My favorite way to travel with my kids (ages 3 and 2) is by train. It’s much safer than driving, my son doesn’t get motion sickness like he does in the car, and I am free to interact with my kids. As I began researching a family vacation this summer, I started looking for destinations
The Port Authority’s New Fare Policy is an Improvement
The Port Authority has proposed fare changes to take effect as early as July. The public comment period runs through May 5, 2021, and the board is expected to vote on the changes later in May. The changes are as follows: The base fare for connect card users would be raised from \$2.50 to \$2.75
The Manual that Defines Street Signs and Markings Needs a Rewrite for Safety
In 2014 a little girl was killed and another seriously injured crossing the street outside the front entrance to Central Library at Springfield MA. City council requested that a HAWK (High Intensity Activated Crosswalk Beacon) system and a crosswalk be installed to allow for a less dangerous mid-block crossings. Street safety advocate Charles Marohn describes
Better Bus Stop Signs for Pittsburgh
I first moved to Squirrel Hill in 2012. Having grown up in an auto-oriented Connecticut suburb I had never ridden a public transport bus in the United States. Initially I drove when visiting downtown, driving south on Murray Avenue to get on I-376. The first time I tried taking the bus I assumed the inbound
How Pittsburgh Bans People who want to from Living Together
Pittsburgh prohibits more than three unrelated people from living together. This unjust policy causes major problems.
How Infill Development Benefits Transit Riders
When a development is proposed in Pittsburgh that will increase building space, neighbors often object. Sometimes they are able to get the project cancelled entirely, other times they obtain costly concessions that deter developers from even proposing similar projects in other areas. One reason they are successful is that the benefits of infill development to
N95 Masks are Now Available!
The New York Times is reporting that numerous small United States manufacturers of N95 masks are unable to find buyers for all of their masks. Major American retailers are not selling N95 masks to the general public because the CDC still requests that the public not use N95 masks to save supplies for healthcare workers.
How Transit can Support Better Intercity Rail Service for Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh may soon be getting additional intercity rail service. The Pennsylvania state rail plan for 2020 includes a second state funded daily train from Pittsburgh to New York city through Harrisburg and Philadelphia starting in 2023. Amtrak is also developing a proposal for additional federally funded rail service in Ohio including additional train service from
Why is the Media Reporting Discrepant COVID-19 Positivity Numbers?
From April until the first week of December, I had been plotting the positivity rate for COVID-19 tests on my blog. These numbers were calculated from the regular updates provided by the Pennsylvania state and Allegheny County numbers on the number of tests and the number of positive test results. Through the Spring and Summer
Should the Port Authority Fund Park-in-Ride Garages?
The Port Authority is redeveloping the park-in-ride serving the West Busway at Carnegie. The plan includes several good investments, including an expansion of the panhandle trail, storage for bicycles, and electric charging stations for buses. However, a substantial portion of the public funds are going to a bad investment, parking spaces for cars. Several transit