PAT should really have a "rush hour" rate? (Pittsburgh: fit in, 2013)

[Blackbeauty212]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

A lot of infrastructure is still being built, New York, example given, built those two new stadia for their baseball teams and they are supposed to be building a new subway line.

If the trains get the people from where they are to where they want to be, they are performing their mission.

That's really all that can be expected.

You know how long they've been building that subway line???? ... Lets just say the entire NYC subway was built in less time, and now they've pushed it back for the 1000'th time, the new competition date is now 2022 and that's just the 1st phase 96th Street to 59th.... LMAO...the entire line is supposed to go from 125th, all the way Downtown and into Brooklyn, forget about in our lifetimes, I mean will the Earth even still be here by that time???!!!

Stadiums don't move people efficiently around. Problem is the current system isn't getting people where they need to be... NYC population has so far overgrown its current infrastructure, its amazing the city still functions . When I used to live there at my Job, start time was 9:30, but it was 10am before you were really consider "late" and needed to notify someone. That half hour buffer just became apart of the culture because of peoples commutes and the unreliability of transportation. When it Rains forget it!, everyone in the office will be late, bosses didn't even look for an excuse, hell sometime you'd beat them to work even though you were late too.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by BarqCider

this idea that people and jobs will flee the city for suburbs or other cities because of increase to fares is funny to me. wages here might not be high, but what do you think of how folks who live in the dc area manage to live in an area where rent on average is over 1400/mo and they make 9 or 10/hr? they still take buses/trains into work, regardless of it being in the city or in a suburb of VA or MD. they make it work.

To think folks in this city are somehow unable to make it is just a disservice to be honest. While im at it, PAt should jack up rates on pitt and CMU if the students take the bus too, but that just my opinion.

you can't have the cake and eat it too, Pittsburgh.

We're not saying people will be unable to make it ends meet with higher commuting costs. We're saying Downtown isn't the only game in town. There will be a tipping point when some people will chose to work in the suburbs.

A person would have to be a fool, or have zero options, to live and work in DC for $10/hour. They are either living with their parents or renting rooms. $10/hour doesn't even net $1400/month. There's no need for Pittsburghers to live like college students for their entire lives, like many people are doing in the DC area.

[sealie]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

This site says that average DC parking is $270 a month and in downtown Pittsburgh some monthly go for over $300. So in some instances parking is more expensive here than in DC (public transit here is more expensive).

Fair enough. I still think 2.50 is a pretty high off-peak fare if transfers aren't free, and it's sub $200/mo to park if you cross the river. Really my objection is just being asked to pay more than most of the nation for worse service than most of the nation, and I especially object to telling Pitt/CMU students to reach deeper into their pockets, especially if the person making these demands is on their way out of town for good, so they'll never have to pay it, and if you don't agree it's because you're stupid and afraid of change. Way to win over an audience.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by sealie

Fair enough. I still think 2.50 is a pretty high off-peak fare if transfers aren't free, and it's sub $200/mo to park if you cross the river. Really my objection is just being asked to pay more than most of the nation for worse service than most of the nation, and I especially object to telling Pitt/CMU students to reach deeper into their pockets, especially if the person making these demands is on their way out of town for good, so they'll never have to pay it, and if you don't agree it's because you're stupid and afraid of change. Way to win over an audience.

100% agree. Paying more for less service is never a good business model.

[BarqCider]

Originally Posted by Hopes

We're not saying people will be unable to make it ends meet with higher commuting costs. We're saying Downtown isn't the only game in town. There will be a tipping point when some people will chose to work in the suburbs.

A person would have to be a fool, or have zero options, to live and work in DC for $10/hour. They are either living with their parents or renting rooms. $10/hour doesn't even net $1400/month. There's no need for Pittsburghers to live like college students for their entire lives, like many people are doing in the DC area.

I don't know if you know anyone personally there, but I know a lot of them have a degree and do so to save money. 20-40 year olds because of rent. Im semi shocked at your attitude about them, but im not surprised.

[BarqCider]

Originally Posted by sealie

Fair enough. I still think 2.50 is a pretty high off-peak fare if transfers aren't free, and it's sub $200/mo to park if you cross the river. Really my objection is just being asked to pay more than most of the nation for worse service than most of the nation, and I especially object to telling Pitt/CMU students to reach deeper into their pockets, especially if the person making these demands is on their way out of town for good, so they'll never have to pay it, and if you don't agree it's because you're stupid and afraid of change. Way to win over an audience.

more than most of the nation? hmm im not sure about that. True about the service lacking though. the system needs an overhaul for sure. Students paying more? if anything its just asking the overinflated tuitions that should help pay for the cost that students pay for it. part of the tuition includes the fee to ride the buses, no? there are some fees I find stupid and I rather it go towards the port authority than the school. its nonsense. if you add that up by the thousands, that's extra money towards PAT. that's all im saying.

yes I am leaving the city soon. doe that mean I cant comment on what I think should happen after living here a year? out of all the cities I lived in, Pittsburgh is the one that I cant find a single source to its issues. theres too many. I wanted to stay here post college, but it seems that even my career would stagnate and id be another under employed grad.

just am happy we can all have a civil discussion over this (for the most part) . id be sad if yac had to come and close it (shoo, go away yac!)

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by BarqCider

I don't know if you know anyone personally there, but I know a lot of them have a degree and do so to save money. 20-40 year olds because of rent. Im semi shocked at your attitude about them, but im not surprised.

You're the one using DC as an example Pittsburgh emulate while mature adults need to live like college students there. Why can't you see the positive aspects of Pittsburgh? It's truly an advantage that the majority of the population can afford their own housing. When we resist your idea of transportation utopia, you say "people in DC can afford it." I'm pointing out the ridiculousness of that statement. The people of DC are not affording it at the same standard of living Pittsburghers have.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by BarqCider

I don't know if you know anyone personally there, but I know a lot of them have a degree and do so to save money. 20-40 year olds because of rent. Im semi shocked at your attitude about them, but im not surprised.

People in their 20's and 30's who have degrees really need to rethink their life's plan if they are only making $10/hour and live in an ultra-expensive town like Washington.

People in that age bracket are in the phase of life where they are ordinarily building a life and a family for themselves- scraping by with roommates or living in mom's basement just doesn't do it.

They'd be better off in a smaller city, or a suburban area where the expenses are a lot less and they'd stand a chance at reaching some life's goals.


I can't say those in DC or New York who choose this life are wrong, its their own personal choice. But thinking that the city fathers here should strive to make that the standard here- well, it just doesn't seem wise. Businesses have other choices as far as location, and the people aren't chained here either.

[Kippy]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

People in their 20's and 30's who have degrees really need to rethink their life's plan if they are only making $10/hour and live in an ultra-expensive town like Washington.

People in that age bracket are in the phase of life where they are ordinarily building a life and a family for themselves- scraping by with roommates or living in mom's basement just doesn't do it.

They'd be better off in a smaller city, or a suburban area where the expenses are a lot less and they'd stand a chance at reaching some life's goals.

I agree.

Meg Jay: Why 30 is not the new 20 | Talk Transcript | TED.com

[sealie]

NYC, DC, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle. None have more expensive off peak non express buses, and NYC is the only tie. And all of them have superior service. Many of them have more expensive trains and express routes, but that's not a fair comparison.