University Times

Port Authority of Allegheny County and Pitt officials reached agreement last week to extend the contract for free rides for Pittsburgh campus I.D.-holders.

The restructured contract was extended to July 31, 2006, with a series of five one-year agreements, subject to annual review.

According to the Port Authority, beginning Aug. 1 Pitt will pay $2.28 million, a 20 percent increase over this year's $1.9 million fee, to cover the coming year. The 20 percent increase ($380,000) reflects the amount of an across-the board hike that the Port Authority put into effect last April 1 for bus passes and other prepaid-fee agreements.

The University then will pay $2.52 million per year beginning Aug. 1, 2002, through the remainder of the five-year contract, an annual amount that represents a 20 percent increase over this coming year's $2.28 million fee.

The fee is in exchange for unlimited year-round, county-wide free rides on Port Authority buses and light-rail vehicles for students and employees with valid Pittsburgh campus blue I.D. cards.

As in previous years of the agreement, either side can ask for renegotiation of the annual fee by giving 120 days' notice prior to July 31, Port Authority officials said.

According to Pitt spokesperson Robert Hill, Pitt's fee is subsidized in part by the $55 per term safety and transportation fee that Pittsburgh campus students pay. The balance comes from the auxiliary operations budget of the Office of Parking, Transportation and Services, he said.

Hill did not dispute the Port Authority's contract numbers, but said it was University policy not to publicly specify fees in a contract.

He noted, "Regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff on the Oakland campus who are eligible for benefits are eligible to ride the buses."

Temporary employees and affiliates on the Pittsburgh campus who do not qualify for benefits, such as post-doctoral students, faculty volunteers, certain clinical fellows, unpaid staff members and others, are not eligible for the service. Regional campus I.D.-holders likewise are ineligible.

Despite complaints about the system from some regional campus faculty members and others who are not issued the required blue ID card, Hill said no review of this policy is underway.

"The University is pleased to continue this very important agreement with Port Authority," said Joseph Phillips, Pitt assistant vice chancellor for Business. "There are many winners as a result, including our students, faculty and staff, the Port Authority transit system and the Oakland community."

"We are pleased to be able to continue providing this popular service to University students, faculty and staff," said Paul P. Skoutelas, Port Authority chief executive officer.

"This guarantees University customers will continue to have a high degree of mobility throughout Allegheny County, and it ensures Port Authority will continue to receive a significant source of revenue while maintaining ridership levels and educating young people on the benefits of public transportation."

According to the Port Authority, monthly ridership for Pitt customers has averaged about 446,000 during the first three years of the agreement, which became effective Aug. 1, 1998. The transit company's total ridership was 76.6 million in 2000.

–Peter Hart Port Authority of Allegheny County and Pitt officials reached agreement last week to extend the contract for free rides for Pittsburgh campus I.D.-holders.

The restructured contract was extended to July 31, 2006, with a series of five one-year agreements, subject to annual review.

According to the Port Authority, beginning Aug. 1 Pitt will pay $2.28 million, a 20 percent increase over this year's $1.9 million fee, to cover the coming year. The 20 percent increase ($380,000) reflects the amount of an across-the board hike that the Port Authority put into effect last April 1 for bus passes and other prepaid-fee agreements.

The University then will pay $2.52 million per year beginning Aug. 1, 2002, through the remainder of the five-year contract, an annual amount that represents a 20 percent increase over this coming year's $2.28 million fee.

The fee is in exchange for unlimited year-round, county-wide free rides on Port Authority buses and light-rail vehicles for students and employees with valid Pittsburgh campus blue I.D. cards.

As in previous years of the agreement, either side can ask for renegotiation of the annual fee by giving 120 days' notice prior to July 31, Port Authority officials said.

According to Pitt spokesperson Robert Hill, Pitt's fee is subsidized in part by the $55 per term safety and transportation fee that Pittsburgh campus students pay. The balance comes from the auxiliary operations budget of the Office of Parking, Transportation and Services, he said.

Hill did not dispute the Port Authority's contract numbers, but said it was University policy not to publicly specify fees in a contract.

He noted, "Regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff on the Oakland campus who are eligible for benefits are eligible to ride the buses."

Temporary employees and affiliates on the Pittsburgh campus who do not qualify for benefits, such as post-doctoral students, faculty volunteers, certain clinical fellows, unpaid staff members and others, are not eligible for the service. Regional campus I.D.-holders likewise are ineligible.

Despite complaints about the system from some regional campus faculty members and others who are not issued the required blue ID card, Hill said no review of this policy is underway.

"The University is pleased to continue this very important agreement with Port Authority," said Joseph Phillips, Pitt assistant vice chancellor for Business. "There are many winners as a result, including our students, faculty and staff, the Port Authority transit system and the Oakland community."

"We are pleased to be able to continue providing this popular service to University students, faculty and staff," said Paul P. Skoutelas, Port Authority chief executive officer.

"This guarantees University customers will continue to have a high degree of mobility throughout Allegheny County, and it ensures Port Authority will continue to receive a significant source of revenue while maintaining ridership levels and educating young people on the benefits of public transportation."

According to the Port Authority, monthly ridership for Pitt customers has averaged about 446,000 during the first three years of the agreement, which became effective Aug. 1, 1998. The transit company's total ridership was 76.6 million in 2000.

–Peter Hart