled.'"