Pitt prepared for Port Authority strike

‘ ‘ ‘ As a potential strike looms over the Port Authority’s negotiations with its transit… ‘ ‘ ‘ As a potential strike looms over the Port Authority’s negotiations with its transit union, Pitt has put a plan in place that would prevent students and employees from being stranded. ‘ ‘ ‘ Kent McGaughey, the manager of transportation and travel at Pitt, said that his department has created an emergency plan, should Port Authority employees decide to strike. ‘ ‘ ‘ The strike might begin as early as Dec. 1, according to Pghtransitinfo.com, a Web site dedicated to providing information concerning the potential bus stoppage. ‘ ‘ ‘ This strike would cause innumerable difficulties for Pitt students and employees who rely on this method of transportation to get to the campus. ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt student Brian Frey lives in Mt. Lebanon, which he said is a 45-minute to one-hour bus commute to campus. ‘ ‘ ‘ Frey depends on the Port Authority system in order to make it to campus and has prepared other plans to get to class in the event of a strike. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I’m going to have to get a ride with my uncle,’ said Frey, a backup plan that Frey finds inconvenient. Frey also noted that his uncle typically relies on Port Authority as well. ‘ ‘ ‘ Frey and other commuters, however, would have access to a number of University-organized options if the Port Authority’s buses, inclines and light rail system shut down. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘The University shuttle system will be enhanced to include routes into Squirrel Hill, Shadyside and East Liberty,’ said McGaughey in an e-mail interview. These routes will allow ease of transportation for those students and employees who live in those areas. ‘ ‘ ‘ University commuters will also have access to what McGaughey described as ‘neighborhood gathering points.’ These locations would give commuters who live outside the Oakland-Squirrel Hill-Shadyside-East Liberty radius an easier option for getting to Pitt. ‘ ‘ ‘ McGaughey said there will also be neighborhood gathering points in Edgewood, Homewood, Highland Park and Wilkinsburg. ‘ ‘ ‘ The Port Authority update on Pitt’s Web site said that buses would depart from the neighborhood gathering points in half-hour intervals and would go directly to the University, stopping at the Cathedral of Learning and Children’s Hospital. Riders deposited on Bigelow Boulevard can then take a Pitt shuttle on a pre-existing route to other parts of campus. ‘ ‘ ‘ Both the enhanced University shuttle system and the neighborhood gathering points would be provided without charge to all University students and employees. Students would also not see an increase to the security, safety and transportation fee they pay each semester. McGaughey said that the cost to the University is not estimable because ‘it cannot be predicted how long a possible strike might last.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ For those who do not fall in the enhanced shuttle system operating area and for whom the neighborhood gathering point system would not suffice, a park-and-ride system would also be created. This would allow commuters to park their vehicles in a specific area and catch a bus. The park-and-ride system is a combined operation with UPMC, the update said. ‘ ‘ ‘ Park-and-ride locations would be established at Monroeville Mall, the Strip District, Fifth Avenue Uptown, Sandcastle, McKnight Road Cinemas, Parkway Center Mall, South Hills Village and Neville Island. ‘ ‘ ‘ The park-and-ride locations at Monroeville Mall, the Strip District, Fifth Avenue Uptown and South Hills Village would have a nominal fee associated. ‘ ‘ ‘ McGaughey noted that despite these plans, the University is not in a position to recreate the Port Authority bus system. Port Authority operates with 861 buses a day, and the University could not possibly expand operations to that point. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It should be emphasized that everyone is responsible for their own commute to campus, and individuals should be making plans now for a Port Authority work stoppage,’ said McGaughey. ‘ ‘ ‘ McGaughey also said that the enhanced bus system could be initiated swiftly. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Depending on the amount of advance notice the Port Authority or Local 85 provides, efforts will be made to implement the system within 48 hours of the work stoppage occurring,’ said McGaughey. ‘ ‘ ‘ Aside from getting to the University, students living on campus are also concerned by how the strike might affect certain aspects of their lives. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I wouldn’t be able to go to the airport, and I wouldn’t be able to go home,’ freshman Kristine Ellis said of a potential work stoppage. ‘I don’t know that the University would be able to help that.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Sam Barnard, a Pitt freshman who lives on campus, said that she uses Port Authority buses to travel outside of Oakland. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘[The University] needs to offer student buses that go Downtown,’ said Barnard.