University Times

At the request of several groups at Pitt, the Port Authority of Allegheny County is holding an open house brown bag lunch for the Oakland community on March 7, 11:45-1:30 p.m., in Alumni Hall’s Connolly Ballroom.

Port Authority representatives will discuss the March 27 service reductions, focusing specifically on the Oakland area, and will distribute revised transit route timetables and route maps detailing route changes and transfer points. (See Feb. 17 University Times.)

Port Authority spokesperson Jim Ritchie cautioned that the 15 percent cut in services set to go into effect in March is not open for debate. “The board of directors has approved the decision and these cuts will happen on schedule,” he said.

Twenty-nine routes will be eliminated and weekday service will be significantly reduced on 37 additional routes. Along with the reduction in service, the Port Authority will close its Harmar bus division and eliminate about 270 jobs.

The March 7 on-campus event is sponsored by the Oakland Transportation Management Association. OTMA staff also will provide information on commuting alternatives such as carpools and vanpools.