PAT should do what the dc metro does: advertise on buses

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

Why would PAT go to any of this trouble when they can just extort the legislature as they've always done?

PAT can't even get the legislature to give them enough money to run basic service on a continuing basis.

[Goinback2011]

Hmmmmm......I recall last year when the PAT sky was falling on the 'retired' drivers with 20 years of service collecting pensions.

They're still getting those pensions and PAT is still operating, courtesy of state money.

[steindle]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

They're still getting those pensions and PAT is still operating, courtesy of state money.

And the entire rest of the state continues to operate, courtesy of people in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia getting to work by public transit.

[AnneWest]

It's been...decades...(oi) since I've been on a bus, but there used to be ads inside. There were these metal holders that held cardboard signs they could slide them into, all along the tops of the windows. They were inside the streetcars also. I wonder when they stopped doing this?

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

Hmmmmm......I recall last year when the PAT sky was falling on the 'retired' drivers with 20 years of service collecting pensions.

They're still getting those pensions and PAT is still operating, courtesy of state money.

If you want to argue that people who have already retired with state pensions should have their pensions cut, you can, I suppose. But I don't see how you can blame that on PAT or claim it is what PAT wanted since that would require a change in state law that no one running an agency as has for.

The people running PAT have been working on cutting pension and retirement costs for quit some time. See here for an example of the number they are working with.

http://www.portauthority.org/paac/po...ly2010FAQs.pdf

New hires have no been getting such a generous package for several years so. There was a big fight and near strike on the issue in 2008.

Port Authority, drivers reach tentative agreement; strike averted - Pittsburgh Business Times

There was another successful push for concession in 2012.

Port Authority of Allegheny County sees budget surplus - Mass Transit

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by AnneWest

It's been...decades...(oi) since I've been on a bus, but there used to be ads inside. There were these metal holders that held cardboard signs they could slide them into, all along the tops of the windows. They were inside the streetcars also. I wonder when they stopped doing this?

Those are still there on the older buses, but the designs have changed (more headroom and bigger windows). The newer buses don't have as much space up there.