Your Daily Guide

Norfolk Southern Needlessly Blew Up Train Cars

After a freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio last year, Norfolk Southern blew open five tank cars, exposing residents to toxic chemicals. Now the National Transportation Safety Board says it never had to happen, and locals say they’re still worried about the long-term health consequences. [NPR]

• 🚂 Another Norfolk Southern derailment happened in Northampton County this past week. [ABC News]

First Allegheny County Exec Jim Roddey Dies

Allegheny County’s first-ever chief executive, Jim Roddey, died at 91 last week. Roddey was the former chairman of the county’s Republican committee and served as executive from 1999 to 2004. He helped shape the way our county government operates today and is remembered for his business acumen, philanthropy, and public service — both during his tenure in Allegheny County and time served in the Marines. [TribLIVE]

Pens Trade Jake Guentzel To Hurricanes

After a 6-0 loss against the Washington Capitals last week, the Penguins traded Sidney Crosby’s right-hand man, Jake Guentzel, to the Carolina Hurricanes. The move to trade Guentzel, a one-time All-Star and two-time 40-goal scorer, comes as the Pens deal with dwindling chances of making it to the playoffs. Find out who the Pens got in return. [Pensburgh]

March 11, or 311 Day, is a national day advocating for residents to report road safety issues to the non-emergency 311 line — and we have a Pittsburgher to thank for its creation! Dashcam For Your Bike founder Armin Samii is bringing awareness to obstacles for pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair users, and stroller pushers.

🚲 At 5 p.m. today, Samii is inviting locals to join him to report hazards along a 2-mile bike loop, starting at St. Stanislaus’ Church in the Strip District. ➡️ Learn about his bike safety app and bike mount!

Sometimes the biggest improvements can come from small requests, and we have the power to make our city more safe and accessible for all. Never reported before? Here’s the 411 on 311.

What Should Be Reported?

Anything that’s a nuisance and a safety issue, but not an emergency, can be reported to the city’s 311 line: traffic issues, potholes, dangerous sidewalks, overgrown trees, abandoned properties, damaged electrical wires, illegal parking, dead animals, etc.

How Do You Contact 311?

• Dial “311” to talk to a live operator from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you’re outside of Pittsburgh, call 412-255-2621. You can also text!
• Fill out a request form on the city website.
• Report via the MyBurgh app 24/7 by selecting “service request,” adding your location, and uploading a picture. The app is available for IOS and Android devices.

How Do You Get the City To Respond?

Pittsburgh got over 103,000 requests in 2023! This data helps the city determine unsafe areas, especially as Pittsburgh works toward its Vision Zero goal: no traffic-related deaths or serious injuries. Samii’s best tips for getting the city to respond to your request are to be patient, be nice, and be specific. The more details you include — like photo or video evidence — the better!

And good news: The city says it’s working on software improvements and even a new app. So stay tuned!