Did not include a bake sale, for the first time I can remember (in response to the comment thread yesterday).

Instead, there was a gift basket auction.

At the 61st annual Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner last night, Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg and Admiral Jay Cohen spoke to a crowd of over 600, including the 344 Eagle Scouts of the 2010 class.

Also, we got cake and chocolate that celebrated Scouting’s 100th anniversary.  Pretty cool (and tasty).

For as long as I can remember, drivers on the parkway east were greeted each December by a Christmas tree.  Last year it was announced that the tree would not be up this year  however the center pole remains, which I am now declaring to be Pittsburgh’s Festivus pole!

The state came through and is going to give PAT money!  Hooray!  And (even though I didn’t realize they needed to vote to accept it), they voted to accept that money!  Hooray!

Let’s stop that smile right there, mister.

In their latest blog post, PAT lays out what will happen, which of course, they don’t know many details of.  However, lest you think it would change, the fares will increase January 1.

Now, I’m actually not that upset about the fare increase.  It isn’t as big as I thought it would be, and really, prices go up.  Cost of living goes up.  Yeah, it sucks, but I can’t fault PAT for it.

However, before you think that their blog post is all kittens and rainbows, never fear, they are back and as mopey as always.  Some layoffs and service reductions are coming.  No details yet (they are being reworked in light of the new money), and no clues either.  And of course, don’t forget, this is the state’s fault, not PAT’s.

And again, I’m venting.  But when I’m constantly faced with sad, pessimistic writing of their blog posts/press releases (not to give them more work but the people that run @pghtransit, they get social media.  Maybe they could do some writing for the blog, make it more conversational, help riders interact with PAT more.  You know, since it’s social media), it gets tiring.

So at the end of the day, we’re back up in the air, but there is still lots of time before the service reductions and layoffs, so I’m not too worried about it.  There will most likely be a public comment time (isn’t there always?), before anything goes into affect, so we have that to look forward to.

Bedford Avenue (downhill side) between Crawford and Mario Lemieux Drive is closed, Mario Lemieux Drive is closed and tons of busses are parked all over the place. 

Drive elsewhere if you can!

The Post-Gazette reports that 76 people were cited for only have one passenger in their car but still using the HOV lane:

[P]olice have gotten complaints about rampant disregard for the two-passenger occupancy requirement

I walk past where the HOV lane dumps out every morning, and as I wait for the insane traffic from all directions to stop so I can cross the street three times, I like to see how many people are disregarding the “2 or more” people rule.

And then I get sad.  Because it is so very many people.

I’ll be glad to start keeping track and getting license plates numbers!  Usually I’m just waiting for a break in traffic through one or two cycles of the lights…I’m just sayin’ I could help out!

A new app was released today to help people downtown find a space to park.  Park Pittsburgh shows how many spaces are available in each lot, as well as showing the prices and nearby attractions to each parking garage.

I love that it came into existence out of the need of one man, and will now (hopefully as it spreads), benefit the entire city.

iPhone users can download the app, other smartphone users can go to a mobile site, or view the information via text message, call a number to listen to availability or view it through a web browser.  I’m guessing Mr. Benter uses an iPhone, but I am anxiously waiting for the Android app as well.

I went to the mobile site, and it’s pretty awesome.  The only addition I could think of, would be to add driving directions to the garage entrance using your phone’s GPS, although that may be a feature of the app, I don’t know.

Anyway, thanks, Mr. Benter (and your team of engineers and the Cultural Trust), for making it a little bit easier to park downtown, I can’t wait to see how this expands!

I got updates about the game via Twitter and Facebook as I was in Panera.  This was by far, my favorite tweet, after we had just won the game.

The Port Authority approved the cuts to routes, taking affect March 13.  The only word I can come up with is devastating.  The sheer amount of red on that document is astounding.

And speaking of, the document is so freaking hard to read.  The layout itself is goofy, but nothing that I can’t work with, and besides, I’ve seen worse before.  My big problem is the fact that you have to find your old route.  Or in my case, after being reminded once again that my old route no longer exists, find the old version of the current bus I ride and then see the cuts being made to it.

And of course, we have no specifics, so it’s more rampant speculation about what exactly the phrase “service reduced” means, and what it specifically means on over 90 routes (hopefully I counted correctly).  I’m guessing that “service reduced” means lots of different things to lots of different routes.

And don’t forget, this is not PAT’s fault.  Oh no, it’s the State’s fault.  While I certainly think they should shoulder some responsibility (everyone involved should, riders too), I’m so sick of hearing the same shuffling of blame every time a service cut is even mentioned.  We get it, you don’t want to take any responsibility for this.  But can we at least move on?

I’m venting, I realize that.  I’m frustrated.  Riders are frustrated, the city is frustrated.  I would even bet that PAT executives and state legislators are frustrated.  I’m sure I’ll discuss this some more in the future, we’ll see how things are once they settle down.

For now, just be thankful you have a Bus or T Line to get home.  You probably won’t be able to say that for much longer.