Alana Miller – 1/19/11

 


This page was last updated on January 19, 2011.


Mass transit part of a bigger issue; Alana Miller - PennPIRG; Beaver County Times; January 19, 2011.

Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group is a leftist political advocacy organization based in Philadelphia.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.


“Pittsburgh Port Authority’s decision last Wednesday to cut public transportation services 15 percent is the latest grim reminder of Pennsylvania’s transportation budget crisis.

“The state’s current transportation system already has many of us stuck endlessly waiting in traffic, all the while consuming billions of gallons of overseas oil and spewing air pollution.  Congestion gridlocks the state’s largest cities and towns, forcing drivers to sit an additional 38 hours in traffic each year (nearly a full work week.).

“The service cuts scheduled for March in Pittsburgh are estimated to put thousands of additional cars on the road, crowd already stressed public transportation routes and leave dozens of road and bridge projects in the area unfunded.”

[RWC] Ms. Miller didn’t provide data sources for her claims.

“Pennsylvania needs a 21st century transportation system that will reduce air pollution, reduce traffic congestion and give people affordable and reliable options to get to school, work and around the state.

“We need to fully fund our transportation systems so that we can maintain and improve public transit, and also continue to fix and maintain our roads and bridges.”

[RWC] I wonder if it ever occurred to PennPIRG government-run bus/train/etc. systems should be funded solely by riders at the fare box.


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