Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Why Not Use This Logic for the Connector?
The Port Authority is having a major case of “mission creep”. It has gone from being the County’s mass transit provider into a developer of real estate, specifically parking facilities, and even more specifically, pay parking garages. They must be trying to imitate their friends at the Pittsburgh Parking Authority.
After seeing the results of the failed South Hills parking garage (lots of unused spaces and parking fares not coming anywhere near the break even point), some board members are having second thoughts on building a similar garage in Robinson Township. Like the South Hills garage, this facility will be situated next to free parking. Any guess as to where people will park?
So now there is ambivalence based on the reality facing the South Hills garage.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the board took that same logic and applied it to the biggest boondoggle ever considered by PAT, the North Shore Connector? Consider: there are other options for people to get to the stadiums, to the North Shore for other attractions, that the Connector won’t serve people coming from the north, east, or west, and that the service will never come close to covering the operating costs. Even with these facts staring them in the face, they are too hypnotized by the promise of “free” Federal money and the demands of unions who want the work.
So, when the chairman, referring to the Robinson garage, said “I’d like to see it [succeed], but I don’t see it working out that way”, he could have just as easily been talking about the Connector.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/pittsburgh/s_439772.html
After seeing the results of the failed South Hills parking garage (lots of unused spaces and parking fares not coming anywhere near the break even point), some board members are having second thoughts on building a similar garage in Robinson Township. Like the South Hills garage, this facility will be situated next to free parking. Any guess as to where people will park?
So now there is ambivalence based on the reality facing the South Hills garage.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the board took that same logic and applied it to the biggest boondoggle ever considered by PAT, the North Shore Connector? Consider: there are other options for people to get to the stadiums, to the North Shore for other attractions, that the Connector won’t serve people coming from the north, east, or west, and that the service will never come close to covering the operating costs. Even with these facts staring them in the face, they are too hypnotized by the promise of “free” Federal money and the demands of unions who want the work.
So, when the chairman, referring to the Robinson garage, said “I’d like to see it [succeed], but I don’t see it working out that way”, he could have just as easily been talking about the Connector.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/pittsburgh/s_439772.html
