Thursday, May 31, 2012

Help us test the ConnectCard!

Very soon Port Authority’s new ConnectCard fare payment system will revolutionize the way you travel. But before we can launch it, we need riders like you to help us test it.

If you’re a current Port Authority rider and pay your fare with a monthly/weekly pass, tickets or cash, you can be one of the first customers to try the new ConnectCard smart card.

It’s easy. Just visit www.connectcard.org/customer-pilot to fill our recruitment questionnaire by June 8. We’ll notify you early this summer if you are selected to participate in the test program, which will run from mid-August through mid-October.* Test program participants will have the chance to win a month of free rides!

*Participants will be required to pay for their own fares during the course of the test period. Port Authority will not be providing free fare or reimbursing fares as part of the test program.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Schedules for 18 routes adjusted on June 10

Note: For information on budget-related service cuts proposed for September 2012, view our Service Reductions page.

Schedules for eighteen different bus routes will be revised starting Sunday, June 10, 2012. Port Authority of Allegheny County adjusts schedules four times per year.

To view new schedules, click on the route name.

Information on enhanced weekend light rail service will be released separately at a later date.

Additionally, fares will increase on July 1, but new fares will not be printed on June schedules. View information on fare increases (PDF).

  • 6 Spring Hill: The route’s school trip (that had been marked with “S” on the 3/25/12 schedule) is discontinued for the summer break. This schedule will not be reprinted for June due to the minor change.
  • 8 Perrysville: School trips (that had been marked with “S” on the 3/25/12 schedule) are discontinued for the summer break.
  • 14 Ohio Valley: A minor inbound routing change will be made between Rivers Casino and Allegheny Station, and riders will now be dropped off at the station at Allegheny Avenue at Reedsdale Street (far side). Outbound riders will continue to pick up the bus at Allegheny Station Bus Bay #1.
  • 16 Brighton: School trips (that had been marked with “S” on the 3/25/12 schedule) are discontinued for the summer break. This schedule will not be reprinted for June due to the minor change.
  • 18 Manchester: The schedule is rewritten and trips times will change. Weekday frequency is changed to every 20 minutes throughout the day and every 40 minutes in the evening.
  • 44 Knoxville: School trips (that had been marked with “S” on the 3/25/12 schedule) are discontinued for the summer break. This schedule will not be reprinted for June due to the minor change.
  • 48 Arlington: School trips (that had been marked with “S” on the 3/25/12 schedule) are discontinued for the summer break. This schedule will not be reprinted for June due to the minor change.
  • 51 Carrick: School trips (that had been marked with "H" or “S” on the 3/25/12 schedule) are discontinued for the summer break. This schedule will not be reprinted for June due to the minor change.
  • 52L Homeville Limited: Trip times will change.
  • 53 Homestead Park: Trip times will change. Several weekday and most Saturday outbound trips will no longer serve Walmart – this is to avoid a duplicate stop. Riders wanting to exit the bus at Walmart must wait until their bus passes Gabriel Brothers and then stops at Walmart three minutes later on its return trip to Homestead.
  • 53L Homestead Park Limited: Trip times will change. 53L will now serve all the same stops as 52L along the routes’ common routing on the Boulevard of the Allies, Panther Hollow Road, Greenfield Road and Beechwood Boulevard. 
  • 67 Monroeville: Will be rerouted to serve the new UPMC East Monroeville when it opens.
  • 74 Homewood-Squirrel Hill: School trips (that had been marked with “S” on the 3/25/12 schedule) are discontinued for the summer break. This schedule will not be reprinted for June due to the minor change.
  • 81 Oak Hill: Trip times will change. The detour due to Elmore Square demolition will become permanent routing.
  • G2 West Busway-All Stops: Weekday evening outbound trip times will be adjusted.
  • O1 Ross Flyer: The outbound 2:35 p.m., 2:50 p.m., 3:05 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. trips will now serve the Upper Lot of the Ross Park and Ride.
  • P69 Trafford Flyer: The trip that originates at Penn Station at 5:05 p.m. will be shifted to 5:10 p.m. and will arrive on Liberty Avenue at Market Street at 5:20 p.m.
  • Y46 Elizabeth Flyer: On weekdays, the last inbound trip and last four outbound trips will no longer serve Century III Mall at the shelter (these trips fall outside mall hours). These trips will serve the stops on Rt. 51.
For more information, see route schedules or contact Customer Service at at 412-442-2000, or for TTY, call 412-231-7007.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Partial West Busway Closure on Sunday Morning

Port Authority’s West Busway will be partially closed from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday, May 27, due to a community event for the Special Olympics.

