FREE RIDERS, CONTINUED FROM PG. 08
AT FIRST BLUSH, the case that North Side
Make Rivers Casino
YOUR THURSDAY PLACE
2 THURSDAYS for $25
behemoths like the casino and Steelers should pay something for free transit seems easy to make. The Steelers, for instance, are the beneficiaries of considerable public support: About two-thirds of their $261 million stadium came from public money, according to Stadium Authority executive director Mary Conturo. And they were given, along with the Pirates, development rights to the land between Heinz Field and PNC Park. It’s the least they can do, argue groups like Pittsburghers for Public Transit, to give back in a way that ultimately benefits them anyway. And aside from subsidizing free fares, Nichols says, “PAT offers more service to these institutions when they have games,” a cost that the transit agency absorbs. But Nichols and other transit supporters acknowledge complicating factors. For starters, PAT never structured the contracts to collect money to offset the cost of beefing up service during special events, including extra personnel and
maintenance costs. (PAT does not track how much the extra service costs.) “All we ever tried to do is recover the fare we’re not collecting,” Ritchie explains. N o t eve ryo ne ha s co nt r i but e d equally, even among the city’s sports franchises that directly benefit. The Pirates, for instance, have never supported the free-fare zone despite being approached by PAT. The team did not return requests for comment. It’s also tricky to assess the fairness of the dollar amount PAT is asking for. The agency doesn’t track the number of people who ride the North Shore Connector (though about 6,000 people use Allegheny Station on an average weekday, according to agency estimates). So how exactly is the value of a station’s-worth of free fares being calculated? The answer isn’t based completely on hard data. “We … made agreements based on willingness to pay and value of the service we provided, and that’s the dollar amount,” says PAT CEO McLean. That argument convinced the Stadium
“IT’S EASY TO SAY SOMEBODY HAS AN OBLIGATION, BUT AT WHAT PRICE?”
CONTINUES ON PG. 12
• STARTER •
LOOKING FOR
Share Your Choice of:
Buffalo Dip, Nachos, Onion Rings, Pretzel Bites or Loaded Fries
GOOD PEOPLE
• ENTRÉE •
WITH
(Includes Vegetable and Choice of Potato)
BAD CREDIT!
8oz Strip Steak Breaded Shrimp Chicken Monterey Pork Schnitzel
• SHARED DESSERT • Dark Godiva Chocolate Mousse Cake with Caramel Sauce
WE WANT TO
Sunday May 10th
Space is ! limited
Reservations being taken for the following times: 11-1pm, 1-3pm, and 3-5pm
SLOTS | TABLE GAMES | DINING | NIGHTLIFE 777 CASINO DRIVE, PITTSBURGH PA 15212 RIVERSCASINO.COM DOWNLOAD OUR APP RIVERSCASINO.COM/PITTSBURGH/APP
$25 for 2 people Required deposit covers you and mom, studio fee for two (normally $9 each) and all you can eat catered specialty teas, pastries and hors d’oeuvres! Additional guests $12 each. Price does not include pottery.
Reserve your table for this event
South Hills Village 412-854-1074
Must be 21 years or older to be on Rivers Casino property.
CALL MR. “CAPPY” 724-327-0900 x 267
at either of our TWO locations today!! Pittsburgh, PA 15241
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER.
HELP YOU!
(Located IN the mall on the lower level, Macy’s end, across from the children’s play area!)
Squirrel Hill 5887 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 1527
412-421-2909
ROUTE 286 I MONROEVILLE I 724.327.0900
10
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER 04.22/04.29.2015