TransitBlog - Port Authority of Allegheny County

Service Cuts, Fare Increases Proposed Due to Budget Deficit

2012-01-19T10:02:00.000-05:00

Port Authority is facing a $64 million deficit in its operating budget for the coming fiscal year, starting July 1. This deficit stems from a lack of dedicated funding for transportation at the state level.

Left without adequate state funding, Port Authority will have no choice but to slash service, increase fares and lay off employees in order to balance its budget, which it is legally obligated to do.

These actions would be devastating. More than 40 routes would be eliminated from the 100 we currently operate, and schedules would be reduced on all remaining routes. Commuter service to many suburbs would disappear. Late-night service would be cut on all but a few routes, negatively impacting the shift workers so many employers depend upon. Riders who rely on ACCESS paratransit would see fare increases and decreased service. And hundreds of Port Authority employees would be laid off.

However, these devastating cuts do not have to happen. Adequate state transportation funding could prevent this drastic step.State Reps. Dan Frankel and Mike Sturla have introduced a bill (HB 2112) that would ensure funding for Pennsylvania’s transportation system, including roads, bridges and mass transit. You might recall that Sen. Jake Corman proposed similar legislation last year. And just last week, Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch said Gov. Corbett would propose a transportation funding package next month.
Of these, Rep. Frankel’s proposal clearly would help sustain public transportation in Allegheny County. We would not have to cut 35 percent of our service.

There’s likely to be much discussion of these proposals in coming weeks. Be assured that we’ll continue to stand up for those who want a thriving public transportation system in Allegheny County.

Passage of a bill would be the first of two steps necessary to get Port Authority in a stable financial position. The second step is tackling legacy costs and securing union concessions during this year’s contract negotiations.

While we continue advocating for adequate state funding, Port Authority must at the same time prepare for the worst. Without a state funding solution and real progress on legacy costs, fare increases would go into effect July 1, with service cuts to follow on September 2.

It is our deepest hope that we do not have to enact these service cuts and fare increases – that our state government recognizes the devastating impact they would have on our community and regional economy, and acts to avert this crisis.

Full details on possible service and fare actions are now posted on our website, including a service reduction/fare increase chart, system maps showing affected areas, and information on possible changes to ACCESS. We will also hold a public hearing and public comment period so that riders and community members may comment on the proposals. View full details.

Winter Weather: What to Expect, Where to Get Information

2012-01-12T15:40:00.002-05:00

Port Authority would like to remind its riders of resources for service information, as well as what to expect during winter weather events.

Routine Snowfall

In the case of routine snowfalls of a few inches – such as the snowfall experienced last week – Port Authority service typically operates normally, with all routes in service and serving their usual areas.

Since small amounts of snowfall are typical for Pittsburgh, Port Authority will generally not post special announcements during these times.

However, riders should be aware that slower traffic, reduced visibility and/or untreated, slick road surfaces may lead to some bus delays and should allow for extra travel time. Our drivers are committed to getting you to your destination as safely as possible.

During these times, Port Authority will operate on its normal Customer Service phone line schedule, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends and major holidays. 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Port Authority’s Twitter account will be staffed during its usual business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday). Please note that our Twitter account cannot provide route-specific information during routine snowfall, such as whether a particular route is running late and by how much.

Heavier Snowfall

In the case of heavier snow, Port Authority may issue general information about systemwide delays on its website/mobile site (under Rider Alerts), Twitter account and through local media (print, TV and radio). Riders are encouraged to check the website first.

Port Authority’s Twitter account will be monitored during its usual hours, but may post special announcements as needed.

If you are seeking route-specific information, please try dialing Customer Service during its normal hours.

During times of heavier snowfall, you may wish to head to a main road or park and ride lot to catch your bus. Generally, if your local road has not yet been cleared and appears to be difficult for drivers, you might consider this option.

Blizzard Conditions

In the case of a blizzard, Port Authority’s service is likely to see widespread disruptions, with many routes either suspended or serving limited areas.

During these major storm events, information will be posted on Port Authority’s website/mobile site (under Rider Alerts) and blog, and available through its Twitter account, which will hold extended hours on an as-needed basis. Riders are encouraged to check the website for information first.

