Politics & Government
Whitehall Councilwoman Considering Local Bus Service
Linda Book is pursuing travel options for—roughly speaking—the area between Caste Village and Brentwood Towne Square.
Considering the recent loss of a Port Authority of Allegheny County bus route along Baptist Road, Whitehall Borough Councilwoman Linda J. Book discussed an idea at Wednesday night's council meeting of an in-borough transportation service.
"I don't know exactly the numbers of the folks that require bus transportation," Book said on Wednesday, "but it's a significant number of homes on Baptist Road that have been abandoned by Port Authority."
Book said that she has spoken with Economic Development South Executive Director Greg Jones regarding that situation and has brainstormed with him "to see if we can get some transportation, perhaps, from one end—the Caste Village area—up to the Brentwood Towne (Square) area, where the large hub of Route 51 and all of the (public) transportation exists to go anywhere—and also for people who come into Whitehall to shop and work and other needs they might have."
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First discouraged by "a state law that prohibited local(ly contracted) transportation," Book said that she took her concerns to state Rep. Harry A. Readshaw, who offered an encouraging possible solution.
Readshaw, a Democrat whose 36th Legislative District includes parts of Baldwin and Whitehall boroughs, informed Book of Pennsylvania House of Representatives Bill 10, Book said.
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House Bill 10 "allows for the creation of local bus service," Book said, and it took effect on Sept. 13.
"He suggested, if I want to pursue information for our area," Book said, "that I would work with the PUC (Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission) to see if we can create some kind of service in Whitehall Borough."
Hearing no objections from her fellow council members on Wednesday, Book said that she would do just that.
Check back with the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch for updates.
Thoughts on this? Would you use this service? Or is there enough Port Authority service in Whitehall for you to get around?
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