Friday, December 28, 2012

New Year's Service Information

Approximately 30 Port Authority bus routes will be detoured in Downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore on Monday, December 31 due to First Night festivities. Additionally, transit riders should be aware of holiday service details.
First Night-related detours are scheduled to begin at approximately 10 a.m. and will be in effect through the end of service that night. Riders should allow for extra time when traveling on New Year’s Eve. View our primary detour notice. View a secondary detour notice for 8 pm  to 9 pm.

Port Authority service will follow schedules as noted below:
  • Monday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve): Weekday schedules in effect and the Customer Service phone line is open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Downtown Service Center will be open regular hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), and this is the last day to exchange outdated fare tickets at the Service Center. Port Authority's Twitter account is not staffed today.
  • Tuesday, January 1 (New Year’s Day): Holiday schedules in effect. Customer Service phone line will be open on holiday hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Downtown Service Center is closed. Port Authority's Twitter account is not staffed today.
For more information, call Port Authority Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or the TTY number, 412-231-7007.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Christmas Week Transit Information

Riders should be aware of changes to Port Authority service during the week of Christmas.
  • Monday, December 24 (Christmas Eve): Weekday schedules are in effect. The Customer Service phone line will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., but Port Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed. The Downtown Service Center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Tuesday, December 25 (Christmas Day): Holiday schedules are in effect. If your route does not operate on Sundays, then it does not operate today. The Customer Service phone line will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Downtown Service Center is closed and Port Authority's Twitter account is not staffed.
  • Wednesday, December 26: Port Authority's Twitter account is not staffed today, but Customer Service phone line is open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for assistance. Weekday schedules are in effect. The Downtown Service Center is open regular hours.
Information on New Year's week will be posted next week.

For additional information or assistance over the holiday, please contact Customer Service at 412-442-2000 (TTY 412-231-7007).

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel Closed This Weekend, Detouring Buses & T

The Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel will be closed to buses and light rail all day Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16 so that Port Authority may conduct work on the tunnel’s ventilation system.

Red Line and Blue Line light rail service will detour in both directions via the former Allentown line while the tunnel is closed, bypassing Station Square for the entire weekend.

On Saturday, Subway Local service will continue to serve Station Square (enabling riders to transfer to/from regular light rail service in Downtown), but will not serve South Hills Junction.

On Sunday, however, Subway Local service will also be rerouted via Allentown, bypassing Station Square but serving South Hills Junction. Riders headed to or from Station Square should use bus routes to transfer at South Hills Junction or in Downtown. For service inbound, riders may catch buses 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 48, 51, Y46, Y47 or Y49 at East Carson at the Smithfield Street Bridge (please note that the South Busway at Station Square stop will be out of service due to the tunnel closure). For service outbound to South Hills Junction riders may catch buses 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 48 Y46, Y47 or Y49 at Smithfield Street Bridge at Station Square.

Many of those bus routes will also be detoured due to the tunnel closure, and will travel via Warrington and Arlington avenues, so riders should allow for extra travel time.

Regular routing is slated to resume in time for Monday morning’s commute.

For more details, call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 (TTY 412-231-7007).

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Toy Drive at Steel Plaza This Friday!


Port Authority of Allegheny County along with Q92.9 FM and the U.S. Marine Corps will host its annual Toys for Tots drive in Downtown Pittsburgh on Friday, December 14.

New, unwrapped toys and cash donations will be collected from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Steel Plaza T Station, located near the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Grant Street. The event will be held on the station’s mezzanine level and is open to anyone wishing to bring holiday cheer to local needy children.

Q92.9 FM will broadcast The Q Morning Show live from the station during the toy drive.

Friday, November 30, 2012

New Transit Agreement Reached With University of Pittsburgh

Port Authority of Allegheny County and the University of Pittsburgh have reached a new agreement that will provide pre-paid transit access for approximately 40,000 students, faculty and staff for the next five years.

The agreement, approved by Port Authority's Board of Directors today, provides for annual reimbursements by the university based on recorded usage by its students, staff and faculty. The university’s annual payment to Port Authority has increased by more than 50 percent over the last five years and is projected to continue generating additional revenue under this agreement.

“Our collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh as the first large-scale smart card partner has been incredibly valuable and we are extremely pleased to continue this partnership,” said Steve Bland, CEO of Port Authority.

“We’re delighted to continue our partnership with the Port Authority on the pre-paid rider program that provides so many benefits to Pitt, to the Port Authority, and to the community. Not only does this program provide direct support for public transportation in the county, but it also eases parking and traffic congestion in Oakland and benefits the environment. As we are proud to say, the city is our campus, and this program provides our students with easy and efficient transportation, enabling them to experience the cultural and civic amenities of living in a vibrant city like Pittsburgh,” said Jerome Cochran, Executive Vice Chancellor and General Counsel at the University of Pittsburgh.

For each recorded ride, the university will reimburse Port Authority at 50 percent of the one-zone base fare, which currently is $2.50 per ride. The reimbursement rate would change automatically with any future one-zone base fare increase but with a maximum cap. The agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2012 and expires June 30, 2017.

The University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Chatham University participate in Port Authority's U-Pass program, which provides transit service to university students and personnel at a bulk rate. Ridership from these three institutions is about 600,000 trips per month, or about 11 percent of Port Authority's total ridership.

The University of Pittsburgh’s Panther Card contains smart card technology and is compatible with fareboxes installed for Port Authority’s new ConnectCard system. Last year, Panther Card users began tapping their cards on the farebox target to register their rides, making the new fee-per-ride structure possible.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Holiday Park VFD Park & Ride Closed Until April

The Holiday Park VFD Park and Ride lot will be closed for several months starting on Thanksgiving.

The park and ride lot, which is owned by the volunteer fire department, will be closed for its annual Christmas tree sale from Thanksgiving until Christmas. However, the lot will not reopen after Christmas as in previous years. The fire department is working to expand its building and the lot will remain closed through approximately April 2013.

Flyers have been placed on vehicles at the lot to alert riders of the closure. The lot serves the P12 Holiday Park Flyer bus route.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Thanksgiving Service Info & Meeting Schedule

Port Authority's bus, T and incline service will operate on holiday schedules for Thanksgiving this Thursday, November 22.

Port Authority's Customer Service phone line will have special holiday hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the Downtown Service Center will be closed on Thanksgiving. Port Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed Thursday or Friday.

Service will operate on regular weekday schedules on Friday, November 23.

Riders traveling over the holiday weekend should be advised of two major detours. On Thanksgiving morning, buses will be detoured in Downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore due to the annual Turkey Trot race. Then on Saturday, November 24, buses will be detoured due to the My Macy’s Holiday Parade in Downtown and the Strip District.

View information on Thursday's Turkey Trot detours.

View information on Saturday's My Macy's Holiday Parade detours.

Additionally, Port Authority Board and Committee meetings will differ from their usual schedule due to the holiday. The Performance Oversight Committee and Planning & Stakeholder Relations Committee meetings will be held Wednesday, November 21. The Board of Directors meeting will be held Friday, November 30.

