Reps. Aerion Abney and Jessica Benham: A transit deal that doesn’t risk public safety

In response to state Sen. Devlin Robinson’s op-ed “Standing up for Pittsburgh transit — funding, safety and accountability” (Aug. 24, TribLive), we want to share our hard work in the House to get mass transit funded.

In the last two years, the House has passed five bills to fund our transit systems. The latest bill, passed in August with bipartisan support, even included road and bridge funding and accountability standards to deliver safety, security and efficiency — all using available resources and without raising taxes.

Unfortunately, the Senate has done nothing to advance these bills, which would deliver stable, secure, long-term funding to Pittsburgh Regional Transit to keep the buses and trains rolling so you can get to work, your kids can get to class and your grandmother can get to the store.

Instead, they put out a partisan plan that basically fills a pothole by digging another.

The Senate’s plan would fund operations by raiding critical dollars designated for safety and repairs. It would also mandate fare increases every two years, forever — regardless of PRT’s present or future financial situation. That means you pay the price for their inability to get a real deal done.

Our plan recognizes this was never just about buses and trains; it’s about jobs. Good union jobs with real wages and benefits. Jobs you can’t outsource. Jobs that let workers be a part of their communities and spend their money right at home.

PRT is, of course, one of the biggest operations anywhere. Seven hundred buses and 80 trains are taking countless cars off the roads, which has a massive impact when you get downtown and drive on streets laid out for horse carts, not Suburbans and Wagoneers.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is more than a name. They’re investing $100 million a year and buying local. They’re purchasing goods and services at home and multiplying the power of the money we invest.

Regional transit is making it possible for our newest graduates to live where they want and still work in our amazingly vibrant city — a hub of technology, learning and growth.

Investing in transit raises the bar for everyone. Properties are worth more. Businesses have an easier time hiring workers and can spend less on the massive cost of parking. Our world-class hospitals can get nurses to and from work and patients in and out with ease.

For many commuters, public transit provides the option of avoiding the expense of car insurance, tolls and gas, and the hassle of parking and moving cars to avoid tickets . For others — including older or infirm residents who lack the financial means or mobility for private transportation — there is no choice. For them, public transit is a critical lifeline to vital services.

The long-term, sustainable funding plan the House proposed will make a difference. It will create jobs, support jobs and build a stronger economy for all, while helping to keep our air clean for even more future growth.

And we did it with a shift of existing revenue and without raising taxes — not stealing from a fund meant to replace aging buses and improve rider safety. We can bump our investment and multiply the power of that money over and over again.

Our plan would fix roads and bridges all across the commonwealth to make sure everyone has a safer, smoother commute, including in rural areas .

It’s time to get serious about helping people like you. It’s time for the senator to remember who he works for — you.

State Rep. Aerion Abney represents Pittsburgh in the 19th House District. State Rep. Jessica Benham represents Pittsburgh and the boroughs of Brentwood and Mount Oliver in the 36th House District. Both are Democrats.