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$20 million annual fleet fund, support for survivors of sexual assault, and new signs for the North Shore

City Council

Pittsburgh ponders plans to spend $20 million every year on new vehicles.

When ambulances and snowplows sit in the shop, residents' safety suffers, city officials have warned. Now a council member has proposed a vehicle fund, with a goal of at least $20 million a year from 2027. The aim is to keep 70% of the fleet young enough that major repairs aren't expected. But council has held the bill for four weeks.

Written by Amy Whipple

The continuing problems of broken down trucks and emergency vehicles may come to a slow roll in 2027.

Council Member Barb Warwick of Greenfield introduced legislation to create the Fleet Vehicle Fund for the city to purchase new vehicles. Council’s goal is for the fund to receive at least $20 million per year beginning in 2027. The money is expected to buy enough new vehicles so that 70% of the vehicles in the fleet are within the age and mileage where they are not expected to need major repairs.

Currently, half the vehicles are older than that.

Throughout last year, representatives from the Equipment Leasing Authority, the Departments of Public Works and Public Safety and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as well as the City Controller all warned council of the city’s deteriorated vehicle fleet.

OMB estimated that bringing 100% of vehicles within their recommended life cycles would require at least $206.7 million over five years. The city’s recent tax increase brought the 2026 budgeted fleet investment from $10 million to $20 million. Council has not yet determined a consistent source of future funding.

Warwick said at the Jan. 21 committee meeting that the problem spans multiple mayoral administrations. Habitual underfunding has resulted in expensive repairs that eventually exceed the cost of replacement. City officials have warned that resident’s safety is jeopardized when too many vehicles are in the shop, such as ambulances and snowplows.

Council voted to hold the bill for four weeks. 

City Council

Council calls on state to increase its funding for Pittsburgh Action Against Rape.

Rape crisis centers across Pennsylvania have gone six years without a state funding increase. Now, City Council has called on the legislature to raise funding for Pittsburgh Action Against Rape and centers statewide. PAAR served nearly 2,500 people in the past year, about 15% of them children, council's request said. About 20% of its funding comes from the state, the Tribune-Review reported.

Written by Amy Whipple

City Council has called for the Pennsylvania legislature to increase funding for Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) and rape crisis centers across the state in future budget cycles.

“It’s important that we all speak out for each other all the time,” said Council Member Deb Gross of Highland Park at the general council meeting.

Rape crisis centers across Pennsylvania have not received an increase in state funding in six years despite rising costs and increasing service demands. According to the Tribune Review, 20% of PAAR’s funding comes from the state. 

Founded in 1972, PAAR was Pennsylvania’s first rape crisis center and one of the earliest in the country. It is the only agency in Allegheny County solely dedicated to addressing sexual violence.

According to the request by council to the legislature, PAAR served nearly 2,500 people in the past year, approximately 15% of whom were children.

One of PAAR’s services is providing support during hospital forensic exams. Last April, council authorized $36,000 in detective overtime to investigate an undisclosed number of attacks assaults including processing untested sexual assault kits.

City Council

The North Shore may have a lot of new signs.

The North Shore could soon get signs the rest of the city doesn't allow, like big screens showing sporting events. On Jan. 21, council advanced a bill creating an entertainment district that includes the stadiums, casino, and museums. Still, product ads and large billboards visible from the highway would be banned. A final vote is expected Jan. 27.

Written by Amy Whipple

If you’re looking for a sign for what to do on the North Shore, you may soon see a plethora of them.

Council voted to move forward with legislation to create the North Shore Entertainment District at its Jan. 21 committee meeting. The new district includes Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park, Stage AE, Rivers Casino, Kamin Science Center and the Andy Warhol Museum.

According to the legislation that was first introduced in Sept. 2024, the district’s attractions collectively host more than 20 million visitors every year. 

The sole purpose for creating the district is to allow for types of signs that are not otherwise permitted in the city such as large screens to broadcast sporting events and signs along the sidewalks where patrons can take photos of themselves and their friends.

According to the bill’s sponsor, Council Member Bobby Wilson of Spring Hill, the effort began as a way to create revenue for nonprofit museums such as the Warhol. Wilson said the bill allows for venues in the district to promote each other. For instance, a sign at Acrisure could point visitors to local venues for post-game events.

The change comes with a host of regulations including prohibiting product advertisements and large billboards that can be seen from the highway. According to Wilson, current restrictions on signs across the rest of the city will remain unchanged.

A final vote is expected Jan. 27.