For more information, contact Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Bus Detours for Light Up Night

Many Port Authority of Allegheny County bus routes will operate on special detours Friday and Saturday during the annual Light Up Night festivities in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Most Light Up Night detours will go into effect at approximately 6 p.m. Friday, with detours on a few routes beginning earlier. Approximately 50 bus routes will be detoured Friday, with detours lasting through the end of the night. Additionally, about 40 routes will be detoured Saturday between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. for a parade.

View details on Friday, Nov. 16 detours for Light Up Night.

View details on Saturday, Nov. 17 detours for carriage parade.

Riders should allow for extra time when traveling. Port Authority plans to provide additional capacity – such as two-car trains, Subway Local service and articulated buses on key routes – to accommodate Light Up Night crowds.

For questions, dial Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Veterans Day Service Information

Port Authority service will follow regular weekday schedules on Monday, November 12 (Veterans Day Observed).

The Downtown Service Center on Smithfield Street will be closed in observance of the holiday on Monday, and Port Authority's Twitter account won't be staffed.

The Customer Service phone line will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday for rider assistance at 412-442-2000 / TTY 412-231-7007.

Additionally, the annual Veterans Day parade in Downtown Pittsburgh will detour approximately 45 Port Authority bus routes on Saturday, November 10. View detour information.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Allegheny Station Closed Overnight Nov. 9-10

From 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 until approximately 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, Allegheny Station will be closed for electrical maintenance.

A shuttle bus will operate between Allegheny Station and North Side Station during the closure. Additionally, riders at Gateway headed to the North Shore must board from the outbound side during the closure due to required single-tracking.  

For more information, view our detour notice or contact Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Schedules for 17 Bus Routes Adjusted November 18

Port Authority makes routine changes to its schedules four times per year.

Schedules for approximately 17 different bus routes will be adjusted on Sunday, November 18, 2012. Descriptions of the changes are included below, including links to new schedules.

Routes not listed will not see any changes this month.

The next round of quarterly schedule adjustments will take place in March 2013.
  • 13 Bellevue: Trip times are adjusted.
  • 26 Chartiers: Trip times are adjusted.
  • 27 Fairywood: Trip times are adjusted.
  • 29 Robinson: Trip times are adjusted.
  • 61D Murray: Three weekday morning inbound trips are added.
  • 68 Braddock Hills: Trip times are adjusted. Note: The new schedule will be posted shortly; the original schedule PDF posted contained an error on the P71 section.
  • 71 Edgewood: Trip times are adjusted. Note: The new schedule will be posted shortly; the original schedule PDF posted contained an error on the P71 section.
  • 86 Liberty: Trip times are adjusted. Saturday afternoon trip frequency is increased from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes.
  • 87 Friendship: Trip times are adjusted. During weekday peak hours, trip frequency in peak directions is increased from every 10 minutes to every 8 minutes. Additionally, some Morningside trips (marked 87M) are extended to the Shop’n Save in Lawrenceville. On Saturdays, trip frequency is increased from every 45 minutes to every 40 minutes. On Sundays, a round trip is added at 5:50 p.m. (Downtown time).
  • P12 Holiday Park Flyer: The inbound trips arriving Downtown at 7:46 a.m. and 7:56 a.m. are discontinued, as is the outbound trip leaving Downtown at 5:05 p.m. Multiple morning and evening trip times are changed.
  • P68 Braddock Hills Flyer: Trip times are adjusted. Note: The new schedule will be posted shortly; the original schedule PDF posted contained an error on the P71 section.
  • P71 Swisshelm Park-Rankin Flyer: Trip times are adjusted. The 7:20 a.m. outbound trip is moved to 7:35 a.m. and the 9:10 a.m. inbound trip is moved to 9:15 a.m. (Downtown times). Note: The new schedule will be posted shortly; the original schedule PDF posted contained an error.
  • Y1 Large Flyer: Trip times are adjusted.
  • Y45 Baldwin Manor Flyer: Trip times are adjusted.
  • Y46 Elizabeth Flyer: Trip times are adjusted. On weekdays, one new morning inbound trip and one new afternoon outbound trip are added. Midday weekday frequency is increased from every 60 minutes to every 50 minutes; weekday evening frequency is increased from every 60 minutes to every 45 minutes. On Saturdays, Century III Mall service is added on two evening trips and some late night trip times are changed.
  • Y47 Curry Flyer: Trip times are adjusted.
  • Y49 Prospect Park Flyer: Trip times are adjusted.
The next regular quarterly schedule adjustment will take place in March 2013. For questions or assistance, dial Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Friday, October 26, 2012

New Member Joins Port Authority Board

Port Authority of Allegheny County is pleased to welcome John Tague as the newest member of its Board of Directors. Mr. Tague was recently appointed to the Board by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. His term on the Board will expire December 31, 2013.

Mr. Tague has been committed to improving the lives of persons with disabilities in Pennsylvania for more than two decades. As principal of JT Consulting Services, he advises companies and organizations on the creation of disability policies and training programs.

Additionally, he serves on the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations and State Vocational Rehabilitation Board, and is past chair of the Governor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities. Mr. Tague has served on the Committee for Accessible Transportation (CAT), a Port Authority advisory council dedicated to improving transit for individuals with disabilities in Allegheny County. He is a past president of the Allegheny County Transit Council (ACTC) where he promoted concerns of frequent transit users.

He is a graduate of Edinboro University. Mr. Tague is a native of Erie and resides in Greenfield.

“For years, John has been a key presence at Port Authority Board meetings and transit hearings. He has proven himself to be a tireless advocate for riders, especially those living with disabilities,” said Steve Bland, CEO of Port Authority. “I have no doubt that his dedication, depth of knowledge and unique perspective will make him an immediate asset to our Board.”

Port Authority’s Board of Directors is made up of nine unpaid members appointed by the County Executive and approved by County Council.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Blue-Library T Detours Oct. 12-14

Port Authority will work on replacement of a bridge along the Library line this weekend, detouring Blue Line-Library T service from 8 p.m. Friday through the weekend.

This work involves a small bridge that carries the light rail line over a stream just south of Monroe stop.

During the work, Blue Line-Library service will terminate at Lytle, where riders may transfer to shuttle buses operating between Lytle and Library. A map of the detour is below.


View Library Line Detour: Oct. 12-14 in a larger map

Riders should allow for extra time when traveling.

Normal service is expected to resume for Monday’s morning commute. The West Library Park and Ride lot remains closed through Oct. 28 due to the bridge project.

For more information, call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Buses Detour for Great Race on Sunday

During the 35th annual Richard S. Caliguri Great Race on Sunday, more than 30 Port Authority bus routes will be detoured and see temporary stop changes, mostly within Downtown, Uptown, Oakland and Squirrel Hill.

Detours will begin with the morning’s start of service. Regular service is expected to resume by about 1 p.m.
Riders should allow for extra time when traveling on detoured buses.

Additionally, two temporary special bus routes will operate during the race, the 5K and 10K, to provide service between Downtown and Oakland, and Downtown and Squirrel Hill, respectively. A brochure with more information on this service will be available at major schedule rack locations.  

For more information, view the Great Race detour notice or contact Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

T Detours Weekend of Sept. 28-30

Both the Red Line and Blue Line will have detours this weekend due to rail maintenance.

Port Authority will work on replacement of a bridge along the Library line this weekend, detouring Blue Line service from 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28 until end of service on Sunday, Sept. 30. This work involves a small bridge that carries the light rail line over a stream just south of the Monroe stop.

