Can Taxing Uber Rides Save Public Transit?
Pittsburgh Regional Transit and other public transit systems across the state are in big financial trouble. The state budget is due on Monday, and lawmakers are considering a few proposals to boost transportation funding — including taxing Uber and Lyft rides — but it seems likely PRT won't get what it needs to avoid service cuts. Laura Chu Wiens, the executive director of Pittsburghers for Public Transit, is here to explain what's on the table, what's at stake, and what she thinks could be done to build a more robust, financially stable transit system.
Want to learn more about the statewide campaign to improve our transit system? Check out Transit for All PA.
Learn more about the sponsors of this June 26th episode:
Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.
Want more Pittsburgh news?
- Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter.
- We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh.
- Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Why Pittsburgh's at the Center of the Grocery Store War
For better or worse, Giant Eagle has long been the main grocery store in town — beloved for its sheetcakes, bemoaned for its high prices....

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Salt Lakers are Adopting Storm Drains — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of Pittsburgh? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm...

Exploding Tick Bombs, Expensive Office Conversions & How Spooky is Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh's slated to get a lot more housing, from new apartments in the Hill District to converted office buildings Downtown to a decom...

Our Favorite Pittsburgh Coffee Shops
Pittsburgh has no shortage of great coffee shops. Some are perfect for getting work done. Others are better for catching up with friends....

The True Tale of Pittsburgh's Glowing Green Man
There's an urban legend that's left an eerie mark on generations of local kids: a story about a spectre with a glowing green face doomed...

Fall Color, Giant Pumpkins & Pittsburgh's Best Asian Groceries
Fall foliage is starting to pop around Pittsburgh. Host Megan Harris and contributor Sophia Lo share their favorite spots to soak up thos...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: A St. Paul Cell Phone Ban Teens Might Actually Like — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
Another Pittsburgh school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a stric...

Shapiro vs. Garrity, a Mafia-Style Toilet Fundraiser & TBD on New Local Taxes
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officially announced their 2027 budgets and … wow our finances are not looking good. Host Megan Harris an...

Pittsburgh's Indigenous History
Pittsburgh loves to talk about its history — the forts, the steel mills, the immigrants, the neighborhoods. But the story of this place s...

What Pgh Restaurant Would Hold Your Wake? Plus, Measles & Mulan's Cookbook
It's official: an Allegheny County resident just tested positive for measles. It's part of Pennsylvania's ongoing (and worsening) measles...

