(March 15, 2006)
Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato today announced the creation of a “Transportation Action Team,” a group he has charged with developing a transportation plan with achievable results in both the short term and long term.

“The team will spend considerable time evaluating existing transportation plans and looking for ways they might connect to or compliment the transportation plan I unveiled last year,” said Onorato. “I have made it clear that I want the team to identify feasible projects and programs that will improve mobility and promote economic development.”

In April 2005, Onorato announced his six-point transportation plan, which includes:

• Downtown to Oakland rapid aerial transit;
• Downtown to Airport rapid aerial transit;
• Use of existing rail corridors;
• Commercial use of Port Authority busways;
• Development of Port Authority transit stops and surrounding areas; and
• Creation of a regional transportation authority.

Team members include representatives from the airport area, Oakland community, trucking and engineering industries, Port Authority, and Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, among others. Dave Hickton, a nationally recognized transportation attorney and partner at Burns, White & Hickton LLC, will serve as chair of the Transportation Action Team.

“It’s critical that we begin to develop transportation initiatives from a community and economic development standpoint,” said Hickton. “It’s refreshing to know that Chief Executive Onorato approaches transportation in this same manner. I am pleased to donate my time and knowledge toward moving a viable transportation agenda forward.”

To date, the Transportation Action Team has met three times and will continue to convene throughout the coming months. Chief Executive Onorato is requesting an action plan by the end of summer 2006.

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Allegheny County Transportation Action Team Members:

• Dave Hickton, Partner, Burns, White & Hickton LLC (Chair)
• Al Ahmed, President, A&A Consulting
• Jim Burn, Port Authority Board Member
• Dennis Davin, Director, Allegheny County Department of Economic Development
• Sally Haas, Executive Director, Airport Area Chamber of Commerce
• Chuck Hammel, President, Pitt Ohio Express
• Lynn Heckman, Director of Planning, Allegheny County Department of Economic Development
• Ashley Henry, Deputy Chief of Staff, Allegheny County Chief Executive’s Office
• Maureen McFalls, Director of Governmental Relations, Carnegie Mellon University
• Joe Phillips, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Business, University of Pittsburgh
• Jim Smith, Bond Underwriter, Merrill Lynch
• Richard Taylor, Port Authority Board Member
• John Verbanac, President, Ideamill
• John Whiteford, Executive Vice President & Manager, North Region, Michael Baker Corp.

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