During the work, Blue Line-Library service will terminate at Lytle, where riders may transfer to shuttle buses operating between Lytle and Library. Riders should allow for extra time when traveling.

Please see below for a map of the detour.


View Library Line Detour: Sept. 28-30 in a larger map

A second Blue Line weekend detour to continue bridge work will take place Oct.12-15. 

For part of the day Saturday, rail grinding work continues on part of the Red Line in Beechview. Inbound service will be impacted from approximately 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Inbound Red Line service will detour via the Overbrook line (along the Blue Line’s routing) between Overbrook Junction/Willow and South Hills Junction. During this time, a local light rail shuttle will operate inbound from Overbrook Junction to Potomac, and bus shuttles will operate inbound to stops from Potomac to Station Square. Outbound Red Line service will remain on regular route.

See below for a detour map.


View Red Line Detour: Sat., Sept. 29 in a larger map

All riders impacted by this weekend’s work should allow for extra time when traveling.

For more information, call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Allegheny Station Closure for Maintenance This Weekend

On Saturday, Sept. 22 after 8 p.m. and all day Sunday, Sept. 23, Allegheny Station will be closed so that contractors may undertake winter preparations on the elevated platform, including applying concrete sealant.

A shuttle bus will operate between Allegheny Station and North Side Station during the closure.

Additionally, riders at Gateway headed to the North Shore must board from the outbound side during the closure due to required single-tracking. View detour notice.

Red Line rail grinding previously scheduled for this weekend in Beechview has been canceled, as has a Mt. Washington transit tunnel closure for buses and single-tracking for T.

For more information, contact Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Work on Rails, Roads in Allentown Begins Shortly

Port Authority and the City of Pittsburgh will begin rehabilitation of Warrington Avenue on Monday, Sept. 24. The work will be completed in phases and extend into 2013, at times affecting local auto traffic, bus routes, parking and sidewalks. Additionally, Port Authority will conduct rail grinding on Warrington as well as Arlington Avenue from Sept. 19-Sept. 28.

Starting Sept. 19 at about 10 a.m., Port Authority contractors will conduct rail grinding on the embedded light rail tracks on Warrington and Arlington avenues through Friday, Sept. 28. Grinding will occur around the clock except during rush hours. Additionally, no grinding will take place in Allentown on the evening of Sept. 22 and all day Sept. 23 so that grinding may occur in Beechview instead.

Rail grinding will not detour buses or cars, but alternating single lane may occur at times. Light rail service will not be impacted; these tracks are not currently used for regular service, but are occasionally used to detour the T during closures of the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel.

Then starting Monday, work begins on the rehabilitation of Warrington Avenue, which is partially owned by Port Authority. Local residents have long advocated for improvements to the street. This phase is expected to last about six weeks, and will occur between Haberman and Estella avenues.

Work will occur on one side of Warrington Avenue at a time and a local detour for motorists will be posted. This also will create temporary no-parking restrictions in the work zone, which will be clearly marked at least 48 hours in advance.

During this time, sections of sidewalk in the work zone may be closed in order to improve curbs and sidewalk ramps.

Additionally, several bus routes will detour during the Warrington Avenue rehabilitation. View the current bus detour notice.

After this phase of the rehab project is completed, work will be suspended until after winter. Next year's phase will involve a larger portion of Warrington Avenue, between Estella and Arlington avenues.

For more information, please contact Customer Service at 412-442-2000.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Transit Tunnel Work to Affect T, Buses Sept. 14-15

Continued rail grinding work will close the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel to buses from 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14 until 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. Additionally, light rail service will be single-tracking in the area during that time.

Seven Port Authority bus routes are affected and will detour via Allentown and the Wabash Tunnel, with minor stop changes.

Due to the single-tracking, temporary T boarding changes will be in effect at South Hills Junction and Station Square, although trains will still use the transit tunnel. On Friday night, outbound riders at these stations must board from the inbound platform. On Saturday morning, inbound riders must board from the outbound platform. 

Delays of around 10 minutes are possible due to the detours and single-tracking. T riders and those on affected bus routes should allow for extra travel time during this work.

For more information, view our Detour Notice or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Service Adjustments on 25 Routes Take Effect Sept. 30

Routine minor schedule adjustments are made four times per year, and service for approximately 25 bus and T routes will be adjusted effective Sunday, September 30, 2012. These adjustments are not related to the postponed service cuts. 

Schedule brochures will be reprinted for all routes to include new fares, but only the following routes will see adjustments to their timetables or routing. Paper schedule brochures will be available prior to the September 30 changes.

To view new schedule PDFs, click on the route name.

  • 2 Mount Royal: Downtown routing is changed. Buses will now stop at Liberty Avenue at 7th Street (instead of Liberty at Tito Way or 6th Street) and at 7th Street at Fort Duquesne Boulevard (instead of 6th Street at Fort Duquesne Boulevard).

  • 4 Troy Hill: Downtown routing is changed. Buses will now stop at Liberty Avenue at 7th Street (instead of Liberty at Tito Way or 6th Street) and at 7th Street at Fort Duquesne Boulevard (instead of 6th Street at Fort Duquesne Boulevard).

  • 6 Spring Hill: Routing between Chestnut Street at E. Ohio Street and Downtown Pittsburgh is changed. The route will no longer travel via the Strip District or use the 16th Street Bridge, but instead proceed on E. Ohio to Cedar, Stockton and Sandusky streets to the 7th Street Bridge. In Downtown, the route will serve 7th Street, Liberty Avenue and Penn Station. All Downtown stops are changed. Additionally, trip times are adjusted, and weekday frequency is increased from every 30 minutes peak / every 60 minutes off-peak to every 25 minutes peak / every 50 minutes off-peak. Weekend frequency is changed from every 60 minutes to every 70 minutes.

  • 8 Perrysville: School trips are added for the school year.

  • 15 Charles: Trip times are adjusted. Additionally, some of this route’s Downtown Pittsburgh stops are changed. The route will now turn left onto Liberty from 7th Street and proceed to Penn Station, then on outbound proceed down Liberty to 6th Street, where it will continue its current routing. The stop at 7th Street at Penn Avenue is discontinued.

  • 18 Manchester: Trip times are adjusted. On weekdays, the first two morning round trips and last round trip of the evening are eliminated. 

  • 44 Knoxville: Trip times are adjusted. Weekend frequency is increased from every 80 minutes to every 75 minutes.

  • 51 Carrick: Weekday morning trip times are adjusted.

  • 51L Carrick: An inbound trip arriving Downtown at 6:33 a.m. and an outbound trip leaving
    Downtown at 2:55 p.m. are added to the schedule.

  • 61A Wilkinsburg-Forbes Avenue: On weekdays, schedule times will be changed on the last three round trips of the evening.

  • 61C McKeesport-Homestead: Trip times are adjusted. On Sundays, the round trip scheduled for 6:37 a.m. in Downtown Pittsburgh will start 11 minutes earlier.

  • 61D Murray: Trip times are adjusted.

  • 63 Edgewood: The two remaining 63 Edgewood trips are eliminated. This route was absorbed into the 61A route when it was extended to Swissvale for weekday service as of March 26, 2012. For service along the 63 routing, please see the 61A schedule.

