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February 8, 2007

Chancellor voices support for mass transit

Local and regional transportation issues, thrust to the forefront of public consciousness by the proposed massive cuts in bus service by the Port Authority of Allegheny County, were discussed at two campus meetings this month.

At the Jan. 30 Faculty Assembly meeting, Assembly member Van Beck Hall introduced a resolution urging the officers of the University Senate and Pitt’s senior administration (or their designees) to become involved with both civic and political leaders in uncovering additional funding for public transportation to assist the Port Authority.

County bus service is facing severe cutbacks beginning in June that Hall said not only would cripple the local economy but also adversely affect Pitt faculty, staff and students who rely on public transportation.

(See Jan. 25 University Times.)

Pitt has been a leader in promoting the increased use of public transportation by its students and employees to reduce traffic and parking congestion in the Oakland area, Hall argued in presenting the resolution, adding that Port Authority officials have invited comments and proposals from local leaders in response to the cutbacks.

Faculty Assembly passed the resolution unanimously at last week’s meeting.

At this week’s Senate Council meeting, Senate President John Baker reported on Assembly’s actions while student leaders at the Feb. 5 meeting echoed the concerns espoused in Hall’s resolution.

That prompted Chancellor Mark Nordenberg to remark, “Public transportation is important to all of us. Let me say that as we look at the group right here, you are looking at long-standing advocates and consumers of public transportation. We really were, as Van’s resolution points out, pioneers in recognizing the value of easy access to public transportation for the students and also for the faculty and staff. We are one of Port Authority’s biggest customers.”

In addition, a financially stable, viable and modern transportation system is a key ingredient for a vibrant community of the future, something he has argued in a range of settings over a number of years, the chancellor said.

“In fact, I remember at the end of one appropriation hearing a few years ago having one of the representatives come over to me and say, ‘I’ve never heard a university president use part of his time to say that public transportation ought to be adequately funded,’” Nordenberg said.

“As we look at this particular challenge, we also want to be keeping in mind that really the growth and improvement of public transportation is something that is going to be important to the University not just next year but many years down the road,” he said. “As I’ve said in other settings, I can’t believe that wrong-way bus lanes on Fifth Avenue are the best we can do in terms of meeting the 21st century transportation needs of this community,” particularly considering that Downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland are the second and third busiest commercial districts in the commonwealth and that Pitt draws large numbers of people from throughout the region daily, he said.

“When you think about the fact that we are largely land-locked and the best growth opportunities for us really sit down along the [Monongahela] River, [those opportunities are] very close unless you’re sitting in a car on Bates Street trying to get there at almost any time of day,” Nordenberg said.

“So this [resolution’s] assignment is one from which we do not shy away,” he said.

Although Nordenberg did not offer specific actions that the University might pursue, he did say that Pitt officials would not be testifying at any of the public hearings that the Port Authority is holding on the proposed cuts.

—Peter Hart


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