Investing in transit helps our region to compete

Recent articles add perspective to the Port Authority's plight. Indeed, the fiscal straits have a long legacy. The crisis also has roots in the way we are growing.

Optimism is to be found if we're in step with much of the nation. Americans are saying yes to public transportation spending (in November voters in 13 states approved 21 of 30 transit-related ballot initiatives for about $40 billion, according to the American Public Transportation Association). In addition to focusing on "right-sizing" the Port Authority, it's critical to call on the governor and Legislature to determine a growing source of reliable funding for public transportation. Right-sizing is also in order for the region as a whole toward providing incentives to entice commuters from their cars, to implement smart land use to curb lengthening commutes, pollution, congestion, sprawl and decline of older towns and cities, and to curtail global warming while preparing for the coming of "peak oil" and a carbon-constrained economy.

Opportunities to address these regional imperatives are at hand. Allegheny County is creating its first comprehensive land use plan (Allegheny Places), and the region is updating its long-range plan (Project Region); both provide opportunity to couple investments in transit with smart growth planning as an express economic strategy to lift the region.

Linking public transportation and development can steer growth to right-place investments. Through increasing transit ridership and at the polls, Americans signal that transit is an essential public good with handsome payoffs. By investing in transit we reap simultaneous economic, environmental and social benefits that define a region's ability to compete globally.

COURT GOULD
Executive Director
Sustainable Pittsburgh
Downtown

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We don't come first

Recently, I just missed a bus at a stop on the EBA when its doors closed and it took off before I could get from its back to its front. I called the Port Authority to inquire why the driver wouldn't check his mirrors before pulling away from the stop and was told that the Port Authority "rule" is that if a passenger is not at the bus stop (the blue-and-white sign), that person will be ignored.

Apart from the fact that the only reason a person would be on an EBA platform is to board a bus, this "rule" makes clear that the Port Authority's priority is anything but its loyal customers.

More serious than the missed bus incident is the routine conversation between drivers and passengers. One might hope that on an early morning run in winter weather, a driver would give his full concentration to safely driving the bus, but, no, the driver laughs and carries on with his pals the whole way.

Again, the busload of loyal customers is no one's priority, and any "rule" against talking to the driver would certainly make the driver unhappy, which seems to be the one thing the Port Authority cares about.

SUZANNE S. McLAUGHLIN
Edgewood

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Girth gold mine

Yeah, I still love the bus. And after wedging myself into the EBS this morning, I felt inspired to come up with the perfect solution to the Port Authority's financial woes.

Here it is, Port Authority: Anyone whose caboose takes up two seats on the bus pays for two seats. The transit authority will make a mint! And at those prices, maybe Fat Pittsburgh will finally be inspired to go on that long, long, long overdue diet. It's a win-win.

CINDY McKAY
Wilkinsburg

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Parking's not a right

To Vida Burnelis complaining about parking at Children's Hospital ("Parking Frustration," Jan. 20), it is not your right to park your vehicle anywhere you choose. There would be total chaos in all of our major cities if this were the case. Cities should not be built for cars. In fact, Pittsburgh is much too car-friendly.

Most of the developed world uses public transportation to get anywhere, so why not drive your car to somewhere where you can park, and then walk or take the bus to the hospital?

TONY KUHAR
Indiana, Pa.

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Rail is the way to go

The "Steel City" owes much to the railroad industry. From the earliest beginnings to the present day, railroads have provided the backbone to the city's bustling industry.

We need rail more than ever now. As traffic worsens, it's no longer just Allegheny County that is seeing a dramatic increase in congestion. From Green Tree to Greensburg, Washington to Slippery Rock, we can see the need for alternatives to highway freight transportation. I-79 and I-70, not to mention the parkway and the turnpike, are getting worse every year.

It's time we placed our support firmly behind the railroads to reduce congestion and ultimately improve our quality of life. Not only will increased use of rail slow increasing congestion, but it also will provide benefits to air quality, economic growth and taxpayer spending.

As Pittsburgh continues to remake itself into a modern city, we need to remember our roots and what brought us this far: rail.

OLIVIA M. LAZOR
Mercer County Commissioner
Mercer

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About this 'best deal'

Why does Gov. Ed Rendell continue to state that the arena deal for the Penguins is the best one any sports team has received in this state? It doesn't matter if it is or isn't ("Penguins Souring on Plan B," Jan. 20).

The arena deal has to be better than the one Kansas City or Houston is offering. Gov. Rendell needs to realize this and quit playing politics as usual. Also, why was Don Barden invited to the arena meeting on Jan. 18? This gentleman has a license to print money by winning the slots license. Now, he wants more money by taking some of the parking and concession revenue?

