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May 31, 2007

Transit cuts take effect June 17

Major changes to bus service in the county go into effect June 17.

The Port Authority of Allegheny County is cutting service by 15 percent, including eliminating 29 of the 213 weekday routes.

Port Authority also will reduce positions by 374, including layoffs for 267 current employees, effective at the end of June.

According to Port Authority officials, the moves are necessary to compensate for a projected $50 million deficit for fiscal year 2008, which begins July 1. By law, the transit company must balance its budget.

Of the 183 remaining weekday routes, service will be reduced on 104 of them, said Bob Grove, Port Authority spokesperson. “These are the largest cuts in service that we’ve ever done at one time, and we know they’re painful, but they are absolutely necessary,” he said.

Fares also are going up an unspecified amount in January, he added. “Our board will decide in the fall how much they will go up, and whether we will be keeping our zone fare structure or go to a flat fare structure.”

In general, commuters to and from Oakland will be affected minimally, Grove said.

“Oakland is probably the least affected area in terms of service cuts,” he said.

While new schedules are not expected to be distributed until next week, all service changes are reflected in printable schedules that are posted on the transit authority’s web site, www.portauthority.org.

To access a particular bus schedule, click on the link titled “Things Are Changing,” then select “Schedules” and choose the new timetable.

Also on the web site is the list of 29 eliminated bus routes with alternative buses, where applicable.

Pitt and Port Authority officials continue to negotiate on a contract renewal for fare-free bus rides, Grove said.

Last month Port Authority officials requested meetings to set a fee schedule for the agreement that allows Pittsburgh campus employees and students to ride buses and light-rail vehicles county-wide for free.

The current three-year contract expires July 31. Pitt is paying $3.38 million for the year that began last Aug. 1.

Grove said the Port Authority wants to bring Pitt’s per-ride payment closer to the average amount of payment from all sources of fare income, which amounts to $1.18 per ride. Pitt ridership averages about 485,000 rides per month, Grove said, which translates into 55 cents per ride.

Both Pitt and Port Authority officials have expressed the desire to continue the fare-free program.

—Peter Hart


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