  • 64 Lawrenceville-Waterfront: Trip times are adjusted.

  • 67 Monroeville: Trip times are adjusted.

  • 71A Negley: Weekday peak frequency is adjusted from every 10 minutes to every 15 minutes, due to the rerouting of 71C along S. Negley Avenue between Penn Avenue and Centre Avenue. Together, 71A and 71C will continue to provide frequent service (approximately every 7-8 minutes) during peak periods along their common routing (between Penn/S. Negley and Downtown Pittsburgh).
  • 71C Point Breeze: This route will no longer serve S. Beatty Street and Baum Boulevard, but will instead continue from Penn Avenue to S. Negley Avenue to Centre Avenue, to increase common routing with 71A Negley and help alleviate crowding. Additionally, weekday peak frequency is increased from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes. Together, 71A and 71C will continue to provide frequent service (approximately every 7-8 minutes) during peak periods along their common routing (between Penn/S. Negley and Downtown Pittsburgh).

  • 74 Homewood-Squirrel Hill: Service is restored to the Belmar Gardens area of Lincoln-Lemington. Trip times are adjusted.

  • 77 Penn Hills: Various weekday trip times are adjusted.

  • P1 East Busway-All Stops: Several a.m. inbound P2 East Busway-Short trips are extended to Swissvale and converted into P1 trips in order to serve more riders. Additionally, all P2 trips leaving Downtown weekdays after 5 p.m. will operate as P1 trips.

  • P2 East Busway-Short: Several a.m. inbound P2 East Busway-Short trips are extended to Swissvale and converted into P1 trips in order to serve more riders. Additionally, all P2 trips leaving Downtown weekdays after 5 p.m. will operate as P1 trips.

  • P3 East Busway-Oakland: An inbound trip leaving Swissvale Station at 5:18 p.m. is added.

  • P78 Oakmont Flyer: An outbound trip departing Downtown at 6:45 a.m. is added.

  • Y47 Curry Flyer: Trip times are adjusted, and an outbound trip scheduled for 3:05 p.m. Downtown is added on weekdays.

  • SL Subway Local: Short light rail trips operating between South Hills Junction and Allegheny Station (called “Subway Local” trips) have been officially added to enhance Port Authority’s T weekend service. When combined with existing Red Line and Blue Line schedules, this will provide T service every 10 minutes between South Hills Junction and Allegheny Station within the following hours: 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Subway Local times are printed on the Red Line schedule.

For questions or assistance, dial Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Bus & T Detours Planned for This Weekend

Track maintenance in the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel and in Beechview will detour both buses and light rail this weekend.

On Saturday, Sept. 8, track work will close the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel to buses. Seven Port Authority bus routes are affected and will detour all day via Allentown and the Wabash Tunnel, with minor stop changes. View complete detour information.

Also Saturday, T service will single-track in the affected area until about 4 p.m., with all inbound trains stopping on the outbound platforms at South Hills Junction and Station Square. Outbound T service will remain regular route during this time, but delays of up to 10 minutes may occur due to single-tracking.

After 4 p.m., outbound T service will detour via the Allentown line for the rest of the evening, except for between 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., when work will be suspended in order to provide regular outbound T service following the Pirates game.

When detouring via Allentown, the outbound T will not serve Station Square, so riders wishing to reach that station from the North Shore/Downtown should ride outbound to South Hills Junction and request a free transfer to inbound service to Station Square. Riders headed outbound from Station Square can ride inbound T service to First Avenue Station, then transfer to outbound.

Then on Sunday, Sept. 9, Port Authority contractors will continue rail grinding work on a portion of the Red Line in Beechview. Outbound-only Red Line service will be detoured between South Hills Junction and Overbrook Junction from start of service Sunday morning until approximately 4:30 that afternoon. At about that time, contractors expect to shift work to the inbound side before Sunday’s Pirates game ends, with inbound-only Red Line service detouring for the rest of the evening.

During Sunday’s detours, Red Line service in the affected direction of travel will detour via Overbrook (along the Blue Line’s routing) between South Hills Junction and Willow/Overbrook Junction. Bus shuttles will provide service in the affected direction to stops between Station Square and Potomac and a local light rail shuttle will operate between Potomac and Overbrook Junction in the direction of detour.

A map of Sunday's detour is posted below.


View Red Line Detour: Sept. 9 in a larger map

All riders impacted by this weekend’s work should allow for extra time when traveling.

For more information, contact Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Change to Committee Structure and Meeting Schedule

Port Authority’s Stakeholder Relations Committee will be merged with the Planning & Development Committee effective this month.

All remaining Stakeholder Relations Committee meetings are canceled – including the meeting slated for this Thursday, Sept. 6 – and rescheduled as “Planning and Stakeholder Relations Committee” meetings. These meetings will hold the same timeslot as the Planning & Development Committee meetings – the third Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m.

The next meeting will be held on Sept. 19 in the Neal H. Holmes Board Room, 5th Floor, 345 Sixth Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The committee change was made by the Board at its July meeting.

View Port Authority's meeting schedule.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Red Line Detours Sept. 1-2, Holiday Service in Effect for Labor Day

Rail maintenance will detour Port Authority’s Red Line on Saturday, September 1 and Sunday, September 2. Additionally, bus, T and inclines will use holiday schedules on Monday, September 3 for Labor Day, including special schedules for the T (PDF).

On Saturday from start of service until about 9 p.m., the outbound Red Line will detour via Overbrook (along the Blue Line’s routing) from South Hills Junction to Willow/Overbrook Junction. Bus shuttles will provide outbound-only service to stops from Station Square to Potomac and a local light rail shuttle will operate outbound from Potomac to Overbrook Junction. Inbound Red Line service will be regular route.

Then beginning at about 9 p.m. Saturday, the Red Line will be detoured in both directions until the end of service on Sunday, with detoured service, bus shuttles and local rail shuttles operating as outlined above, except serving both inbound and outbound stops. Regular routing is expected to resume by start of service on Labor Day. 

View the map below for more information.


View Red Line Detour: Sept. 1-2 in a larger map

For motorists, parts of Broadway Ave. will be closed to through traffic at various times during the rail work. Additionally, parking will be prohibited on the southbound side of Broadway between Neeld Ave. and Fallowfield Ave. on Saturday, and on the northbound side of that section on Sunday.

Then on Labor Day, about 30 different bus routes will detour Downtown due to the annual holiday parade. View detour information.

For questions, call Customer Service at 412-442-2000, or for TTY 412-231-7007.

Port Authority’s Customer Service phone line is open on Labor Day from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Downtown Service Center will be closed for the holiday and the Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Friday Digest: Friday August 24, 2012

The U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched a year-long pilot program in Ann Arbor, MI for a new anti-crash traffic system. Nearly 3,000 cars, trucks, and buses will be connected with Wi-Fi technology which will enable the vehicles to communicate in real time. Vehicles will send electronic data messages to other equipped vehicles, which can alert drivers about upcoming traffic accidents, dangerous intersections or even when a vehicle is changing lanes in their blind spot. This cutting edge technology aims to improve driver safety and make for more efficient driving. Ford, General Motors, Honda and Nissan were among some of the companies that contributed resources and vehicles to the project. Read more at Metro Magazine.

