Collect yourselves: The Pittsburgh Penguins resume their first-round Stanley Cup series against the Flyers in Philadelphia tonight. The Flyers used their bullying tactics to force too many errors and engage the 'Guins in too many fights in Sunday's third game to pick up their first win and close the best-of-seven series to two games to one. And should Pittsburgh collect itself tonight, the Pens will have a chance to take the series Thursday on home ice. Let's go Pens!
Herein lies the problem: Nowhere is it more apparent that Pittsburgh's South Hills trolley mass-transit system is anything but rapid than in a new consultant's report. Among the eyebrow-raisers -- the average speed of your typical Port Authority light-rail vehicle is under 14 mph; and the system has 60 percent more stops than the average of comparable systems nationwide and has an average cost per passenger that's 40 percent higher. Other than that, hey, this system is the model of efficiency.
The bid's the thing: The City of Pittsburgh has instituted new rules designed to drastically limit no-bid contracts. Previously, contracts for professional services largely were awarded at the whim of the awarder with few or no criteria listed. It's a very smart move in an era of strapped municipal finances. Of course, it's the smart thing to do in any era. Why it wasn't done sooner is a sad commentary.