This information will detail which areas are not being served due to extreme weather, or which routes are not operating at all. Please note that Port Authority’s Twitter account cannot give specific information on how late a particular route or trip might be delayed.

Customer Service will be open its normal hours during major snow events for rider assistance and information.

In very severe instances, Port Authority may even suspend service entirely due to safety concerns. This information will be distributed to the local media (print, TV and radio), as well as posted on the website/mobile site and announced on Twitter.

Dr. Edna B. McKenzie & Monsignor Charles Owen Rice Honored With 2012 Spirit of King Awards

2012-01-12T12:25:00.000-05:00

Dr. Edna B. McKenzie and Monsignor Charles Owen Rice were honored today at the 2012 Spirit of King Award Ceremony, held at the Kingsley Center in East Liberty.

The Spirit of King Award, established in 1989 by the Kingsley Association, Port Authority of Allegheny County and the Pittsburgh Pirates, posthumously honors the lifetime achievements of local citizens who pursue human rights and equality in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Edna B. McKenzie was a reporter, educator, historian, author and advocate for social change. In the 1940s, she was one of the Pittsburgh Courier’s first female reporters, working tirelessly to expose discrimination and social injustice. Dr. McKenzie later had a distinguished academic career, establishing and chairing the department of Black, Minority & Ethnic Studies at the Community College of Allegheny County. Her legacy includes stints on many boards and committees devoted to higher education, as well as numerous articles and two books, Freedom in the Midst of a Slave Society and Selected Essays on Contemporary African-American Issues. Dr. McKenzie died in June 2005.

Monsignor Charles Owen Rice used his position as a Roman Catholic priest to fight against racism and champion the labor movement. His advocacy was expressed through radio programs he hosted as well as weekly articles in the Pittsburgh Catholic. Monsignor Rice was also an active member of the NAACP and an advocate for equality for African-American workers. In 1967, he walked arm-in-arm with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the United Nations building to protest the Vietnam War, and later spoke at the March on the Pentagon protest rally, throughout the years articulating a Catholic vision of social justice and responsibility. Monsignor Rice died in November 2005.

To learn more about Dr. McKenzie and Monsignor Rice, as well as past Spirit of King honorees, visit our Spirit of King webpage at PortAuthority.org.

Service Information for Martin Luther King Jr Day

2012-01-12T10:50:00.000-05:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County will provide regular weekday bus, light rail and incline service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, Jan. 16). However, the Downtown Service Center on Smithfield Street will be closed in observance of the holiday.

The Customer Service phone line will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., but Port Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed that day.

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

Informational Public Meeting on Bus Rapid Transit: Jan. 12

2012-01-10T10:01:00.000-05:00

Get There PGH, a partnership of more than 30 community organizations, is advancing a plan for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) linking Downtown Pittsburgh and Uptown with Oakland and possibly other East End neighborhoods.

Bus Rapid Transit is designed to improve reliability and efficiency while reducing travel times and operating costs. In other cities, Bus Rapid Transit has been shown to support community revitalization initiatives and act as a catalyst for development. Get There PGH believes Pittsburgh can enjoy similar benefits from the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit in this corridor.

Get There PGH’s collaborators include innovators, nonprofits, transportation advocates, cyclists, local officials, civic leaders, educators, investors, neighborhood developers and business leaders.

All are invited to attend an informational public meeting on Get There PGH and the ongoing Pittsburgh-Oakland-East End Bus Rapid Transit Study:

Thursday, January 12, 2012
Two sessions: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
University of Pittsburgh Alumni Hall Ballroom
4227 Fifth Ave. (between Lytton & Tennyson avenues) in Oakland

All members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the project, provide ideas and discuss Bus Rapid Transit with project representatives. Brief presentations will be provided at 12:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.

For more information, visit GetTherePGH.org.

The public meeting location is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require special assistance due to disability or limited ability to read, write, speak or understand English, or otherwise need additional information, please contact:

Ginette Walker Vinski
Sustainable Pittsburgh
412-258-6646
gvinski@sustainablepittsburgh.org

Presented by Sustainable Pittsburgh on behalf of Get There PGH and the BRT Stakeholders Advisory Committee.

Detour & Service Information for New Year's Weekend

2011-12-29T13:35:00.000-05:00

Approximately 20 Port Authority bus routes will be detoured in Downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday, December 31 due to First Night activities. Additionally, riders using transit this weekend 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.

