[ Community Outreach ] [ Summaries ]

Community Outreach

Preliminary study and evaluation (looking at Stakeholders Committee input, existing transit systems and services, transit staff and drivers input, ride sharing details, a California University student survey, and Washington County community characteristics such as density, population, major activity centers, etc.)  were completed, resulting in a set of preliminary transit service improvement alternatives.  These alternatives were separated into 1) low or no cost restructuring, and 2) service expansion options. 

The low or no cost restructuring options involve ideas that improve existing services, increase utilization of transit and encourage ride sharing programs.  The service expansion options focus on increasing or improving existing services, serving currently un-served areas, transferring Para transit riders to fixed route service and serving employment and planned activity centers currently not served. 

The alternatives developed in more detail are as follows:

Low/No Cost Restructuring Alternatives

► Washington City options

1. New route to replace three existing routes; will have an expanded service span (7AM-5PM)
2. Bus service to either South Hills Village T station (more frequent service – 10 round trips vs. 6 currently) or use I-79, I-279 to Port Authority west busway (20 minutes savings in travel time); serve existing park-and-ride lots
3. Undertake public information/marketing campaign
4. Encourage Paratransit riders to transfer to fixed route; change local route to ‘route deviation’ service – curb to curb

► Mon Valley options

1. Add a midday trip to green line (Belle Vernon to Donora) (provides better midday service and more convenient for transfers)
2. Add more peak period trips (provides more peak period service into Pittsburgh and Mon Valley regional route)

Service Expansion Alternatives

► Washington City options

1. Two new local routes: 1) south Main Street – shopping area and 2) North to south
2. Expanded commuter service to Pittsburgh: improve peak period I-79 corridor regional service
   1. Use I-79 to South Hills Village T Station, or use I-79, I-279 to Port Authority west busway
   2. Serve existing park-and-ride lots

► I-79 Corridor Options

1. New local/commuter route (that connects with local Washington City route) between Southpointe, Canonsburg, Houston, Meadows Racetrack/Casino, and Washington City
1. Connects with local Washington City Route
2. Possible connections to Peters Township and to South Hills Village T Station

►Rural service options

1. New rural fixed route service - ‘rover’ bus concept where service is provided one day a week –  possible rover destinations include
1. From Washington: Midway/McDonald, West Alexander/Claysville, Bentleyville, Burgettstown, and Marianna
2. From Charleroi: Venetia and Marianna

Three public meetings (that will be conducted in an open house format) were held in August 2007 in three different locations: Washington, Burgettstown, and Charleroi/Monongahela.

1. August 20, 2007 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM – Washington County Public Officials Meeting – South Strabane Township Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall
2. August 20, 2007 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM – Washington Public Meeting – South Strabane Township Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall
3. August 21, 2007 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM – Charleroi/Monongahela Public Meeting – Monongahela Fire Hall
4. August 22, 2007 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM – Burgettstown Public Meeting – Burgettstown Senior Citizens Center

The following table highlights the event locations and their corresponding addresses for help with traveling to the meetings.

The project team and its sponsors also conducted surveying visits at various locations around Washington County during the months of July and August.  The planned locations included Burgettstown Senior Citizens Center, the Wal-Mart in Belle Vernon, The Washington County Fair, the Shop N Save in Canonsburg, and Washington Crown Center. 

The surveying visits were be conducted with randomly selected people at the specific locations identified.  The surveys were held at locations where potential transit service modifications and expansions were developed to give those affected by the possible changes – both current transit users and non-users - the opportunity to participate in the survey.  Those without a specific interest in transit were encouraged to participate.  This type of surveying allowed for a personal interaction where more qualitative information could be collected.  This type of outreach was intended to capture public input on the alternatives developed in an unbiased and comfortable format where open dialogue and information sharing is encouraged.

1. July 19, 2007 from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM  – Burgettstown Senior Citizens Center
2. July 25, 2007 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Belle Vernon Wal-Mart
3. July 25, 2007 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM – Washington Crown Center
4. July 26, 2007 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Canonsburg Shop N Save
5. August 11-18, 2007 – Washington County Agricultural Fair (Please call for specific times if you are interested in learning more about when representatives will be at this location.)

How do we coordinate a transportation system in Washington County to efficiently meet your needs?

This is the question that the study team asked residents, business people, government leaders, and others throughout Washington County as part of the project’s community outreach process. The goal of public involvement was to gather meaningful information about needs and preferences related to transit service in the County.

To properly represent the range of interests countywide, the study team gathered input from current service providers, government, agency and institutional officials and you!

The Technical Advisory Committee guided the study and met regularly.  Members included the study sponsors, City of Washington/GG&C Bus Company; Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority; and, Washington County Transportation Authority (Washington Rides) and cooperating agencies, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT); the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC); and, Washington County Planning.

The Stakeholder Committee provided input from a variety of interests including the State and County perspectives, local communities, business, educational institutions, and human service agencies.  This group held its initial meeting in December 2006 and met an additional three times in 2007 to keep informed of and provide feedback concerning study activities.

Public Outreach was ongoing.  We used in-depth interviews, committee discussions, telephone surveys, and online feedback. We conducted public meetings in three different geographic areas of the County.

As the public involvement effort progressed, this web site will provided specific information on committee meetings, online surveys, and what you in Washington County were saying.

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Technical Advisory Committee

Purpose: To guide the study                                                        

Members:

City of Washington/GG&C Bus Company
Dave Good

Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority
Valerie Kissell
Marc Roncone

Washington County Transportation Authority (Washington Rides)
Sheila Gombita

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Bill Beaumariage
Laverne Collins
Toby Fauver

Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
Chuck Imbrogno

Washington County Planning
Jeffrey Leithauser

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Stakeholder Committee

Purpose: To keep informed of and provide feedback concerning study activities.

Members:

Business Community:

Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
Washington County Chamber of Commerce

Educational Institutions

California University of Pennsylvania

Municipalities

Burgettstown Borough
Chartiers Township
City of Washington
Cokeburg Borough
Donora Borough
East Bethlehem Township
McDonald Borough
Monongahela City
Nottingham Township
Peters Township
West Brownsville Borough

Public Officials

Congressman Timothy Murphy, US District 18
Senator John Pippy, PA District 37
Senator J. Barry Stout, PA District 46
State Representative Jesse White, PA District 46
Washington County Board of Commissioners
            J. Bracken Burns, Sr.
            Diana L. Irey
            Lawrence O. Maggi

Social Services

Community Action Southwest
Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, Inc.

Transportation

City of Washington / GG&C Bus Company
Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
Washington County Transportation Authority

Washington County

Department of Human Services
Housing Authority
Planning
Redevelopment Authority

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Summaries

Documents are provided in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. In order to view it, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. If you don’t have Acrobat Reader, it’s available as a free download from Adobe.

December 11, 2007

-- Summary
-- Presentation
-- Agenda

June 8, 2007

-- Summary
-- Presentation
-- Agenda

March 8, 2007

-- Summary
-- Presentation
-- Agenda
-- Flyer
-- Goals
-- Profile Matrix
-- WCTS SH Comment Form
-- What We Heard

December 19, 2006

-- Summary
-- Stakeholders' Presentation

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© 2007-10 Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
Last Updated: 10/01/09