Dream big, Port Authority

We at Pittsburghers for Public Transit are dismayed at the inaccurate framing of this article, “Advocacy group criticizes Port Authority for studying its route network while it doesn’t have enough drivers” (May 3). We support the Port Authority receiving federal funding to study its bus and rail networks, and don’t believe that the agency should wait to pursue that study until they have resolved its staffing shortfall.

Instead, we are calling for the Port Authority to use this federal funding to plan for an expansion of transit service that centers equity and reverses recent service reductions. Allegheny County transit riders are currently experiencing the worst transit service we have seen in our lifetimes: in March, Port Authority’s out-of-service transit peaked at 20%.

Thousands of riders have been forced to endure overcrowded buses, buses passing them by at the stop, and countless “ghost” buses that appear on the transit apps but never show up. Port Authority also recently formalized cuts of more than 6% to scheduled transit service, despite proposing the largest operating budget in its history.

We need Port Authority to dream big. It now has the resources to make that vision a reality. Reliable, expanded, affordable public transit is the solution to so many of the economic, environmental and pedestrian safety challenges we face today. It’s time for Port Authority to develop a transit service and operating plan to match the ambitious capital goals outlined in their NEXTransit long-range plan. LAURA CHU WIENS Pittsburghers for

Public Transit