This week, a life-size Charlie was roaming the streets of Boston. Promoting the MBTA’s CharlieCard, the mascot was raising awareness of the benefits of the smartcard system as well as informing riders of the new CharlieCard store in Downtown Crossing Station.  The Charlie character is based on the 1949 song ‘M.T.A’ that was used by a candidate in Boston’s mayoral election campaign that year. That year riders were charged an extra nickel to exit trains at above ground stops, so the ‘M.T.A’ song depicted Charlie riding the Boston subway system for life because he couldn’t afford the extra nickel. Charlie will be appearing at major landmarks this week on his promotional tour, such as the State House, Swan Boats and Fenway Park. Learn more at Boston.com.

London is looking to implement new security measures when it comes to their Underground and National Rail system. The Home Office, which oversees issues of terrorism and crime, is considering screening passengers and their belongings before boarding. This screening technology would detect explosives and weapons, as well as chemical materials. Research showed that riders are open to the screening process, however they do not want these check point to cause delays in their journey. The Home Office expects to make a decision on the new screening process and determine what technology they will use by next March. Read more at The Guardian.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Transit Cuts Postponed for One Year

State, County, Union and Port Authority Reaffirm Need for Long-Term Solution
Port Authority's Board of Directors today voted in a special meeting to postpone the planned 35-percent service reduction until at least August 31, 2013, following the ratification of a new labor contract with Amalgamated Transit Union's Local 85. This gives state and Allegheny County officials more time to develop a long-term transportation funding strategy.

Following the special Board meeting, a press conference was held with Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Barry Schoch, ATU Local 85 President Steve Palonis and Port Authority CEO Steve Bland.

View the statement released by the County Executive’s office regarding today’s Board actions and future steps needed to preserve public transportation in Allegheny County, including details on additional funding from the county. 

Friday, August 17, 2012

Special Board Meeting on August 21

Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Board of Directors will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held in the Neal H. Holmes Board Room, 345 Sixth Avenue, Fifth Floor, in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The purpose of the meeting is for the Board to consider actions relative to Port Authority’s Fiscal Year 2013 operating budget, pending service reductions and Port Authority’s collective bargaining agreement with Local 85 of the Amalgamated Transit Union.

Friday Digest: August 17, 2012

The Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail (MBTA) has announced the testing of their countdown signs for the subway. Starting this past Wednesday, the MBTA began testing the Red Line countdown sign in South Station and will eventually roll out the countdown signs to the other 51 Red, Orange and Blue Line stations.  Positioned in the subway platforms and station lobbies, these signs will tell riders how many minutes until their train will arrives. Having the signs in station lobbies lets riders know how long they have to wait before they pay their fare, which gives them the option to wait or come back later.  Read more at the Boston Globe.

There are high hopes in Texas for a new rail system by 2020. The proposed high-speed rail would link Dallas – Fort Worth and Houston in less than 90 minutes. Although the project is gaining buzz and the company planning the system says it will not ask for public financing, the people of Texas are worried about the impending costs of this operation. The Texas Central High-Speed Railway seems very confident about their plan, having teamed up with the successful Central Japan Railway Company. They say the relatively flat land between North Texas and Houston makes this project more feasible than other locations like the Northeast or California. Learn more at the Texas Tribune.

This week, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) took bike connections to a new level by approving $9.4 million to fund 23 new projects. These projects will add new bike lanes and trails; build bridges and crossings for bikers as well as improved signs and bike racks. Bikes have become an increasingly popular mode of transportation and advocates say it is important that safety measures be implemented. Agencies competed for these grants through OCTA’s Bicycle Corridor Improvement Program, which was developed as a part of the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program.   Read more at Patch.com.

Downtown/Strip District Race Detours Buses Friday

Nearly 50 Port Authority bus routes will detour in Downtown Pittsburgh and the Strip District tomorrow evening due to the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile race.

The race will close Liberty Avenue in its entirety from Stanwix Street to Grant Street, as well as close Liberty’s inbound lanes from Twenty-second  Street to Grant Street. Detours will be in effect from approximately 6:15 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Riders should allow for extra travel time during the detour. Details on temporary bus stop changes are posted at www.portauthority.org.

For more information, riders may contact Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Weekend Closure for Allegheny & North Side Stations

Port Authority will close its light rail system in the North Shore this weekend in order to continue a system-wide rail grinding project. Substitute bus service will be provided during the closure.

Beginning Friday, August 17 at 8:00 pm and ending Sunday, August 19 at 8:00 am, the T will be closed at Allegheny Station and North Side Station.

Riders headed to the North Shore must exit the T at Gateway Station to catch a bus shuttle to stops outside Allegheny and North Side stations. Buses will pick up outside Gateway at Stanwix Street past Penn Avenue, serve North Side and Allegheny stations, then return to Gateway. Regular T service is expected to resume well in advance of Sunday’s Steelers game.

This weekend’s rail work is part of a larger project to correct wear-and-tear on the older sections of the rail, and in the case of the new North Shore section, further fine-tune the rail’s profile to ensure smoother service.

For more information, call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Friday Digest: August 10, 2012

The University of Nevada has announced its goal to establish a research center for high speed rail. The XpressWest project is currently underway, which would make Nevada the first state in the country to have high speed rail, but the proposed International High Speed Rail Institute would create new opportunities for high speed rail throughout the country. Researchers would look at the different weather extremes, for example, including how the desert and dust environment could affect the high speed rail, or in other parts of the country, how snow and blizzards would affect it. Tom Skancke, one of the backers of this university program, believes that the U.S has more challenges than Europe and Asia because of these weather conditions. These challenges, he believes, make it necessary to set up an institute and explore how to overcome these obstacles. Learn more at Vegas Inc.

Cedar Park, Texas, which previously opted out of Austin’s Capital Metro’s service area, has come up with a new transportation solution. A new ride-sharing social media initiative is in the works, where users would login to a website and post timeframes when they’d be available to give rides or dates when they needed rides. This community transportation network has raised some concern with residents about posting information about when they will be out of their house, as well as the fact that many residents do not have internet access. In 2010 Cedar Park voted against a pilot program in which Capital Metro would bring two stops to the city. In light of this, city council wanted the new transit proposal to put public transportation in the hands of the residents and aims to create a self-reliant transit network. Read more at Statesman.com.

TriMet has launched their new multimodal trip planner, which incorporates information for transit, biking and walking all in one itinerary, offering users a variety of options and encouraging all forms of transportation. There is also a street map that is continually updated with the latest bike and walking paths, as well as car-share locations to incorporate Zipcars and other car-share providers. Last year a pilot version was tested, and with feedback from riders TriMet has launched a live version for the public. This is the first agency-produced trip planner in the U.S that uses multiple methods of transportation. Read more at Metro Magazine.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Friday Digest: August 3, 2012

Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has become the newest member of the smart card club by joining the TAP system. TAP is the regional smart card system in Los Angeles County, and LADOT will be the 12th transit operator to join this area system. LADOT’s addition will make Los Angeles the largest regional smart card operation in the country. Riders will be able to travel a great number of destinations, all while using one card. If you haven’t heard, here at Port Authority we are also implementing a smart card. In the next few months you will be hearing more about our ‘ConnectCard’ smart card and how you can use it. For now, you can read more about the Los Angeles TAP card at Cubic.com.

