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Study Partners
The Washington County Transit Study brings together the commitment and expertise of a wide range of partners – public and private; local, regional, and statewide – to meet the transit needs of Washington County
Sponsoring Agencies
The following transit agencies are responsible for providing public transportation services in Washington County. They are the principal clients for the study and are represented on the Technical Advisory Committee.
- City of Washington/GG&C Bus Company – provides fixed-route public transportation within the City of Washington and commuter service to Pittsburgh. In a unique arrangement, the City has contracted for many years with GG&C Bus Company, a local private operator. GG&C provides not only transit operations, but also all transit administrative functions and all transit grant management for the City.
- Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority (MMVTA) – provides local fixed-route public transportation in eastern Washington County, western Westmoreland County and parts of Fayette County. MMVTA provides commuter service into Pittsburgh and operates a student transportation program for California University of Pennsylvania. Also, MMVTA provides an ADA paratransit curb-to-curb service (UpLift) to eligible individuals with disabilities within the MMVTA local service area. The Authority receives support from Westmoreland and Washington Counties, the Federal Transit Administration, the PennDOT Bureau of Public Transportation, and 21 Mon Valley communities (Allenport, Belle Vernon, California, Carroll Twp., Charleroi, Coal Center, Donora, Dunlevy, Elco, Fallowfield Twp., Fayette City, Monessen, Monongahela, New Eagle, North Belle Vernon, North Charleroi, Roscoe, Rostraver Twp., Speers, Stockdale, and Washington Twp).
- Washington County Transportation Authority (Washington Rides) – provides door to-door, advance reservation, demand-responsive service throughout the county. As the County’s major paratransit operator, its primary constituencies are seniors (through the state’s Shared-Ride program), persons with disabilities (PwD) through PennDOT’s PwD Program, and individuals on Medicaid through the Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP). Additional services provided by Washington Rides include PennDOT’s Welfare-to-Work Program, Veterans’ transportation and general public service. Service is available Monday through Saturday from 6:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. and is provided by Washington Rides’ subcontractors: GG&C Bus Company, Laidlaw Transit Services, Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging, Tri-County Access, and White Line Taxi.
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Cooperating Agencies
The following public agencies are providing financial, administrative and/or technical support for the study. They will be involved in future study implementation efforts as well. They also are represented on the Technical Advisory Committee.
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
PennDOT oversees the planning and allocation of funds for transportation projects throughout the state. Through its Bureau of Public Transportation, it administers high quality public transportation programs offering financial and technical assistance to local transportation providers. It provided a portion of the funding for the Washington County Transit Study.
- Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC)
SPC is the regional planning agency serving the Pittsburgh 10-county area and providing essential services to the region. The official Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), SPC directs the use of all state and federal transportation and economic development funds allocated to the region---approximately $33 billion through 2030. For example, SPC helps counties, cities, municipalities, and townships use federal transportation funds in a timely way. SPC is administering the funds for the study, providing in-kind services and overseeing project management.
- Washington County Planning
Washington County Planning has a variety of responsibilities that include mapping of the county, the review of land development and subdivisions and the orderly development of land. The Commission also maintains extensive population and demographic data for the county and provides comprehensive information to potential developers and the general public.
Washington County Planning conducts and prepares numerous studies regarding environmental, economic and general issues that impact county development and natural resources of the county. It provided a portion of the funds for the Washington County Transit Study.
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Consultant Team
The following consulting firms have been retained to conduct the Washington County Transit Study:
Gannett Fleming, a planning and engineering consulting firm, was established in 1915 and is listed among the nation’s leading consulting firms. The firm has numerous offices throughout Pennsylvania, including in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Valley Forge, and Harrisburg, and across the country. Gannett Fleming is a full-service, multidisciplinary engineering firm with national experience in the planning and design of public transit systems.
Gannett Fleming is the lead consultant on the team and is responsible for overall project management.
- Abrams-Cherwony & Associates
Abrams-Cherwony & Associates was founded in 1981 as a consulting firm offering a wide range of professional services in the areas of transit and transportation operations and planning. The firm provides these services for transportation agencies throughout the country with special emphasis on those located in Pennsylvania. Its role typically involves addressing transportation and transit service needs, operational issues and/or fare structure changes.
Abrams-Cherwony is overseeing the transit agency data collection and service evaluation process.
- Olszak Management Consulting, Inc.
Olszak is a woman-owned consulting firm located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since 1991, it has served a client base throughout western Pennsylvania and within major urban centers across the United States. Its specialties cover public involvement services, information management solutions, database design, nonprofit management, and social science research including survey design and analysis.
Olszak is overseeing public outreach and communications for the study.
- R.L. Pollock and Associates
R.L. Pollock Associates, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, provides planning and project development services ranging from project initiation to implementation. Pollock works with organizations to define objectives, assess issues, evaluate needs, develop work programs, and secure funding. Pollock helps organizations choose priorities and focus on the most cost-effective means to achieve desired results.
Pollock is conducting the analysis of alternative institutional arrangements for providing transit services in Washington County.
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© 2007-10 Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
Last Updated: 10/01/09
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