PITTSBURGH \u2014 Pittsburgh\u2019s fleet manager says nearly 300 vehicles need to be replaced within the next two years.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s nearly a quarter of the city\u2019s whole fleet!<\/p>\n
For months, 11 Investigates has been shining a spotlight on the troubles with the city\u2019s aging fleet.<\/p>\n
The fleet manager, Firmin Maurice, today released the first fleet efficiency report, after the council demanded more information months ago. That report paints a pretty bleak picture of the aging fleet. <\/p>\n
Sobering comments were given by City Councilman Anthony Coghill on the aging fleet. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope and pray that our vehicles…it doesn\u2019t cost us a life. It\u2019s only a matter of time…it\u2019s only a matter of time,\u201d said City Councilman Anthony Coghill.<\/p>\n
For more than a year now, 11 Investigates has documented serious issues with aging city vehicles, including an ambulance that snapped an axle<\/a> while leaving the hospital and another where a utility door flew wide open and hit a parked car.<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s kind of terrifying to hear,\u201d said City Councilman Bob Charland. ))<\/p>\n The fleet manager is also releasing, for the first time, a report on the status of the fleet.<\/p>\n Five vehicles, he says, are critical and need replacing immediately…and another 287 will need to be replaced within two years.<\/p>\n He says that because of the aging fleet, the city is spending more money on repairs. One vehicle bought for 35,000 dollars has had 28-thousand dollars worth of repairs. <\/p>\n \u201cIn the past, it seems we\u2019ve just slowly been pulling that bandaid and yes, you will get it off, but it\u2019s going to be more painful in the long run if you had just ripped it off,\u201d said Fleet Manager Firmin Maurice.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re just wasting taxpayer dollars because we are spending so much on maintenance. We\u2019re spending more on maintenance than half the cost we pay for the vehicle,\u201d said Wilson.<\/p>\n The city has set aside only $20 million for vehicles for the next six years. Officials say they should be spending that much every year.<\/p>\n While Coghill admits this is a problem years in the making, he blames the current administration for not using more American Rescue Funds for vehicles.<\/p>\n \u201cThe allocation from this administration over the next four years is just laughable. laughable and not sustainable and won\u2019t work,\u201d said Coghill.<\/p>\n So the big question that came out of the meeting this afternoon was how to come up with the funding for new vehicles when the budget is so tight?<\/p>\n The council today suggested re-evaluating budget priorities and even the possibility of a short-term bond. <\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92025 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n