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MICRO MANAGEMENT, CONTINUED FROM PG. 08
Sandvig says that another major obstacle to Port Authority running services like a micro transit is how these suburbs are laid out. He says that large buses can’t navigate some of the small suburban streets of the Mon Valley, and have an even harder time driving between the retail shops and other businesses in the airport corridor. “A private developer built [the Robinson retail site] without transit in mind,” says Sandvig, “but businesses realized they could not get workers to the jobs.” Could micro-transit nonprofits be the future of suburban public transit in Allegheny County? It appears that county officials might be starting to think so. County spokesperson Amie Downs issued this statement to CP: “These micro transit entities have thus far enhanced overall public transportation accessibility in their respective areas. Accordingly, we would consider providing matching funds to other micro transit units on a case by case basis.” However, that future is potentially rocky, says Sandvig. “If ACTA and Heritage could get out of the transit, they would. It is expensive and difficult.” (While ACTA focuses on transportation, Heritage also
provides services like day care and a holiday food bank.) While Heritage receives its entire local funding match from the county, Ride ACTA also seeks funding from other sources. This year, it raised around $30,000 in donations from two of its largest-served businesses, Ibex call center and Fed Ex, and from the governments of two of the townships in its service area, Moon and Findlay. Sandvig cautions, however, that such funding could easily dry up. Manion says this fear of losing funding is part of the job. “We have to approach the county and townships and businesses every year; of course it is scary.” But McWilliams believes this is the sort of drive micro-transit agencies need to stay afloat. Just like PAT, both Heritage and Ride ACTA must submit ridership reports to the state that meet certain metrics to continue to receive funding. “If we don’t run our nonprofit like a business, and if it is not worth the investment, then we should question its use,” says McWilliams. “It is my responsibility. If I don’t do that then I will be letting thousands of families down.” RYA N D E TO@ P G H C I T Y PA P E R. C OM
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Borderline Pe r s o n a l i t y D i s o r d e r The University of Pittsburgh and UPMC are seeking men and women ages 18 to 45 to take part in a research study of borderline personality disorder. To participate, you must have symptoms of the disorder, which may include: troubled personal relationships, chronic feelings of emptiness or boredom, difficulty controlling anger or frustration, mood swings, self-destructive or impulsive behaviors, or history of self-inflicted pain or injury. Participants are interviewed about their moods, behaviors, and personality traits and will be compensated up to $125 upon completion of the interviews. Some participants may also undergo an fMRI scan. There is no cost for this procedure. Participants are compensated $50 upon completion of the fMRI. For more information, call 412-246-5367.
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER 09.16/09.23.2015
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