University Times

Pitt bus riders having problems with the Port Authority’s new farebox system — specifically, those with valid ID cards that don’t work — have been granted a reprieve, according to the transit system.

Spokesperson Heather Pharo confirmed that until further notice Pitt ID holders will not be charged a fare if their ID card fails. “Recently, Port Authority and the University of Pittsburgh jointly decided not to impose a cut-off date because the few remaining issues are isolated cases requiring ongoing educational efforts for our employees and University ID holders,” Pharo said this week. Previously, the grace period was set to end Oct. 1.

“Overall, the project is progressing well and we continue to increase the percentage of successfully tapped IDs,” Pharo said. She said that during the week ending Oct. 10, there were 101,732 successfully tapped Pitt ID cards out of 110,627 attempts — a 92 percent success rate. That compares to an 80 percent rate during the month of August, when the system was first tested.

Pitt and the Port Authority jointly will determine at a later date the end of the grace period, when Pitt riders will be asked to pay full fare if their ID cards fail to work.

Pitt employees and students having problems are asked to contact Panther Central at 8-1100 or online at www.pc.pitt.edu/card/photoid.html.

—Peter Hart