PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

pittsburgh: mass transit press conferenc
by vincent / blast furnace radio Friday, Jun. 18, 2004 at 7:18 AM
1-888-NOTOWAR

56 kb mp3 10 minutes 11 seconds the suits wake up and introduce legislation to save pittsburgh transit

audio link: MP3 at 4.7 mebibytes

: From Paul Skotelas of Port Authority:

Members of the Allegheny County Senate and House delegations will be holding
a press conference on Friday, June 18, 2004 to discuss legislation that has
been introduced in Harrisburg to address the long-standing funding problems
confronting public transportation agencies in Pennsylvania. The press
conference will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the entrance to the Martin Luther
King, Jr. East Busway, located adjacent to The Pennsylvanian at Liberty
Avenue and Grant Street.

Late last week State Senator Stewart Greenleaf of Montgomery County
introduced legislation, Senate Bill 1162, that would dedicate an additional
3.2184 percent of the state sales tax to public transportation, generating
an estimated $262 million statewide. In addition, the legislation would
remove the cap ($75 million) currently placed on the 1.22 percent sales tax
revenue dedicated to transit under Act 3 of 1997, producing approximately
$20 million.

The legislation was co-sponsored by members of Allegheny County's local
delegation, including Senators Jay Costa, Jim Ferlo, Sean Logan, Jane Orie,
John Pippy and Jack Wagner. Companion legislation (House Bill 2697) is also
expected to be introduced this week in the House by State Representative
John Taylor of Philadelphia.

Altogether, approximate $282 million in additional state funds would be
generated from the legislation each year to help transit agencies across the
commonwealth fund daily operational expenses as well as maintain and repair
existing infrastructure. This additional revenue would not replace existing
funding, but rather supplement it. For Port Authority, this would mean an
approximate $64 million in additional state funding.

I hope that you will be able to join me at the press conference to hear
directly from local delegation members on this important legislation. With
its passage, Port Authority and other transit agencies will be able to
maintain and enhance much needed public transportation services throughout
the commonwealth.



Location: entrance to MLK, Jr. East Busway, Liberty and Grant St. (downtown)

Contact: Steve at 412-361-3022 or sdonahue412@hotmail.com

notowar.com

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