Welcome Aboard

Some random thoughts and gossip at the Bus stop:
That at least half of the 47 million dollar operating deficit is attributable to the agency flexing the money towards the North Side connector to keep it on time and budget.
That Steve Bland and other top management were secretly cringing when Governor Rendell decided to flex money to delay service cuts for at least this fiscal year which ends June 30th 2011.
That Mr. Blands portfolio may have taken a hit with the Governors annoucement as a large proportion of his investments are rumored to be in the shoe business.
That supposedly the Nelson-Nygaard Transit Development plan formerly known as connect "09" or depending upon where you live disconnect "09" was originally to be phased in gradually over three years was rushed into service to hasten the demise of the transit agency.
That the only things I see left in disconnect "09" to be implemented yet are the destruction of a few more routes and the pipe dream of a Bus Rapid Transit system with money the authority clearly doesn't seem to have.
That if the proposed service cuts do come to fruition and thousands of commuters are left scurrying for other options the 50,000 watt blowtorch of KDKA radio will have a large part in stranding them. This commercial radio station that prides itself on being the voice of Pittsburgh never fails to espouse the viewpoint of their "supposed" Free market ideaology and bash any Public Employees Union as being the real root of the cause to the regions and countries problems. If only lifes answers were as simple as they make it be.
That quite possibly the selling of our Parking assets and the elimination of our bus routes could quite possibly be linked.
That you have to ask yourself this question, the ones who gain the most economically by stranding commuters and forcing them into cars would be the very people trying to buy these assets.
That their Free Market hand thru campaign contributions may also have a part in a PA house bill introduced by (R) Turzai this legislative session that was killed in committee while the Democrats had a 5 vote majority.This bill is sure to be introduced this session as the party of Turzai has a 21 vote majority. What is this bill? As described by the Representative it's a bill to introduce competition in our public transit system and fix it.
That if these large conglomerates control our parking and our transit will this be the day we sing the song coined by Willie Nelson and made famous by the recently deceased "Dandy" Don Meredith. Turn out the lights the parties over. It will be for Allegheny County citizens but it will just be begining for the Goldman Sachs and other investment concerns. You really don't think your well being are more important than a profit do you?