Councilman Wilson outlines some resources for Northsiders to make their streets safer and employment opportunities for young adults.

Photo: Office of Councilman Wilson

Hello everyone,

As we head into the warmer months of this year, I wanted to discuss a few resources and opportunities available to Northsiders to make our streets safer and provide opportunities for young adults in our neighborhoods.

Traffic Calming

As warmer weather arrives and we all begin to spend more time outside, I wanted to remind everyone of the City’s Traffic Calming program, a petition process that will bring new infrastructure to neighborhood streets to slow down cars and make streets safe and accessible for everyone. Speed humps may be the first traffic calming measure that comes to mind, but there are many other options that the City can do to make a fast street slower and safer, such as narrowing driving lanes, installing bollards, painting crosswalks, increasing the visibility of existing sidewalks, or adding bump-outs to shorten the distance to cross the street. If you believe your street needs traffic calming, I urge you to check out the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure’s (DOMI) Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program. I also urge community groups in my Council District to bring this information before the residents of their neighborhoods and assist in coordinating the work necessary to start a traffic calming project. Since I took office, Northsiders have used this program to launch almost 20 traffic calming projects across my Council District.

Off-Road Vehicles

Off-road vehicles have always been a challenge in the District, but I know we all have noticed the uptick in usage since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to the residents that have taken the time to reach out to our office to express concerns and share information. I’m sure many of you saw or heard the noisy parades of ATVs and dirt bikes, ranging from 50 to 200 riders, that tore through our Northside neighborhoods last summer. These all-terrain vehicles are not designed to be driven on public roads and they pose a serious danger to the general public, law enforcement, and the illegal riders themselves. In January, I spoke out in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the need to find creative solutions to get these unlawful off-road vehicles off of our streets and out of our neighborhoods. I am urging ATV riders to please find responsible places to use these vehicles, off of public streets, and I am especially asking families to please keep your kids from riding these vehicles in our public streets. Recently, the Mayor assembled a taskforce to devise a comprehensive operational plan to address this issue. The three-pronged response will focus on education and community outreach, law enforcement collaboration, and investigation and enforcement. As part of the investigative process, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and its law enforcement partners will utilize any available technology to stop these unauthorized vehicles from driving on city streets. Residents can help by reporting any relevant tips or information. Please use the “Patrol” 311 ticket type on 311’s online submission form, call 3-1-1, or tweet @311pgh. You may also submit tips directly to the police at 412_TIPS@pittsburghpa.gov. In the event of an emergency, as always, please dial 911.

Paid Summer Youth Employment

If you are between the ages of 14 and 21 or a relative, teacher, or mentor to a teen or young adult who is looking for a job this summer, check out the Learn & Earn Summer Youth Employment Program! Learn & Earn is a six-week summer employment program for teens and young adults in Allegheny County. Participants could work up to 25 hours per week. If you participate in this program, you have the opportunity to earn money, gain valuable work experience, and develop soft skills to help you become college and career ready. Past participants have planted urban gardens, created websites and business plans, conducted research, and helped run businesses. For many young adults, Learn & Earn is their first job experience; for others, it has become their consistent summer job. If you are looking for a job this summer, apply by May 31, 2021 at https://www.partner4work.org/learn-and-earn/. If you need any help with your application, please call 412-932-2950 or email summer@partner4work.org. You can also contact Desiree Johnson at 412-584-9679 or email her at djohnson@youthplaces.org. To get in-person help in completing your application, use this information to schedule an appointment at Youth Places, the Northside Application Support Center, at 711 West Commons St.

If you have any questions or concerns about any of the resources and opportunities described above, or need any other assistance, please call my office at 412-255-2135, email my team at district1@pittsburghpa.gov, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

BOBBY WILSON  

COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT 1