Occupy Pittsburgh to Rally against PAT Cuts Friday

As part of 's call for a week of action, demonstrators will gather at the People's Park at 3 p.m. today before spreading out downtown to various bus stops during rush hour.  Fliers will be handed out at the stops to inform riders about looming cuts to service, who riders can contact to voice their concerns, and how to request a moratorium on all cuts to transit service.

is proposing a service cut of up to 35 percent, effective in March. The same reduction was proposed last March, but after a public outcry and demonstrations the cuts were reduced to 15 percent. When combined with the 2011 cuts, the new reduction would slash service hours in Allegheny County in half from 2010.

Facts and figures to keep in mind:

• PAT has 230,000 riders each weekday
• One-half of downtown workers commute via bus
• 54 percent of riders are going to work
• 15 percent of riders are going to school
• 6 percent of riders are going to medical appointments
• One-third of riders live below the poverty line
• Two-thirds of riders do not have access to a car at the time of their trip. 

Without an increase in state funding, public transportation across Pennsylvania is at risk.  To bring attention to this issue,  will be demonstrating along with Pittsburghers for Public Transit and One Pittsburgh. Please join us in this effort to preserve our public transportation.  Unless residents of Allegheny County can once again stand together to stop the reductions in transit service, many PAT employees and riders will be put out of work.  

***

This article was submitted by . Have news you'd like to share with Patch readers? Email information and photos to Sewickley Patch Editor at larissa.dudkiewicz@patch.com. 

Download the movie