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Pittsburgh City Council

Vehicle repair bills on track to reach $5.3 million this year.

Written by Amy Whipple

The repair budget for the city’s aging vehicle fleet is breaking down as quickly as its trucks.

The 2026 budget included $3.9 million for unexpected repairs. Branwyn Turnage, acting fleet manager, said during the July 1 committee meeting, “We are averaging close to around $440,000 a month.” If that rate of spending continues, unexpected vehicle repairs will cost the city almost $5.3 million by the end of the year.

Turnage said that increase may slow down soon.

Last week, Mayor Corey O’Connor announced a five-year, $55 million partnership with Highmark and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to assist with the fleet. Last year, council authorized $20 million — a $10 million increase — for the fleet budget.

“It has been a very busy purchasing year,” said Turnage. “Having that new fleet in place is really going to hopefully see those prices decline.”

Council Member Barb Warwick of Greenfield said that recently collected wish lists from departments across the city, which included almost 160 replacement and additional vehicles, totaled $62 million. 

Turnage said the department pared that down to a $15 million request for next year’s preliminary budget. 

Council also moved forward with a request for the Office of Community Health and Safety to purchase a wheelchair van, to allow outreach workers to help disabled residents.

Connections to this story

Topics:
City Budget & Fiscal
Governments:
Pittsburgh City Council
Public meetings:
City Council · June 30, 2026
Sources:
Resolution 2026-0656 — amending Resolution 775 of 2025, which authorized an Agreement or Agreements and Lease or Leases by and between the…Resolution 2026-0651 — amending Resolution 37 and 126 of 2026, which authorized an amendment to the cooperation agreement or agreements with…

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