In addition to distracted drivers, there are now distracted pedestrians on the roads. With the latest technology wave, more people are looking down at their cell phones and tablets rather than looking up at the traffic signs and oncoming cars. This is becoming a major concern across the country, and many transit agencies are actively trying to avoid pedestrian accidents by implementing safety campaigns. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is launching a public safety campaign after a fatal accident last year in which a young man stumbled onto their train track. Across the U.S, the Utah Transit Authority adopted a new regulation that prohibited pedestrians from using cell phones and headphone while crossing their light rail tracks, although this rule did not expand across the state.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported that 1,152 people were treated in emergency rooms last year for injuries obtained while walking and using an electronic device. . Read more at The Washington Post.

Have you ever put a bag on the seat next to you or stretched out your legs to avoid a stranger sitting next to you?  If you haven’t done it, then I guarantee you’ve seen it happen. For some reason people are uncomfortable and go to great lengths to avoid sitting by strangers. Esther Kim from Yale University has been conducting a study on this behavior for the past 3 years, examining the unspoken rules of commuters. After many bus trips, Kim came to the conclusion that if there were other seats available, the implied rule was you shouldn’t sit next to someone else. There are certain behaviors people engage in to avoid others, such as checking their phones or putting in headphones. Kim’s ultimate conclusion is that lack of healthy interactions with others could  lead to a breakdown of our society. Read more at Live Science.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

T Closed in Downtown/North Shore This Weekend

Port Authority will close its light rail system in Downtown and the North Shore this weekend in order to conduct rail work. Substitute bus service will be provided during the closure. The T will be closed beyond First Avenue Station all day Saturday and Sunday. Riders traveling inbound, for example, must get off the T at First Avenue Station, then transfer to free bus shuttles outside the station. Bus shuttles will operate in both directions to stops outside all remaining Downtown/North Shore stations. Riders using Blue-Library this weekend should also be aware of separate work detouring that service south of Lytle Station. For complete details, visit portauthority.org or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Library T Service & Local Traffic Detoured in Bethel Park This Weekend

Port Authority will replace the rail crossing at Bethel Park’s West Library Station this weekend, detouring T service and impacting local auto traffic. Detours will be in effect from Friday, August 3 at 7 p.m. until about 4:30 a.m. on Monday, August 6.

During this time, Blue Line-Library service will terminate at Lytle, where riders may transfer to shuttle buses operating between Lytle and Library. A map of shuttle bus stops is posted below.


View Library Line Detour - Aug. 3-5 in a larger map

Riders should allow for extra time when traveling. Regular T service should be restored before the start of morning service on August 6.

Additionally, Route 88 (Library Road) will be closed near the Clifton Road intersection during this time. Auto traffic in both directions will be affected and motorists should follow posted detour signs, which will direct traffic via Clifton, McMurray and South Park roads.

The West Library Park and Ride lot remains closed until Monday, August 13, as Port Authority crews use the lot to prepare, store equipment and conduct cleanup work for the rail crossing project. Riders who normally drive to the station may seek alternate parking at Library, Lytle or South Hills Village.

For more information, call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Friday, July 27, 2012

ACCESS Paratransit Service Cuts Temporarily Avoided

The devastating cuts facing ACCESS riders will not occur in September, thanks to a special funding arrangement made possible by PennDOT and two federal programs that benefit transit riders with disabilities.

The Port Authority Board of Directors today unanimously voted to accept the funding and rescind plans that would have reduced ACCESS service hours and service area starting on September 2, 2012. Talks focused on resolving the broader transportation funding issues and the 35 percent Port Authority service reduction in September are ongoing and involve officials from the state, county, Authority and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85.

The ACCESS cuts would have been devastating to those riders throughout Allegheny County who rely on the shared-ride program that serves elderly and disabled riders. Some ACCESS riders have no other direct means of transportation.

The funding was made available through the federal Job Access and Reverse Commute, and New Freedom programs, both of which are matched by the state. This agreement follows calls for solutions to public transportation funding by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who is leading a broader effort to find lasting solutions to protect Port Authority bus and light rail service. Also, members of the Allegheny County delegation in the State Senate and House supported efforts to maintain viable transportation options for seniors and riders with disabilities throughout the county.

The Authority Board today voted to amend its current budget and accept $3.65 million from the state and federal sources, ensuring ACCESS service will remain stable through September 1, 2013.

"This will make a tremendous difference for people with disabilities, living outside the Port Authority service area who depend on ACCESS," said Lucy Spruill, an ACCESS rider and the Public Policy Director for UCP/CLASS. "This will allow those riders to leave their homes for work, health care and to enjoy meaningful lives.

"We very much appreciate the efforts of County Executive Fitzgerald, the Allegheny County legislative delegation as well as PennDOT, Port Authority and ACCESS. We look forward to continuing to work together to preserve public transportation for all the citizens of Allegheny County.”

The funding is a temporary solution for ACCESS riders. If no long-term solution is in place by September 1, 2013, ACCESS service reductions may take effect.

Friday Digest: July 27, 2012

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has revealed a new light display for its Bleecker Street station. The Arts for Transit program has developed this latest piece that incorporates LED lights in the form of a honeycomb along the ceiling. Inspired by the mathematical formula “Game of Life,” the lights flash and move in different directions representing the process of life. This art not only brightens the station but also leads riders to a new platform in the station where the new Bleecker Street transfer will soon be. Read more about this artwork at NY1.

Raleigh, NC, is taking public health seriously and plans to ban smoking at five of their most congested transit centers and bus stops. This means that smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of the boarding locations, but the city does intend to create designated smoking areas for those who want a quick cigarette before their trip. There will be a warning period, but after that police or transit officers will issue citations similar to parking tickets. This follows Raleigh’s action last year to ban smoking in public parks for fear of secondhand smoke within the communities. Read more at NewsObserver.

Dunkin Donuts is using the transportation industry as a new marketing tool in South Korea. To get people in the mood for coffee, they have begun scenting buses with the smell of Dunkin Donuts coffee.  The angle of this campaign is to have customers think of coffee every time they think of Dunkin Donuts. Dunkin Donuts has discovered that their donuts are outselling their coffee in South Korea, and this a technique is projected to boost coffee sales. Would you enjoy this on your morning commute? Read more at The Inquisitr.

In England, three design students at Royal College of Art (RCA) have created Canopy, a display system that would attach to the ceiling of a subway car. Each panel would have different digital landmarks displayed as the train passes by, giving the passengers a view of life above. This technology has a variety of uses, displaying landscapes and scenery but also advertisements, weather conditions and transit information. This concept was shown off at RCA’s annual summer show in London and has not yet been incorporated into any subway cars. Read more at CNET.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

West Library Park & Ride Closed July 29-Aug. 12

Port Authority’s West Library Park and Ride will be closed for approximately three weeks starting Sunday, July 29 in preparation for rail crossing replacement work scheduled for the first weekend in August.

The lot will close so that employees may conduct preparation for the work, store materials and equipment, and clean up after the project is completed. West Library Park and Ride is expected to reopen on Monday, August 13.

