Tackling the Grand Challenges of urban transit through BRT advocacy in Pittsburgh.
The aim of this study is to understand: how multiple actors engage in collective action in order to tackle grand challenges in urban contexts? We seek to answer this question in the context of the collective action towards the adoption of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system between the Downtown and Oakland neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a solution for the grand challenge of urban transit in big cities. Specifically, we will investigate the “Get There PGH” movement created in Pittsburgh which involved an extensive list of stakeholders willing to advocate and promote the acceptance and adoption of the BRT in this city, as well as emerging backlash from social movement organizations (SMOs) that were vocal against the proposal (e.g. Pittsburghers for Public Transit).
"From that sleepy little western frontier, to the industrial giant, to the economic collapse, to the rebirth, (...) That's where we're at in Pittsburgh's history." Bill Peduto, Pitts burgh mayor on the BRT project.
This is research is a collaboration effort with Charlene Zietsma and Anna Roberts from Smeal College of Business, The Pennsylvania State University. We are currently collecting data and we expect to have some progress during the next Fall.