Port Authority’s Board of Directors today approved scaling back the planned 35 percent service reduction scheduled for March to 15 percent.
The 15-percent reduction would go into effect March 27 and allow the Authority to stretch short-term funding issued by the State over 18 months, through June 30, 2012.
The Board recognizes that the reductions are not ideal and certainly will have a negative impact on the region. It is the Board’s intention that the reductions are temporary due to a funding gap for transportation programs at the State level.
Neither the $45 million recently approved for Port Authority by the State nor the Board’s vote today resolve the crisis. A gap remains in State funding for transit, highway and bridge programs. The Authority is hopeful that local and State leaders are able to resolve the funding issues during the next 18 months.
More information on the 15-percent service reduction is available by clicking here, or by calling Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or the TTY number, (412) 231-7007.
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(My transit route) is more important than (other transit route)! It takes me (inflated measure of time) to get to work in the morning! If these cuts happen, I'll lose my job (which I was lucky enough to have in the first place, many PAT drivers are not). Cut everyone else's routes, but don't cut mine!!!
ReplyDeleteSo even after all this you guys are still cutting buses?
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing the fare will probably go up again and Zone 2 folks will have to suffer.
Unbelievable...
Kudos to you guys for posting the FAQ on the service reduction page--the level of detail was refreshing.
ReplyDeleteI have a question that I believe others asked but wasn't addressed. The original TDP proposed redesigning the current 68J (P76 would be the new title) so that it will not go through Forest Hills anymore, but instead go through Braddock and enter the Busway in Swissvale. The new service changes say that service will be reduced...but will the route still be changed or is that off the table? I live in Forest Hills and just want to know if the 68J/P76 will be cut from my area or not.
ReplyDeleteConsidering how many riders there are in Forest Hills, combined with the fact that the 68F is being reduced, I think switching the Lincoln Highway Express route would be a dumb move for a well-used route.
I discovered last night that my walk from Pitt to Shadyside is faster than waiting for and riding the 75 . In fact, the 75 never even passed me as I walked home along its route.
ReplyDeleteNice to know that your service reductions are at least going to keep me active.
I give up....
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, chill out. Some of us do have to travel a long way to work and do not have cars. I have to catch three buses to work daily, one of which in the 25 Moon, which is slated for elimination. I know a ton of people who need that route to get to work and go to school. I know they want to get rid of some of these out-lier routes, but cutting a bus that serves RMU is quite dumb.
ReplyDeleteThe service reductions to the West Busway routes make no sense. The G1 and G2 routes are two of PAT's most heavily used routes, and you are proposing to eliminate the G1 and eliminate the G2 trips to Oakland?
ReplyDeleteCurrently 5 routes service the West Busway (G1, G2, G3, G31, and 28X) and over crowding and riders being left behind due to no room are still an issue. Eliminating the G1 will only exacerbate these issues.
Are you going to add additional G2 trips in order to make up for the loss of the G1 trips?
The region's largest employer, UPMC, is located in Oakland as well as the region's largest university, Pitt. Additionally, 3 other universities are also located in the Oakland/Shadyside area, Carlow, Chatam, CMU. A large percentage of the staff and students at these institutions are commuters, and many live along the West Busway. PAT is proposing to remove the best route into Oakland for these people, the G2.
After the proposed cuts in March, the only direct route to Oakland will be the 28X. In theory riders who need to get to Oakland could take another bus into town and transfer to a 2nd bus to Oakland, however many of the Oakland routes will receive service reductions in March (61A, 71A, 71B, 71C, 71D, 81B, 93). Those reductions will likely cause issues for transfers- overcrowding, long wait times, etc.
Since the 28X will be the only West Busway route to offer direct access to Oakland, will the 28X continue to pick up riders at all stops inbound to compensate for the loss of Oakland service on the G2? Will the 28X discharge riders at all stops outbound?
Will additional 28X trips be offered during rush hour to compensate for the addition of service to Robinson Towne Center that is currently serviced by the G1?
Tom S.:
ReplyDeleteThe 68F isn't being reduced. It is being converted to the P69 with the same number of trips -- "trip time changes" on the chart just means that the time you catch your bus will probably change.
Additionally, I believe the P76 will run the same routing as the 68J for the time being.
I agree with Christin. If the Port Authority is going to eliminate West Busway to Oakland Service, then they need to remove all stop restrictions on the 28X so that people from Bell, Idlewood, Crafton, Ingram and Sheraden can utilize the route to and from Oakland.
ReplyDeleteThe ideal situation would be to keep the G1 and G2. Have one go to Oakland, have one not. Provide services to and from Oakland during Peak periods, and also a few on weekends so that employees of hospitals and universities who get on/off work at 7a, 3p, 7p and 11p have a direct route to/from West Busway and also, to act as a supplement to current Oakland/downtown Pittsburgh service.
But if we can't do that, remove all stop restrictions on 28X.
Will the P76 still run the same number as trips as the current 68J in March?
ReplyDeletei third the argument that you cannot cut service on the West Busway...obviously if you think you can then you have never ridden at any point...because every bus is packed...please have actual port authority figures sit on the buses and ride them before making these arbitrary decisions..