Mr. Barden is not an elected official, nor should he be involved with negotiations for the new arena. How much money does Mr. Barden need? It seems he is trying to recoup some of the money he's putting up for a new arena. The elected officials need to quit squabbling and get this deal done. Otherwise a major tenant will be gone and the city of Pittsburgh will struggle to make up the lost tax revenue.

SCOTT WILKS
Regent Square

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We receive more letters than we can fit into the limited space on the editorial page, so we'd like to share some additional letters with our Post-Gazette Web site readers.

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They get a sweet deal while we get inadequate bus service

I guess we now know why all the bus routes have to be cut -- we have to foot the bill for the Port Authority retirees until they kick off ("Huge Retiree Costs Cripple Port Authority," Jan. 20). Boy, anyone would like to have that health insurance. Not only is it free now, it is covered until you hit 65.

Wow. No wonder I will have to park and ride from Ohio to get to work in town. There are no routes in my area left. I know, let's get Gov. Ed Rendell involved, because he is doing a great job sticking his nose in the arena talks. He's got that so messed up the Pens will be out of here soon. The only thing we can be sure of is, they won't be going by bus -- there will be none left from town.

LEE CARNAHAN
Plum

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Hobbling the region

A peg leg for Pittsburgh is in the works as the Port Authority considers cutting bus service, something vital to the movement and growth of any city. All the buses on my street -- the G, GR and the 67E -- are slated for the chopping block, and I don't like my options.

I can either walk 1.5 miles to a main intersection to catch a bus, pollute the environment by driving to work and paying high parking fees, or drive to a park-n-ride and bite my knuckles while looking for a parking space.

You've told us that 50 percent of the people who work in Pittsburgh ride a bus, so the Port Authority is going to take half of the buses away. Is there a Murphy's Law here somewhere?

NANCY BERNARD
Forest Hills

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We need to be smart

Being "tough" or being "soft" on terror seem to me to be meaningless distinctions. I'd rather we just be "smart" against terror.

For instance, we've been giving billions a year to countries like Egypt that permit, if not foster, schools that teach the young to hate us and that it is noble to aspire to kill as many of us as possible. How about we tell them to get the curricula changed or the money stops? Reducing the nurture of terrorists has to be a high priority for the current and long-term best interests of our country.

In contrast, however, our own Pentagon and CIA's access to the banking and credit records of many, many of our own citizens without court approval is a curtailment of our liberties, rather than any enemy's. It is a further incursion into the rights for which American troops are supposed to be fighting.

Let's not be fooled by invalid steps to deal with terror.

GLORIA SNYDER
Bethel Park

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Let's see and hear more of the truth

Letter writer Cora Morley wrote to complain that the last thing she wanted to see was a photo from Iraq of a pool of blood ("Sickening Photo," Jan. 24). Last week when President Bush was asked by Jim Lehrer why only soldiers and their families were asked to sacrifice and why he didn't ask all Americans to sacrifice, President Bush replied, "They sacrifice peace of mind when they see the terrible image of violence on TV every night."

My goodness. Ms. Morley, you cannot even stomach that small sacrifice! And I'm afraid too many of us are just like you, more interested in the latest "American Idol" and the other emotional porn offered by our TV networks.

Iraqis, our soldiers and their families are daily paying a horrendous price for this ill-planned war. We should not complain if a photo or a story slaps us daily in the face. We should be sacrificing more than just "our peace of mind." Perhaps then we would all be engaged with our voices and our votes.

Keep publishing the photos and stories of brave journalists from Iraq and Afghanistan on the front page above the fold. We need to see the truth.

RITA PALMER
McKeesport

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They work for us, so why do we work so hard for them?

Why are we working for our government? In regard to letters about the legislators' self-generosity and the State Employees' Retirement System, I think that our government should be run like a business. If it doesn't have enough money to pay for all the perks and benefits and can't claim bankruptcy, then it should do the following.

1. Freeze pensions. Have the government match contributions in the pension plan. Legislators, in particular, don't need all that money to retire. Many are already wealthy.

2. Retire those who are retirement age. Also have term limits for legislators. If it's good enough for the president, then it's good enough for them.

3. Slim down their medical benefits or have them pay half, just as the taxpayers have to.

4. Take away perks. They already get a good salary. Why not use your own transportation? How did they get around before?

If companies can do this to their employees, then why can't we (the taxpayers) do the same to our government personnel? We are tired of working for the government; they get all the benefits and we get taxed to death.

Just making these few adjustments would help balance the budget and relieve taxpayers from paying more taxes.

J. LITTLE
Bethel Park

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