During the closure, commuters may use Library Park and Ride, located five minutes from the West Library lot. The Library Park and Ride typically has 100 empty spaces available on a weekday. Other alternate Park and Rides along the T include Bethel Park (Lytle) and South Hills Village Garage.
West Library Station will still be served by the T during the Park and Ride closure (with the exception of an August 3-6 detour due to crossing work) for any riders who walk to the station.

Details on the rail crossing work and detours will be released next week.

For more information, call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Friday Digest: July 20, 2012

Transportation funding is spent on everything from mass transit to building new bridges to painting the white lines on the side of the road. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign has a new report showing how each state allocates its federal transportation dollars. Read more at The Atlantic Cities.

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced they are once again selling advertising on their MetroCards. They have previously sold advertisements on the back of their cards, but now they welcoming ads on the front of the cards. They believe this will be a great marketing/PR tool, seeing as millions of New Yorkers carry these cards with them everyday and use them constantly. These ads would go in the space above the magnetic strip, and although prices have not been determined they are expected to charge a premium. Would you want to see advertisements on your Port Authority tickets? Read more at The Transit Wire.

This week, District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced a milestone in the development of a new tramway network. DDOT has awarded the contract for operation and maintenance for the first planned tramline in Washington, D.C. The line will be 2.2 miles long and include seven stations, serving the northeast part of D.C. It is expected to be running by the end of 2013. This is the first piece of D.C.’s transportation expansion into a new tramway system. Read more at Mass Transit Mag.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Wabash Tunnel Daytime Closures July 23 - August 10

The Wabash Tunnel will have daytime closures for three weeks due to scheduled inspections.

Tunnel inspections will occur from Monday, July 23 through Friday, August 10, each weekday from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. During these times the tunnel will be closed to all inbound and outbound traffic, with the exception of July 27.

Motorists who normally use the tunnel should seek alternate routes such as the Liberty Tunnels or Fort Pitt Tunnel.

For more information, visit portauthority.org or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Red Line Detours This Sunday, July 22

Red Line T service will be detoured this Sunday due to scheduled rail maintenance. A portion of the inbound Red Line will be closed in Beechview from approximately 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, July 22.

During this time, inbound Red Line service will serve regular route from South Hills Village to Overbrook Junction/Willow, then detour via the Blue Line’s routing until South Hills Junction, where it will resume regular routing to Station Square, Downtown and the North Shore.

Inbound local light rail shuttles will operate from Overbrook Junction to Potomac  Station, and inbound T stops from Potomac to South Hills Junction/Station Square will be served by bus shuttles. Shuttle stops will be located close to existing T stops. At South Hills Junction or Station Square, riders may transfer to bus or T for service toward Downtown.

Outbound Red Line service will not be affected by the work and will be regular route for all stops. Red Line riders may also ride outbound service to Overbrook Junction, then cross over to Willow for T service to Downtown.

Red Line riders should allow for extra time when traveling during the detour.

A map of the detour is posted below.


View Red Line Detour: July 22, 2012 in a larger map

For more information, call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Planning and Development Meeting Canceled

Port Authority of Allegheny County's Board of Directors has canceled its Planning and Development Committee meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 18.

The Performance Oversight Committee meeting will still be held Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Neal H. Holmes Board Room, 345 Sixth Ave., 5th Floor, in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Friday, July 13, 2012

UPDATE: Red Line Detours This Saturday; Sunday Detour Canceled

Red Line T service will be detoured Saturday approximately 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. due to scheduled rail maintenance. The detour scheduled for Sunday has been canceled.

On Saturday, the outbound Red Line will detour via Overbrook (along the Blue Line’s routing) from South Hills Junction to Willow/Overbrook Junction. Bus shuttles will provide outbound-only service to stops from South Hills Junction to Potomac and a local light rail shuttle will operate outbound from Potomac to Overbrook Junction. Inbound Red Line service will be regular route.

Red Line riders should allow for extra time when traveling during the detour.

A map of the detour is posted below:


View UPDATE: Red Line Detour: July 14, 2012 in a larger map

For more assistance, please dial Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Friday Digest: July 13, 2012

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (DC) has received a state of the art track geometry vehicle. These vehicles have technology that examines the conditions of the tracks and will alert Metro about any problems and defects that may occur. There are many benefits to this technology, such as the ability to measure rail temperatures, perform rail flaw inspections and record video of track beds and temperatures. Also, they can perform some of these testing at speeds of 60 mph. The track geometry vehicle (TGV) was built specifically for Metro’s needs, and will be in full service later this year. Read more at "D.C. Metro unveils track geometry vehicle" from Metro Magazine.  


The MTA Metro-North Railroad is testing a new smartphone app that allows customers to display tickets on their phones. These electronic tickets are the next step in ticketing technology and will soon be used throughout the country. Metro-North employees will participate in the pilot program next month in which purchased tickets will show up on their phone’s screen with a bar code that the conductor can scan. The pilot program will allow for Metro-North to work out any glitches in the app and also see if this mobile ticketing is indeed faster than their current fare collection method. Learn more: "New Smartphone App Could Replace Railroad Tickets" at the Wall Street Journal Blog.

This week California has started testing their new real-time technology, which tells riders when the train will arrive at the station, if there are any delays, etc. This is made possible by GPS technology on the trains, which transmit information about the train’s speed and location. This information will be received at the commuter railroad’s control center and from there sent to the digital signs at the rail stations to inform riders. Once the system is fully installed, real-time information will be available on Caltrain’s website and via email and text message alerts. The system is said to be fully operational by the end of the year. Read "Caltrain testing out real-time arrival tracking system" from ABC to learn more.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Friday Digest: July 6, 2012

This week, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) announced a new energy project that captures brake energy and converts it into power for an electric grid. This optimizes and recycles energy which not only benefits the environment but minimizes the operating costs of SEPTA.. When the trains brake, that energy is converted into electricity that can be stored and used at a later time. When the cars perform this regenerative braking, the voltage increases on the trains. SEPTA will run a 3 month demonstration phase to gradually increase the voltage on the trains, making sure they can handle high voltages when they are subjected to it. This is the first energy saving technology to be used in the U.S. Read "SEPTA captures regenerative braking energy from trains" from Metro Magazine to learn more.

Utah is taking the green initiative and has ordered an electric bus from BYD Company Ltd, the largest all-electric bus manufacturer world-wide. This all-electric bus, purchased by the University of Utah, will make them the frontrunner of this technology that emits zero fossil fuels and greatly reduces pollution. Installed in the road will be a charger and it will be embedded in a way that no wires or parts protrude from the asphalt. (This way cars and snow plows will be able to drive over it) The bus will have a charging pad installed underneath it, so the bus will merely need to pull up to the charger for a few minutes and it will be recharged. This technology was developed by the Utah State University Energy Dynamics Lab and testing for this technology was made possible by a Federal Transit Administration grant. Read "U of U to Roll Out All Electric Transit Bus" from Salt Lake City Weekly.

Irish Rail took on a new meaning when it assisted in returning a lost dog to its owner. In Kildare, Ireland, a dog went missing because it boarded a commuter rail train. Arriving solo in Dublin, the Irish Rail tweeted a lost dog message along with a picture. Thanks to the powers of Twitter, within half an hour the owner of the lost Jack Russell terrier was identified. After Patch was returned to his owner he became a mini celebrity, and now has his own Twitter account. This was not the first time the Irish Rail has used social media to recover lost animals; a few years ago they helped out a lost cat too. Learn more about the rescue: "Patch Come Home" from Independent News.

