UPMC on Thursday donated $10 million to Pittsburgh for new ambulances, freeing up money for the city to also buy additional snowplows.
Mayor Corey O’Connor joined UPMC President and CEO Leslie Davis at a Downtown medic station — standing in front of a 31-year-old ambulance that has driven over 100,000 miles — to announce the investment. Much of the city’s fleet — including ambulances, fire trucks and snowplows — are old and prone to breakdowns.
The $10 million gift from UPMC will pay for nine new ambulances and a rescue truck this year, O’Connor said. He anticipates purchasing a similar amount next year.
That also frees up cash in the budget to buy more snowplows. O’Connor estimated the city would buy about 35 more plows to bolster its fleet, which saw dozens of trucks break down this week amid a massive winter snowstorm that dropped about a foot of snow on the city.
“This is the start of transforming our fleet, saving lives,” O’Connor said.
Officials have long struggled to convince the city’s major tax-exempt nonprofits to provide financial help for a city facing budget pressures. O’Connor campaigned on pledges to convince the city’s nonprofits to pay for specific needs that match their missions — like UPMC buying ambulances.
“We hope that this investment will serve as a catalyst for broader collaboration among other civic, nonprofit and private sector partners who share our dedication to the wellbeing of all of Pittsburgh’s communities,” Davis said. “This is about stepping up when the community needs it and looking ahead to the Pittsburgh that we all want to build, one that is safer, stronger and better prepared for the future.”
O’Connor said he is still talking with nonprofits about “long-term agreements” to provide ongoing financial support in lieu of taxes.
“We hope we can get more calls like this,” he said.
EMS Chief Amera Gilchrist said it’ll take about a year for new ambulance orders to arrive.
“I’m actually floored,” she said of the $10 million gift to buy new vehicles. “I’m eternally grateful for this because it’s going to mean so much for our crews. It’s going to mean so much for our residents.”
Officials have reported ambulances breaking down with patients en route to the hospital. Controller Rachael Heisler in a November report warned of “widespread service disruptions” if the city’s decrepit fleet doesn’t see much-needed upgrades. The controller’s report showed nearly half of the city’s vehicles “exceed their life cycles.”
John Atkinson, who leads the union representing Pittsburgh paramedics, thanked UPMC for the investment in new ambulances.
“This will allow our teams to have access to safe, reliable transportation while providing advance life support,” he said.
Heisler in a statement pointed out that nonprofits like UPMC “have a direct interest in ensuring that the city has safe, reliable vehicles to clear snow from the streets, get patients to hospitals, respond to emergencies, and keep people safe.”
“This investment is one step toward establishing a reliable funding source dedicated to maintaining a healthy fleet in the long term,” Heisler said.
City Council voted to raise taxes this year, in part to ensure that there was enough money to budget $20 million for vehicle upgrades. Officials have said the city must put at least $20 million into the fleet annually to make necessary upgrades.
The additional $10 million from UPMC will allow Pittsburgh to spend $30 million on new vehicles this year.
Councilwoman Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield, this month introduced legislation that would mandate the city allocate at least $20 million to vehicle fleet improvements each year. If nonprofits would consistently contribute, she said, it would reduce the amount of taxpayer money needed to foot the bill.
“You’ve got to celebrate the wins,” Warwick said. “I do want to underscore it is a good start — but we need to be getting more.”