Staying Connected

Last week, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced that the HOV+2 restriction on the Wabash Tunnel will be lifted until the project to rehabilitate West Carson Street is completed in December 2015.  This news came as welcome relief to commuters south and west of the city as cars without multiple passengers will temporarily be permitted to use the tunnel as another way to access Carson Street and enter downtown Pittsburgh.

The suggestion to open the Wabash Tunnel to single passenger vehicles was presented to me from a constituent in early August, shortly after the West Carson Street project began.  I received an email from this constituent, a resident of Ingram Borough, who made the suggestion and asked if I could work to make this change.  The suggestion had merit and I immediately contacted the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT) and asked them to consider lifting the multiple passenger restriction.  PAT acted quickly and indicated their support of this idea and after speaking with PennDOT, they received the needed waiver from PennDOT that would allow PAT to move forward with lifting the restriction.

The final approval needed to come from the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) as the original tunnel was built with federal funding and the original scope of that project was now changing and needed to be reviewed carefully to address any safety and maintenance issues.  This stage of the approval process took time, and was slowed by the federal government shutdown in October, but last week, approval was granted and the Wabash Tunnel is now open to single passenger vehicles for the duration of the West Carson Street project.

I tell this story to emphasize two important points.  Problems and issues can be solved when everyone works together, including officials at all levels of government.  Expanding the use of the Wabash Tunnel was a great idea and it seemed on the surface to be a quick and easy solution to growing traffic problems, but because of how it was funded, what its original intent was, and who is responsible for maintenance and safety issues it required several government entities working together to arrive at the final solution.  County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, PAT, PennDOT, the city of Pittsburgh, local and state officials, and the federal government all worked together to make this happen.

It is also important to note what can happen when citizens and their elected representatives communicate regularly on issues.  A five sentence email I received from a constituent who took a few minutes out of the day to reach out to me and to express a suggestion got this process underway.  I can’t emphasize enough the importance of staying engaged and contacting your elected officials at all levels of government when you have a problem, an idea, or a suggestion.  My job as an elected official is to represent my constituents’ interests and be responsive to their issues and needs.  I receive several hundred emails each week and I read them all on a daily basis.  Since first being elected to the State Senate in 2005 I have always encouraged constituents to contact me and stay engaged as me and my staff is ready, able and willing to serve your needs.

Even common sense solutions sometime take time and require people communicating and working together.  I commend everyone involved who played a role in lifting the HOV+2 restriction on the Wabash Tunnel including County Executive Fitzgerald, PAT officials, PennDOT officials, Congressman Mike Doyle, U.S. Senator Bob Casey, the city of Pittsburgh, and the local and state officials who weighed in and offered support.  Most importantly thank you to the constituent who in a short email helped turn this idea into a reality.