Reply #3: I don't give the PAT Board or Allegheny County's leadership much credit

[Coastie for Truth]

for intelligence. It seems thing went down hill when Dave Lawrence died, went down hill even faster after Milt Shapp's term as Governor, quit sliding during Caliguiri's too short term as Mayor, and have been in a death spiral ever since.

Sophie was a nice grandmother. Period. Tom Murphy is in way over his head.

I left Pittsburgb 20+ years ago - but my mom and sister and a few cousins are still there (and we have a "family plot" there) - and I own 1/8th interests in two Greenfield rental properties.

Transit systems are built in stages. (in the Bay Area BART was started at the time of SkyBus, and is still ten years away from Silicon Valley). So, I never expected the SkyBus line to reach me until I was retired and gone to warmer climes.

But, I think a successful SkyBus could have been the basis for a new growth industry in the area.

As to trolleys - as the history of the decline of urban mass transit is written - it is becoming clear that General Motors (through legal and questionable means) pushed that result.

My sister teaches in Beechview - so I have some familiarity with the issues.

Also, my dad's family is from the Route 88-51 area, so I know that area.