ReplyDeleteI live in White Oak Boro and use the 61 White Oak bus which the PAT Board recently voted to eliminate as of 3-27-11. As a result of this elimination numerous residents, individuals and families without cars will no longer be able to buy groceries, get to the doctor, do banking, or pick up prescriptions. Others will no longer be able to get to McKeesport to make connections with PAT buses going to Pittsburgh. In other areas of Allegheny County where bus service will be eliminated alternate service is available, but we do not have that option. While PAT Board Member Jeffrey Letwin claims to feel "intense anguish" regarding the upcoming service eliminations, I hope he thinks about how White Oak residents are feeling.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous at 1:03pm (1/21):
ReplyDeleteThere will be a service reduction on P76 as compared to 68J. More specific details on that will be available in the coming weeks.
Anonymous at 2:06pm (1/21):
The decision to cut service is never an easy one, and after making Transit Development Plan route changes, there isn't a lot of "fat" left to trim from our route system.
We looked at cost per rider, availability of duplicate service, efficiency and other factors when determining how to arrive at a reduction of 15% of our service hours.
Our employees have ridden West Busway routes both as observers and as daily riders commuting to work. We know these cuts aren't desirable and will impact many people. That is why we continue to advocate for a sustainable, reliable solution for funding transportation.
A better idea and more practical idea is to cut the salaries of the operators and others by 15%. Ralph Kramden was a real bus driver. There is no way these salaries can be justified for driving a bus. Maybe they can learn from the BCTA.
ReplyDeleteHaha if you haven't figured it out the people running and making all the decisions at port authority aren't the most intelligent. It takes very irresponsible people to have such a deficit in funding. LEARN HOW TO MANAGE OUR MONEY.
ReplyDelete"Our employees have ridden West Busway routes both as observers and as daily riders commuting to work. We know these cuts aren't desirable and will impact many people."
ReplyDeleteSo you know that with 5 routes currently serving the West Busway overcrowding during rush hour and riders being left behind are still an issue. The proposed cuts in March are going to make that situation worse.
Are you going to add additional G2 trips in order to make up for the loss of the G1 trips?
Will the 28X continue to pick up riders at all stops inbound to compensate for the loss of Oakland service on the G2? Will the 28X discharge riders at all stops outbound?
Will additional 28X trips be offered during rush hour to compensate for the addition of service to Robinson Towne Center that is currently serviced by the G1?
We need an efficient and reliable way to commute to Oakland- transferring in town is not the solution when most of the Oakland roues are having service reductions (61A, 71A, 71B, 71C, 71D, 81B, 93).
Plus those route are extremely slow and inefficient; They have too many stops and it takes a long time (~60mins+) to get into and through Oakland from town.
Yesterday, the fare box was broken on the P12. Ordinarily, I wouldn`t complain, but this is the thrid time in less than a week this is happening. and you wonder why you`re losing money??? I did try nad call the customer service line but, it was busy. Go figure!
ReplyDeleteIt appears that busses going through Oakland have been disproportionately targeted for elimination and reduction of service. This is a huge mistake. These buses are full to capacity every single day and by the time they get to CMU, they pass people by. I take the 67, 69, 71C, 67E (slated for elimination) and 67J (slated for elimination). The overcrowding is only going to get worse. I feel bad for those at CMU who get passed by every single day. Probably now those at Pitt will be passed by.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous at 3:19 pm (2/2):
ReplyDeleteIf the Customer Service line is busy, you may use our online form to report complaints and issues to customer service: http://bit.ly/Complaint
Please explain.....How can a peak hour bus run that is full to capacity, (standing room only and passing stops because is full,) be considered a loss of revenue and eliminated??
ReplyDeleteThe limited runs of the 50 Spencer will soon be eliminated....so will my job. Did the PAT incumbents voted in for 2011 receive a raise? Some one neeeds to keep the economy rolling.
Just do away with Port Authority, we have to pay more for the buses and less service, because of greed, and mismanagement!!!! The drivers also does not pay for their insurance premiums like every other company. Its a waste to have this company, we need something else in place of Port Authority. You will never get the riders back after all of this for the 3rd time. Just get rid of this lousy system period!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteKim:
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, there are many routes that are well-used that are going to be eliminated or reduced in March. This even includes routes serving the East and West busways.
We already eliminated the most underperforming or underused routes through the Transit Development Plan changes. The March reductions are not an intentional restructing of service, but the sad result of Pennsylvania's transportation funding crisis, which is still unresolved.
Regarding your question about our Board members, they are not paid for their service.
Where I can see Port Authority financial statements?
ReplyDeleteYou can download our FY2011 budget book at http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/tabid/450/Default.aspx
ReplyDeleteAdditional financial information is available at http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/tabid/394/Default.aspx
Looks like the port Authority is forcing me to get a car. An expense I can't afford for sure... With the elimination of the 25 Moon, I have no way what-so-ever to get to downtown for school or work. The Port Authority's suggestions for the route closures is for RMU students/staff to take RMU shuttle buses downtown. Well I am not an RMU student or staff, so tell me Port Authority how do you suggest I get downtown from Brodhead and University Blvd since you are graciously discounting my route!!
ReplyDelete