COVID can't stop us. We gunna organize for better transit and affordable fares. Photo of Fawn Walker-Montgomery (PPT Board Member and Director of Take Action Mon Valley) delivering a powerful speech a rally for low-income fares. She stands at a podium with a sign that reads “Transit for People, Not For Profit” and speaks news channels’ microphones. A group of protesters stands in the back holding similar signs and a banner for PPT. The rally is outdoors and everyone is wearing a mask. Riders' demand for emergency fare relief for low-income riders made big headlines in the last month. Read more about the campaign & our demand below An emergency low-income fare pilot program would cost the Port Authority $4-8 Million annually. Port Authority is slated to receive nearly $300 Million from the two Federal Covid Relief Bills passed under President Trump. And they will receive even more under the one put forward by President Biden. Transit agencies, like Marin County Transit, are following federal guidelines and using their COVID relief funds to start low-income fare programs. It is entirely possible for Port Authority and Allegheny County to follow their lead. These programs help riders and boost dwindling ridership. It is one of the tools that transit agencies and their riders need to stay strong through COVID. Editorial from the Post Gazette Editorial Board Report from Ed Blazina at the Post Gazette Report from Daniel Moore at the Post Gazette's Washington Desk Report from Margaret J. Krauss at WESA Headline shared by StreetsBlog USA Headline shared by MassTransit Magazine Photo from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette shows a woman exiting the rear door of a bus walking confidently as the wind blows her coat, the red neon of Wood St Station glow behind her COVID hit us hard. But we still need transportation. Would you benefit from an emergency low-income fare program? Pittsburghers for Public Transit is pushing the Port Authority to start an emergency low-income fare program to help riders weather COVID-19. Fill out this quick survey if you would benefit from such a program, and tell why you want to see it start. Help push for change that supports people during this crisis. Complete the survey Photo from "NEXTransit" twitter title. With Port Authority's "NEXTransit" long-range plan logo in the upper right corner, and a filtered picture of a bus on the background. Port Authority is doing their first long-range plan in decades. PAAC just released a map along with a list of new potential new projects and priority areas. They want to hear public input. Photo form Port Authority's "NEXTransit" Long-range Plan: image of an Allegheny County map with different colored lines connecting different points that are identified as neighborhoods and municipalities - Oakland, McKees Rocks, Monroeville, Ross, etc. This is a chance to advocate for the changes we want to see. We need to make sure transit riders are front and center. It's only lines on a map, but it's exciting to see a vision of transit that connects Allegheny County. PPT has been on the frontlines of advocating for many of these projects and policies over the years. Now, this is a chance for all of us to advocate for an affordable, reliable, expanded system that puts riders first. Port Authority has been transparent with the fact that they receive a disproportionate amount of online feedback from folks who are white, younger, and more highly-educated. We need to ensure fair and proportionate feedback from transit riders and communities who are considered "hard-to-reach". 4 virtual public meetings are scheduled to discuss these maps and priorities. RSVP below: February 25, 10am February 25, 5pm March 2, 11:30am March 2, 6:00pm Port Authority also released these 6 surveys with more information about the projects and priority areas. See more details and give input by taking the surveys below. Be sure to share with folks riding transit now. image of a nondescript checklist, chart and gears, from Port Authority's NEXTransit long-range plan Take the survey for Policies - like fares, housing, & tech image of the northern part of Allegheny County from Port Authority's NEXTransit long-range plan Take the survey for the North image of the southern part of Allegheny County from Port Authority's NEXTransit long-range plan Take the survey for the South image of the eastern part of Allegheny County from Port Authority's NEXTransit long-range plan Take the survey for the East image of the western part of Allegheny County from Port Authority's NEXTransit long-range plan Take the survey for the West image of the central part of Allegheny County from Port Authority's NEXTransit long-range plan Take the survey for Central Allegheny County Photo of a riders getting on a red bus downtown on Liberty, with PPT's logo photoshopped on the windshield with text that reads "General Meeting" The Port Authority is coming to a PPT meeting (this may be the the first time ever!?) to to talk with members about the long-range plan. Yes, you read that correctly. The Port Authority is going to join PPT for our March Monthly meeting to talk about the long-range plan. Join us for this historic moment to learn more about the plan and advocate for transit equity 😁 RSVP Here Photo of a PPT Member Bill McDowell at a bus stop smiling with a raised fist. Photoshopped text on the left reads Access Is Love PPT has received 75 responses on the new Accessibility Survey! Help improve the organization by taking the survey & sharing it with friends. Your responses will help us to better engage transit riders and operators in Allegheny County in our efforts to expand and defend public transit. * If you prefer to fill out a paper copy, need a large print copy, need the survey in another language, or need any other accommodations, email: Toni Haraldsen [email protected]* * If you prefer to fill this out over the phone, call or text to set up a time: Jessica Benner at 3042687672 * * Si prefiere completar una copia en papel, necesita una copia en letra grande, necesita la encuesta en otro idioma o necesita cualquier otra adaptación, envíe un correo electrónico a: Toni Haraldsen [email protected] * * Si prefiere completar esto por teléfono, llame o envíe un mensaje de texto para programar una hora: Jessica Benner al 3042687672 * Signed, Team PPT Complete the survey Retweet this tweet Share this facebook post image from the Alliance for Police Accountability's Facebook page that reads "A Show of Force!" "66,956 signatures collected. 45,076 to stop solitary. 21,880 to pass breonna's law." "After County review - we will be on the ballot" "Thank You to our movement!" with APA logo and logos for their facebook and instagram Congratulations to the Alliance for Police Accountability & THANK YOU to all the PPT members who signed, collected signatures, and made calls. After a drive that collected 66,956 signatures, we are one HUGE step closer to banning solitary confinement and no-knock warrants. We expect to know next week or the week after if we're on the ballot. In the meantime - register to vote cus we'll need to turn out on May 18th! Register to vote image from a red articulated bus driving down the busway. "events" is on the upper right corner as a section title. Port Authority NEXTransit Long-Range Planning Meetings // February 25th & March 2nd // RSVP Here  ⭐ PPT Monthly Meeting: March // Wed. Mar 10th 6:30 Social Hour, 7pm Meeting // RSVP Here ‌ ‌ Pittsburghers for Public Transit | 5119 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Customer Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!