CALL TO ACTION!

Join Move Lebo and advocate to increase funding for sidewalk improvements, safer crosswalks and active transportation in the 2025 Manager's Recommended Budget!

Why? The current proposed budget does not adequately address the priorities* identified by residents in the Comprehensive Plan and underfunds enhancements to our sidewalks and crosswalks that will ensure safer streets and sidewalks for ALL our residents and visitors.

*According to the current Mt. Lebanon Comprehensive Plan, the #1 priority for Mt. Lebo residents when it comes to the sustainability and resiliency improvements is to, "Improve and expand sidewalk network and safe crossings." The #2 response when it comes to mobility improvements is, "Safe Streets for pedestrians and cyclists."

Here are some additional observations on the current budget and talking points to consider when preparing comments:

• Move Lebo is glad to see the spending on a zoning study, sidewalk assessment, and Activate Uptown. This is great for our residents and for our business as it attracts South Hills residents to spend more time and money in Lebo.

• The current budget includes recreation upgrades for the tennis courts, golf course improvements, etc. which is great. Could we think holistically and let people safely walk and bike to recreation? And park bikes. If we aren't ready to do the work in 2025, could we hire consultants to do the planning next year? And maybe stretch out expenses a little bit so that we wouldn't be in such a deficit. Recreation deficit is on page 57.

• We are budgeting more than $7M on police patrol and traffic safety. $450k on police vehicles and rifles. This sounds reasonable and is part of the Public Safety category. Drivers constantly run red lights here which is very unsafe for the public. Anybody who walks in Lebo has a "close call" story. Could we dedicate time to enforcing red lights until we get red light cameras? Traffic safety is in the top third of the service ranking, and many residents do not feel safe on our streets. Enforcement may also bring some additional revenue in. 

• The parking fund looks strong. Are expenses only focused on car parking? Could we start investing in bike parking? To bring more people to our business. Especially important in light of upcoming South garage work. One car parking slot can accommodate 5-10 bicycles. That's more people, more revenue for businesses.

• The sidewalk improvement program is just below the budget cut line, and the cost is just one third of a percent of the budget! Mt. Lebanon prides itself in having sidewalks. Sidewalks bring people to businesses. But our residents struggle to walk in their neighborhoods, get to schools, and get to recreation safely. Intersections without sidewalks aren't safe. (Insert your story of seeing someone struggling with sidewalks). Can't we find money for sidewalk improvement? Just to give you a sense of how small it is, parking fees generate a surplus three times larger than that.