Would you want your secrets announced for everyone to hear? Some people in Toronto don’t mind spilling their guts. As part of a new art project called Confessions Underground people volunteered to tell their secrets on camera, which will be made into a video that plays in every subway station throughout Toronto. This new campaign is aimed to make the morning commute more interesting and connect with riders on a more emotional level. The video will be shown daily between July 2-15. Read more: "Secrets spilled on Toronto subway screens" from CBC News.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Fourth of July Holiday Service Information

Port Authority's bus, T and incline service will operate on holiday schedules on Wednesday, July 4th.

For bus routes, holiday schedules are included on printed/online schedules. If a bus route does not operate on Sundays, it does not operate on major holidays such as Independence Day.

T routes will follow special holiday schedules this July 4th, including service on Blue Line-South Hills Village. View PDF schedules for:

Red Line (also includes Blue-SHV information)

Blue Line South Hills Village/Blue Line-Library

The Customer Service phone line will hold holiday hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the Downtown Service Center will be closed Wednesday in observance of the holiday. Port Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed on July 4th.

For assistance, call Customer Service at (412) 442-2000 or for TTY, (412) 231-7007.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Friday Digest: June 29, 2012

Welcome to TransitBlog's Friday Digest, a round-up of transit-related news from around the country and the globe.

The Michigan Department of Transportation recently teamed up with Indian Trails to install “hearing loop” technology in 17 of their motorcoaches. A hearing loop is a wire that will run around the bus and transmits specific sounds (from a sound source such as the bus PA system) to hearing aids, while surrounding noises are tuned out. Michigan is the first in the U.S to implement this groundbreaking technology. With hearing loss affecting more people every year, this simple equipment not only improves customer experience but paves the way for further advances in transit technology. Read "Indian Trails, MDOT Launch 'Hearing Loop' Tech in Fleet" from Metro Magazine.

Canada is practicing safe transit by testing equipment that detects radiation and explosives on their rail system. This 3-week study in Edmonton, running from June 25-July 15, involves installing five sensors that scan the air for signs of radioactive activity. There are also four ticket validating machines that check for explosives. In the event that explosives are detected, the machines will alert security and security will alert the police, similar to the procedure for a bomb threat. Learn more: "Nuclear device in your pocket? Avoid Churchill LRT" from Edmonton Journal.

This fall, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) is launching an innovative trial program where commuter rail riders use a mobile-phone payment system. The app will work on iPhone, Android and BlackBerry phones and is being developed by a London-based company. It will allow customers to buy single-ride tickets or monthly passes using their phone, not only saving money but time. The pass will be displayed on the phone and the customer will simply show their screen to the conductor, shortening the process. The program is intended to decrease wait time and make it more convenient to ride public transportation. MBTA has recently announced sign-ups for participation in the pilot program, as well as email updates on the progress of this mobile app. Read more at "T invites commuter rail riders to sign up for updates on smartphone ticket app" from the Boston Globe.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Port Authority Fares Increase July 1

Starting Sunday, July 1, increases go into effect on most Port Authority fares, including cash fares for full-fare and half-fare riders, all tickets and passes.

The fare increase is required to balance Port Authority’s budget for Fiscal Year 2013, which begins July 1.

Fare changes are as follows:

Fare Changes Effective July 1, 2012
Current Fares

Full Fare / Half Fare
New Fares

Full Fare / Half Fare
 
One-Way Cash Fare
Bus, T & Inclines
 
Free Zone      Free  Free 
1 Zone  $2.25 / $1.10  $2.50 / $1.25 
2 Zone  $3.25 / $1.60       $3.75 / $1.85 
T System Surcharges 
1 Zone 75 cents / 35 cents  75 cents / 35 cents
2 Zone 75 cents / 35 cents  75 cents / 35 cents
Surcharge added to T cash fares from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. inbound and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. outbound, weekdays only.
Transfers  $1.00 / 50 cents  $1.00 / 50 cents
Transfers are good for a connecting one-zone ride in any direction and valid for three hours. 
Weekly Pass 
1 Zone  $22.50  $25.00
2 Zone  $32.50      $37.50 
Monthly Pass 
1 Zone  $90.00  $97.50
2 Zone  $130.00  $146.25
2 Zone Go-Pass  $152.00  $168.25
Annual Pass 
1 Zone  $990.00          $1,072.50 
2 Zone  $1,430.00  $1,608.75
2 Zone Go-Pass  $1,680.00  $1,850.75 
Annual passes are priced at 11 times the monthly zone pass rate and provide riders with one free month of rides. 
Ten Trip Ticket Book 
1 Zone  $22.50 / $11.00 $25.00 / $12.50
2 Zone  $32.50 / $16.00 $37.50 / $18.50

Starting June 25, riders who pay with tickets may bring old tickets to the Downtown Service Center to exchange them for new tickets, which they can begin using July 1. Riders have until the end of 2012 to exchange tickets and should bring a photo ID when exchanging. Tickets are not refundable for cash.

Additionally, riders may use old tickets on the T, bus or incline through September 30, 2012 if they pay the difference in cash:

• Old 1-Zone full-fare ticket + 25 cents
• Old 1-Zone half-fare ticket + 15 cents
• Old 2-Zone full-fare ticket + 50 cents
• Old 2-Zone half-fare ticket + 25 cents

Fare changes will also go into effect July 1 for ACCESS riders.

For questions or assistance, call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Eleven T Stops Close Monday; Smith Road and Sandy Creek to Remain Open

Two light rail stops slated for closure will remain open following further evaluation from Allegheny County and Port Authority officials.
The Smith Road and Sandy Creek T stops will not close Monday, June 25. Eleven other stops along the Port Authority’s light rail lines will be eliminated that day in an effort to modernize the system and make service more efficient.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald last month called on Port Authority to make several changes to improve the efficiency of the system, including consolidation of light rail stops.
Eliminated stops were chosen based on low boarding counts or proximity to other stops.

At the request of community members and local officials, Fitzgerald and Port Authority officials re-evaluated several stops for safety and accessibility concerns. It was determined that Smith Road and Sandy Creek would remain open. State Senator Wayne Fontana, State Representative Matt Smith and Allegheny County Council members John DeFazio, Vince Gastgeb and John Palmiere were instrumental in bringing stop issues to the attention of the County Executive and the Authority.

"It's important that we continue to improve our transit system across Allegheny County and these changes will help make light rail service more efficient and attractive for current riders -- and potential riders," Fitzgerald said. "It's always important to consider community concerns, and I'm glad for the guidance and input of residents and elected officials who contributed heavily to our final decision about these stops."
Following is the finalized list of stops that will close effective with start of service Monday (included in parentheses is the closest alternative stop):
  • Traymore (Pennant)
  • Coast (Hampshire)
  • Boustead (Shiras or Belasco)
  • Neeld (Shiras)
  • Kelton (Dormont or Potomac)
  • Martin Villa (Willow or St. Anne’s)
  • Santa Barbara (Highland)
  • Mine 3 (Washington Junction)
  • Lindermer (Hillcrest)
  • Center (Lytle)
  • Latimer (Monroe)
For assistance with trip planning, visit www.portauthority.org or dial Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.