To My Fellow Allegheny County Citizens:
How many times have you heard this said, “Allegheny County residents deserve the most effective and efficient public transit system possible”? Sounds simple, doesn’t it? More than forty years ago, Port Authority was created and a comprehensive transit network was established. But what worked forty years ago is not necessarily the best system for serving today’s travel patterns. We need to change with the times and I’m pleased to tell you that we are.

For the first time in Port Authority history, we are taking a look at our bus route network to determine how to improve our service to current riders and attract new customers within available financial resources. In other words, how tomake transit simpler, faster and more efficient without spending a ton of taxpayers’ money.

In November 2007, Port Authority hired Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates to conduct the Transit Development Plan (TDP). The Project Team began with interviews of key stakeholders followed by an unprecedented level of data collection—taking inventory of the bus routes, counting riders, gathering and analyzing information on employment and residential areas in Allegheny County, along with other demographic trends. A monumental task to be sure, but invaluable to the study process.

And now it’s your turn to be heard! You are invited to attend one of six public open houses in June to be held all around Allegheny County. Come join us to learn more about the TDP and most importantly, tell us about the important places that transit takes you now and where would you like it to take you in the future. I promise, no speeches and no boring presentations! We have designed a fun, interactive way for you to show us your transit needs and ideas.

In addition to these open houses, we will be taking our show on the road and visiting many communities over the summer to provide more opportunities for you to learn about the study and tell us what you think about your transit system.

Simply put, your input is vital. The success of this study and the future of public transit in Allegheny County depend on it. So, I look forward to talking with you at the workshops or at one of the many community forums to be held this summer.

Thanks for helping us make transit great again!

Peter S. Behrman
Assistant General Manager Service Planning & Development

News and Notes
What Is the Transit Development Plan (TDP)?
As a component of the Port Authority’s Connect’09 initiative, a Transit Development Plan is intended to revitalize the Port Authority’s bus service – to help the service better match current demand, to make it simpler, faster, more direct, and to implement innovative practices and services.The TDP will also strive to better integrate bus service with the Port Authority’s other modes and with neighboring systems. All changes will be designed not only to be implemented within existing budget levels, but also to provide a foundation for future system expansion in the case that additional funding becomes available. The public will be involved at each stage in the plan development process including providing feedback on public needs and the plan’s proposed alternatives.

• Identify key issues
• Let stakeholders know about the study and how they can get involved

• Work with the public to evaluate transit trade-offs
• Develop the objectives to be acheived by transit
• Translate those objectives into transit plan possibilities
• Present those plans to all stakeholders for input

• Present final recommendations to all for review