The Fair Fares for a Full Recovery Coalition led by Just Harvest, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council, Pittsburghers for Public Transit, and UrbanKind, and advanced by the Equitable and Just Greater Pittsburgh network, commends Allegheny County Department of Human Services (ACDHS) for reaching sufficient enrollment in their public transit reduced-fare pilot project. Though the portion of recent Allegheny County SNAP recipients enrolled in this project is small, it should allow ACDHS to collect the data they need to demonstrate the positive impact of providing much-needed fare relief to low-income households.
Many enrollees have already begun to experience improved access to healthy food, health care, child care, and employment thanks to more affordable public transit.
Hill District resident Patrice Aaron says, “With everything I do in life, I rely on the bus because I don’t have a car. Having zero fares from this program has helped me tremendously, and I can use that $97.50 in savings every month to put towards rent, my utilities, and my son’s needs.”
The 12-month pilot program will likely conclude at the beginning of 2024; whether it becomes permanent will in part be decided by the next Allegheny County executive. The coalition urges all candidates for this position to commit to supporting and securing funds for a permanent fare relief program for SNAP households and to working with Pittsburgh Regional Transit to make that as cost-efficient as possible.
“Es una gran ayuda para mi familia. Ya puedo ahorrar un poquito para gastar en comida o en otras cosas. Quiero que este programa sea de largo plazo.”
“[The pilot program] is a great help for my family. I am now able to save some money to spend on food or other things. I want this program to be long-term,” transit rider Marilu C. explained.
A long-term, zero-fare program for all SNAP households will ensure freedom of movement, economic opportunity, and investment in underserved areas while strengthening the county’s transit system as a whole. The program will improve the health and employment of riders, increase ridership and bus safety, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. To ensure that such benefits are equitably distributed, the coalition urges ACDHS to make a permanent program more accessible to immigrant communities with language barriers.
Enrolled transit riders who encounter any trouble with their free or reduced-fares CONNECTCard should go to the ACDHS building at 1 Smithfield Street in downtown Pittsburgh during normal business hours.
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Just Harvest works to promote a just system of food access by addressing the root causes of hunger – systemic poverty and inequity – through policy advocacy, community-based solutions, and improving access to safety net benefits.
Pittsburghers for Public Transit is a grassroots union of transit riders, workers, and neighbors who organize for more equitable, affordable, and accessible public transit that meets all needs, with no communities left behind.
Pittsburgh Food Policy Council’s mission is to build a food system that benefits our communities, economy, and environment in ways that are just, equitable, and sustainable.
UrbanKind Institute is a Pittsburgh-based think-and-do tank rooted in a commitment to equity and social justice, bridging the gap between community experiences, public policy, and academic research. Its mission is to eliminate barriers to families thriving in over-burdened and under-resourced communities.
Equitable and Just Greater Pittsburgh is a regional network for people and groups committed to advancing equity and justice to connect, learn, collaborate, build power, and create change across interconnected issues and places. Our mission is to push for equitable and just policies and programs to achieve transformational, people-centered change in Greater Pittsburgh.
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