The two organizations on the North Shore that cause the biggest traffic jams have been skipping a task force's traffic planning meetings for the new casino.

While other parties, including parking lot owners, the Carnegie Science Center, Allegheny County Port Authority, Community College of Allegheny County, the planned casino, residents and Allegheny General Hospital all had representatives at the Pittsburgh Gaming Task Force subcommittee meetings on traffic and transportation two weeks ago and yesterday, the Pirates and Steelers were absent.

"The ... elephant in the room is that the elephants are not in the room," said Mark T. Fatla, executive director of the Northside Leadership Conference.

During yesterday's meeting, the various groups updated one another on traffic issues, including which intersections would be studied and which were due to be changed while the Majestic Star casino was being built.

Two residents, along with Mr. Fatla and Jim Wallace from Allegheny West, were even more exasperated when they learned that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl had reinstituted the North Shore Executive Committee, made up of representatives of the two teams, Continental Development, which is developing the land around the stadiums, and the Carnegie Science Center, but not any representatives of residents.

Mr. Ravenstahl's interim spokeswoman, Joanna Doven, said she didn't know why residents weren't included in the mayor's committee.

Mr. Wallace said team owners prefer a small working group to figure out development of the area, "which means they want to lock everybody else out of the process."

Mark Hart, director of business for the Steelers, said the team did not send a representative to the gaming task force meeting because the issues before the subcommittee are not specific enough yet.

He said the meetings "are not specifically focused on the technical issues and core analysis of event-day traffic that are the basis of concern for the Pittsburgh Steelers and our fans."

City Councilwoman Darlene Harris, who represents the area and also was excluded from the committee, asked how anything could be accomplished without all interested parties at the table.

City transportation planner Sidney Kaikai replied that the task force has to do its work regardless of whom is in the room.

"We have to move forward," he said.

Mr. Fatla said it was important for the teams to be at the meeting, as was the University of Pittsburgh, which plays its games at Heinz Field, so they could share information and be part of developing solutions to traffic problems.

"Another part of being at the table is when the group comes to a decision, you're part of it. You own it. You can't snipe from the outside," he said.

Pirates spokesman Brian Warecki said the team has been involved in its own way.

"We are actively participating in numerous working groups, including those involving the Port Authority, the city, [casino owner] Don Barden, community groups and other North Shore stakeholders regarding in-depth traffic issues and analysis," he said.

"We have also made it extremely clear through our statements and actions that we are actively working together with all involved to ensure we get this right the first time. It is critical to our fans and the future of the North Shore."