First Night and Fare Changes

Two big happenings are taking place tonight and tomorrow...

Tonight is New Year's Eve and that means the annual First Night celebrations will be going on in Downtown Pittsburgh. More than 40 bus routes will see detours and stop changes, and since many detours began at 10 a.m., you'll want to check your route even if you plan to skip First Night or leave work early today. Click here for a full list of affected routes and stops.

We'll also be running two-car trains on the T tonight to accommodate riders going in and out of the city to celebrate First Night.

Tomorrow is New Year's Day, and the new year brings new fares for many Port Authority riders. Changes will go into effect for a number of fare options, including monthly passes, transfers and Zone 2 cash fares, to name a few. There's also a change in our zoning system, including the elimination of the Downtowner Zone and Zone 3. For full details on fare changes, please click here, or click here to read our earlier blog post that outlines key dates to remember.

On behalf of Port Authority, we'd like to wish you all a safe, happy and healthy New Year.

Change in Steelers Service for Dec. 20

Due to the change in kickoff time for Sunday's Steelers game, Port Authority has rescheduled its game day bus service.

The new schedule for special Steelers service is available on our Web site (link opens a PDF).

Meanwhile, on Twitter...

If you haven’t yet checked us out on Twitter, we encourage you to take a look. There you’ll find lots of useful information, including detour alerts, delay information and announcements about upcoming events. We’re tweeting at @PGHtransit.

Earlier this month, we began spotlighting a new Rider Rewards merchant each weekday. Rider Rewards is a program we started in December of 2002 to give our passholders a little something extra in appreciation for their patronage.

It’s simple – weekly, monthly and annual passholders can show a valid Port Authority transit pass at any participating local business and get discounts, freebies and other perks…anything from 10% off their order at a restaurant to 2-for-1 admission at a museum. There are Rider Rewards offers in place at hundreds of local businesses from all over Allegheny County and beyond.

Recently we’ve tweeted deals from places like Franktuary in Downtown Pittsburgh, Zipper Blues in Mt. Lebanon and the Mattress Factory on the North Side.

For full details on the Rider Rewards program and a list of participating businesses, visit our Web site. Rider Rewards brochures are also available on buses and at schedule racks.

Own a business and want to get involved? Call 412-566-5282.

Stay tuned because we'll be blogging more about Twitter in the near future...

Commemorative bus passes now available

Looking for a unique gift or stocking stuffer for sports fanatics and transit buffs? Port Authority is offering a limited number of commemorative bus passes that pay tribute to some of greatest moments in Pittsburgh sports history.

All sets include an official Port Authority pass holder and three passes commemorating the Pittsburgh Penguins 1991 Stanley Cup Championship, the Pittsburgh Penguins Back-to-Back Championships (1991 & 1992) and the Homestead Grays Negro League baseball team plus one randomly selected pass celebrating either the 1994 US Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club, the 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game played in Pittsburgh or the 1993 Pittsburgh Steelers.

Each never-before-used pass is in mint condition and features a unique design that changes or moves as the image is viewed from different angles.

Please note: These passes are memorabilia items and will not be accepted as valid transit passes on Port Authority vehicles.

Each set is $10 and available on the Port Authority Web site.

Port Authority Hosting Toys for Tots Drive

Port Authority and Q92.9 FM, in cooperation with the United States Marine Corps, will team up once again to bring holiday cheer to underprivileged local kids with their annual Toys for Tots drive.

On Friday, Dec. 11, Port Authority will be collecting new, unwrapped toys and cash donations inside Steel Plaza T Station in Downtown Pittsburgh from 5:30-9 a.m. Anyone can participate -- you don't need to be a transit rider to brighten a child's holiday!

Q92.9 FM radio personalities John Cline and Kerri Griffith will broadcast The Q Morning Show live from the station’s mezzanine level and give away Q Holiday Gift Bags filled with goodies to the first 20 listeners to donate! The Fox Chapel Madrigal Singers will also provide live entertainment at 6 a.m.

Please join us to support this very worthy cause!

For more information on the USMC's Toys for Tots program, visit toysfortots.org.