You think its bad for PAT now, it's about to get A LOT WORSE! (Pittsburgh: assessment, horse)

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by SuburbanPioneer

No, but they will demand private transit options.
These demands will be fulfilled by the free market.

That wishful thinking ignores the history of private bus agencies in Pittsburgh, including very recent history. It also ignores the massive capital investment that has been made in PAT, which these hypothetical private transit operators could not make use of.

Again, this notion makes as much sense as allowing the state to arbitrarily shut down I-376, on the theory that "the free market" will magically provide a new road to replace it.

[squarian]

Most of us probably will adjust - if only because the alternative, refusing to adjust, would involve what exactly? Sustained urban revolt Syria-style? The Yinzer Spring?

What piques my curiosity isn't how this city copes next year, but the long-term consequences of this experiment. As far as I know, no major American city has dismantled its public transportation system since the 1950s, so this is pretty exciting. A new way for a new age.

Instead of "America's Most Livable City", I think Pittsburgh might be known henceforth as "America's Largest Social Petri Dish". And why stop with transit? Since we're in the mood, why not give other social experiments a try. Forced euthanasia, say. Or public hanging.

[gg]

Originally Posted by SuburbanPioneer

No, but they will demand private transit options.
These demands will be fulfilled by the free market.

Yep, if the demand is there, supply will be met. I don't think the demand will be there though. PAT will cut routes that are not that busy and busways will still be full since the demand is there on those routes. Hopefully all this shakeup will create a situation that some change can occur. Free market has an amazing way of taking care of the situation naturally. No more new taxes to pay for greed. Bus drivers making almost six figures and pensions that are way too fat. I personally am tired of paying for this greed and the power needs to be shifted away from these greedy monopolies that have way too much power.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by squarian

Instead of "America's Most Livable City", I think Pittsburgh might be known henceforth as "America's Largest Social Petri Dish". And why stop with transit? Since we're in the mood, why not give other social experiments a try. Forced euthanasia, say. Or public hanging.

We could do crazy stuff like put a perimeter of smart cameras in the South Side, put DHS and TSA employees on our light rail, build an FBI fortress in the middle of a major business district, think of the possibilities!

[squarian]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

We could do crazy stuff like put a perimeter of smart cameras in the South Side, put DHS and TSA employees on our light rail, build an FBI fortress in the middle of a major business district, think of the possibilities!

Or, hey - instead of light rail, how about we revive the underground railroad? We could help smuggle undesirables like Mexicans and Sunbelt foreclosure victims to freedom in Canada. We just have to think broadly, people - we can do it!

[LIRefugee]

Originally Posted by squarian

Instead of "America's Most Livable City", I think Pittsburgh might be known henceforth as "America's Largest Social Petri Dish". And why stop with transit? Since we're in the mood, why not give other social experiments a try. Forced euthanasia, say. Or public hanging.

In order to maximize the pain, the transit cuts should be enacted simultaneously with congestion pricing that will apply to all of Pittsburgh within a 3-mile radius of the CBD and Oakland, plus all bridges and tunnels should be tolled with no E-ZPass option. The additional revenue should then be used to replace abandoned buildings and urban prairie with surface parking lots using coin-fed meters only.

[Impala26]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

That wishful thinking ignores the history of private bus agencies in Pittsburgh, including very recent history. It also ignores the massive capital investment that has been made in PAT, which these hypothetical private transit operators could not make use of.

Again, this notion makes as much sense as allowing the state to arbitrarily shut down I-376, on the theory that "the free market" will magically provide a new road to replace it.

+100 Reputation.

Thank you Brian.

Originally Posted by LIRefugee

In order to maximize the pain, the transit cuts should be enacted simultaneously with congestion pricing that will apply to all of Pittsburgh within a 3-mile radius of the CBD and Oakland, plus all bridges and tunnels should be tolled with no E-ZPass option. The additional revenue should then be used to replace abandoned buildings and urban prairie with surface parking lots using coin-fed meters only.

Parking meters enforced 24/7, no weekend or Sunday exceptions.

[Blackbeauty212]

Originally Posted by LIRefugee

In order to maximize the pain, the transit cuts should be enacted simultaneously with congestion pricing that will apply to all of Pittsburgh within a 3-mile radius of the CBD and Oakland, plus all bridges and tunnels should be tolled with no E-ZPass option. The additional revenue should then be used to replace abandoned buildings and urban prairie with surface parking lots using coin-fed meters only.

Oh Man You'd hear some B*tching then....Pure Outrage

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

Oh Man You'd hear some B*tching then....Pure Outrage

Isn't it at least a bit telling then that there's very little outrage over this whole pat funding thing then?

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Isn't it at least a bit telling then that there's very little outrage over this whole pat funding thing then?

Says who?

We don't have much of a recent history of street protests in the United States, if that is what you are using as your gauge. What we would want to see is a scientific poll of some sort, but I haven't seen one.