Two bus routes will be affected: the 28X Airport Flyer service to Bell and Idlewood stations and the G2 West Busway-All Stops service to Bell, Idlewood and Carnegie stations.

These buses will instead serve temporary stops not located on the Busway. Signs have been posted at the affected Busway stations informing riders of the closure and indicating the location of temporary stops.

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

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Holiday Service for Memorial Day (Monday, May 28)

Port Authority of Allegheny County's bus, T and incline service will operate on holiday schedules for Memorial Day, this Monday, May 28.

Port Authority's Customer Service phone line will hold holiday hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the Downtown Service Center will be closed on Memorial Day. Port Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed for the holiday.

Light rail service will operate as two-car trains throughout much of the weekend due to the Pirates home games, and extra T service/subway local service will be added for high-attendance games. Subway local service makes stops at the following stations: Allegheny, North Side, Gateway, Wood Street, Steel Plaza, First Avenue, Station Square and South Hills Junction.

Many communities throughout the county will hold Memorial Day parades and various bus routes will see detours. To check if your route is affected, visit our Detours page and search by the day you plan to travel.

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

Friday, May 18, 2012

T Detours in Effect Tomorrow

Port Authority light rail service will see significant detours for much of the day Saturday, May 19, due to scheduled rail maintenance and other work. Both Blue Line and Red Line service will be impacted.

From Saturday morning until approximately 1 p.m., Blue Line Library stops south of Washington Junction will be served by shuttle buses instead of the T so that crews may safely inspect nearby bridges.

The shuttle bus stops will be located close to light rail stations, and buses will take riders to and from Washington Junction, where they may transfer to detoured Blue Line service originating from South Hills Village.

Riders transferring to the inbound T at Washington Junction during this time must board from the outbound platform for service to Downtown due to power wire replacement happening nearby.


View a Google map of the Blue Line shuttle bus stops.


View Blue Line-Library Detour: Saturday, May 19, 2012 in a larger map
Also Saturday, a portion of the Red Line in Beechview will be closed for rail replacement from approximately 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the work, service to Red Line stops will be provided by a combination of detoured Red Line service, bus shuttles and local light rail shuttles.

Red Line service will detour in both directions over the Overbrook line (where Blue Line T service operates), serving its normal stops Downtown, at Station Square and at South Hills Junction, then serving Boggs through Willow stations before continuing on its regular routing to South Hills Village. At Willow, riders can transfer to a local light rail shuttle that will operate in both directions between Overbrook Junction and Potomac.

Bus shuttles will offer inbound and outbound service to riders who use Red Line stops between Station Square and Potomac Station, with shuttle stops located close to T stops. At Station Square, riders may transfer to buses or the T to continue into Downtown Pittsburgh. At Potomac, riders may transfer to the local light rail shuttle for service to stops between Kelton and Overbrook Junction.


View a Google map of the Red Line detour.


View Red Line Detour: Saturday, May 19, 2012 in a larger map

T service will be on regular routing between South Hills Junction and Allegheny Station.

For more information on Saturday’s detours, contact Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007. 

Monday, May 14, 2012

May Planning & Development Committee Meeting Canceled

Port Authority of Allegheny County's Board of Directors has canceled its Planning and Development Committee meeting that was scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 16.

A 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, May 4, 2012

Many Bus Routes Detoured During Marathon Weekend

Numerous Port Authority bus routes will be detoured this weekend due to the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and related activities. Riders should expect delays and allow for extra time when using transit.

The T will serve regular stops and use its regular schedules this weekend.

For questions or assistance, dial Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007. The Customer Service phone line is open on weekends from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 4

Six bus routes (20-21-22-24-36-38) will be detoured from 6 p.m. until the evening’s end of service due to the Boulevard of the Allies closing for kids’ marathon and 5K preparation. View detour information.

SATURDAY, MAY 5

A 5K and kids' marathon will be held Saturday, impacting Downtown and North Side buses.

