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Aging EMS & Fire Fleets Pose Public Safety Risk - City Council Week of May 12

City Council

Fire and EMS Vehicle Fleets Underfunded, Pose a Public Safety Risk.

Most City EMS vehicles and a third of fire vehicles are past service life or mileage limits. On May 6, council members agreed both council and the administration need to find funds. Proper upkeep would take $10 to 15 million a year, the public safety director said. Yet the five-year outlook allows only $3 million a year, a council member noted.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • Councilperson Coghill convened a May 6 post‑agenda meeting to discuss the City’s emergency vehicle fleets.
  • Bureau of Fire fleet has 46 vehicles past their service life or mileage limits (33%)
  • Bureau of Emergency Medical Services fleet has 58 vehicles past their service life or mileage limits (89%)
  • By contrast, the Police Bureau’s fleet is in good shape after acquiring 60 cars in 2022–23; the oldest vehicle is from 2016 with 125,000 miles.
  • Replacement vehicles can take years to arrive and be outfitted (e.g., two EMS trucks ordered in 2022 arrived January 2025; five orders from 2023 are not yet in production).
  • It would take $10–15 million per year to appropriately maintain the vehicle fleet across the departments according to Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt.
  • Councilperson Coghill noted the five‑year budget outlook allows for only $3 million per year for fleet investment.
  • A post‑9/11 federal program provided $40–50 million per year to the region (13 counties plus the City) for vehicles; that funding has dwindled and may disappear entirely.
  • Councilmembers agreed that both Council and the City’s administration needed to analyze the budget and pull from where they can to address what they call a public safety problem.

City Council

New Union Position for Neighborhood Crossing Guard to Help Fill Shortage.

At an April 8 meeting, council members discussed a longstanding crossing guard shortage and its danger to children at busy intersections. Now, a new union contract creates a Neighborhood Crossing Guard position. It lets qualified residents bid on specific local spots, which makes the job more accessible. Council authorized a budget-neutral transfer to match the new union contracts.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • Council authorized a budget-neutral $647,228.63 transfer to align with recent contract agreements with two Unions: Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 668 and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)s.
  • SEIU 668 now covers the City’s crossing guards and includes a new position called Neighborhood Crossing Guard. In that position, individuals who qualify for City employment can bid on specific, “hyperlocal” locations, which makes the position more accessible for interested residents.
  • At the April 8 Vision Zero post‑agenda meeting, members discussed the longstanding crossing guard shortage and the danger it poses to children at busy intersections.
  • Councilperson Gross called the new position “transformative for safety.”

City Council

Federal Grant to Fund Improvements at Homewood Park.

Homewood Park is a priority in the City's push for equity in neighborhood parks. With a $1.67 million federal grant, the City could add a field house, amphitheater, and gathering space there. Still, that covers only part of an estimated $12 to 16 million overhaul. Next week, a committee will discuss the bill to accept the grant.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • HUD awarded $1,666,279 for construction of a field house, amphitheater, and community gathering space.
  • The grant covers only part of the estimated $12–16 million needed for a complete park overhaul.
  • Homewood Park is a priority in the City’s effort to promote equity in neighborhood parks.
  • The bill to accept the grant funds was introduced at this week’s Council meeting, will be discussed in next week’s Standing Committee, and—if approved—will return for final passage in the following regular Council meeting.