From start of service until approximately 12 p.m., all Downtown bus routes will serve only stops on Smithfield Street. Buses that don't normally serve Smithfield Street will be detoured to do so. Some North Side stops will also be impacted. View detour.
Then, bus routes 21, 22, 24, 38, 56, 57, 58 and 67 will be detoured from 12 p.m. until the evening’s end of service due to the Boulevard of the Allies closing for the next day’s marathon preparation. View detour information.
That evening, about eight more bus routes will see Downtown stop changes from approximately 11:30 p.m. until end of service due to additional marathon setup. View detour details

SUNDAY, MAY 6

During the marathon, about 50 Port Authority bus routes are affected throughout the city from start of service until about 2:30 p.m. Detours will continue until that time regardless of local street reopenings.

In Downtown, affected bus routes will be rerouted to serve stops near the Steel Plaza T station, with the exception of South Hills buses, which will terminate at South Hills Junction, where riders may transfer to the T for free.

The 54 North Side-Oakland-South Side and 64 Lawrenceville-Waterfront bus routes, which don't normally serve Downtown, will be rerouted to serve Steel Plaza for increased transfer options during the marathon.

T riders should be aware of a local rail shuttle that will run between the North Shore and South Hills Junction during the marathon in addition to regular Red Line and Blue Line service.

Additionally, Hill District riders should note that the 81 Oak Hill and 83 Webster bus routes will not be able to serve Wharton Square until after the completion of the half-marathon (after 11 a.m.). To get to Wharton Square before then, take the 81 or 83 to First Avenue Station to connect to bus routes 48 Arlington or 51 Carrick, which stop within a few blocks of Wharton Square.

The 88 Penn bus route will not be able to serve Children's Hospital during the marathon. To get there from Downtown, board the 64 Lawrenceville-Oakland bus route near Steel Plaza Station.

Many other bus routes are also impacted.

View complete detour information.

Additionally, bus routes normally serving both Squirrel Hill and Oakland (61A-61B-61C-61D-67) will not serve Oakland during the marathon, but a free bus shuttle will transport riders between the two neighborhoods. The shuttle will operate between Beacon at Murdoch in Squirrel Hill and Sennott at Oakland Avenue. Inbound, the shuttle will use Hobart, Panther Hollow, Boulevard of the Allies, Dawson, Atwood and Sennott. Outbound, the shuttle will use Oakland Avenue, Bates, Semple, Ward, Boulevard of the Allies, Panther Hollow Road, Hobart, Wightman and Beacon. The shuttle will serve all posted stops along the way and riders may also flag down the shuttle at intersections.

View Squirrel Hill-Oakland shuttle information.

Also, after the marathon is ended, bus routes 21-22-24-38 will revert to their Friday-Saturday detour until the marathon finish line cleanup is complete. Riders must board at Liberty at Gateway #4 or Stanwix At Penn Ave Place Canopy (farside) while cleanup is underway.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Fare & Service Changes Authorized

Port Authority’s Board of Directors last week voted to authorize a fare increase and 35-percent service reduction scheduled to go into effect later this year. Port Authority is legally obligated to balance its budget, and these actions are prompted by a $64 million deficit projected for the Fiscal Year 2013 operating budget.

The Board's vote is reversible. The vote authorizes Port Authority staff to begin preparing for the changes – writing new schedules, preparing for staffing reductions and a garage closure, and other actions. While staff must prepare for the worst, the service reductions may be scaled back or rescinded entirely if Port Authority’s finances improve.

“I want to direct staff to also plan for the best outcome,” said Guy Mattola, the Board’s vice-chairman. “Make sure we are prepared to sustain current service levels so that the Board could later convene on short notice to reverse these cuts if an adequate funding solution is found.”

If nothing changes, the fare increase would go into effect on July 1 and the service reduction would go into effect September 2. Under the service reduction proposal, about 46 routes would be eliminated with service scaled back on all remaining routes. The ACCESS paratransit program would for the first time see deep cuts that would restrict transit options for persons with disabilities.

The only change to the proposal is that the 28X Airport Flyer’s airport segment will be preserved due to recently secured federal Job Access Reverse Commute funds. The 28X is the only Port Authority route funded through this program.

Details on fare and service proposals are available on our Service Reductions page or by calling Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or the TTY number, (412) 231-7007.