Complete detour information is posted here and also available in special brochures at major schedule rack locations.

Port Authority bus, T and incline service will follow schedules as noted below for the New Year holiday weekend:

Saturday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve): Saturday schedules in effect. Customer Service phone line will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. View detours for First Night.

Sunday, January 1 (New Year’s Day): Holiday/Sunday schedules in effect. Customer Service phone line will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monday, January 2: Weekday schedules in effect. However, the Downtown Service Center will be closed in observance of New Year’s Day and Port Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed. Customer Service phone line will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, call Port Authority Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or the TTY number, 412-231-7007, or view our First Night PDF brochure for detour information.

Port Authority Holiday Service Information

2011-12-21T17:40:00.000-05:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County bus, T and incline service will follow schedules as noted below for the Christmas and New Year holiday weekends:

Saturday, December 24 (Christmas Eve): Saturday schedules in effect. Customer Service phone line will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 25 (Christmas Day): Holiday/Sunday schedules in effect. Customer Service phone line will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday, December 26: Weekday schedules in effect. However, the Downtown Service Center will be closed in observance of Christmas. Customer Service phone line will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Port Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed.

Saturday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve): Saturday schedules in effect. Customer Service phone line will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Many Downtown routes will be detoured from about 10 a.m. through end of service due to First Night activities. View more information (PDF).
Sunday, January 1 (New Year’s Day): Holiday/Sunday schedules in effect. Customer Service phone line will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday, January 2: Weekday schedules in effect. However, the Downtown Service Center will be closed in observance of New Year’s Day. Customer Service phone line will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Port Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed.

Riders traveling Downtown on New Year’s Eve should note that many routes will be detoured due to First Night festivities and should allow for extra time when traveling. View a PDF brochure with First Night detour information.

For more information, call Port Authority Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or the TTY number, 412-231-7007.

Free T Rides Proposed Between Downtown & North Side T Station

2011-12-21T12:00:00.001-05:00

Funding Agreement Will Provide Easier Commuting, Enhance Business Opportunities

The Stadium Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (SA) voted on December 21 to provide funding for free rides on Port Authority of Allegheny County’s light rail line between Downtown Pittsburgh and the soon-to-be-open North Side T Station. The North Side T Station is located at the West General Robinson Street Garage (WGRS Garage), which is owned by the SA.

“This agreement will benefit many segments of the community, from commuters who will save time and money on Downtown parking, to North Shore restaurants that will see increased business, to fans who want to attend sporting events, concerts and other special events on the North Shore, to tourists who will be able to more easily visit our city’s many attractions,” said Jeremy Waldrup, president/CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. “A free, frequent and fast transit link will have the effect of essentially extending the borders of Downtown Pittsburgh.”

The agreement will be voted on by Port Authority’s Board of Directors at its January meeting. Under the agreement the Stadium Authority would pay Port Authority $160,000 in year one, $165,000 in year two and $170,000 in year three to provide free fare to the general public at North Side T Station, with an option to extend the agreement for two more years. Funds for the agreement will be derived from parking fees generated by the WGRS Garage and surface lots owned and managed by the SA and ALCO Parking Corporation, which will be sharing costs. The free rides would be open to the general public as well as people using the parking garage.

This agreement will allow the SA to save money by eliminating its shuttle service between the North Shore and Downtown. The funds are expected to offset any lost cash fares from North Side Station, and Port Authority will also save on expenses associated with collecting fares at the station.

The fare agreement does not preclude other funding agreements or sponsorship agreements, and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is continuing to work with Port Authority to pursue naming rights agreements and other forms of private sponsorship.

“We see this agreement as a win-win, offering both cost savings to the participating agencies and a host of benefits to Port Authority riders and the community as a whole,” said Steve Bland, CEO of Port Authority. “Free T rides between North Side Station and Downtown will encourage more people to use public transit, provide a convenient link between these two areas and contribute to the continuing development on the North Shore.”

North Side T Station is scheduled to open for service in March 2012 as part of Port Authority’s North Shore Connector light rail extension project. A reconstructed Gateway Station in Downtown and new Allegheny Station near Heinz Field will also open at that time. Port Authority estimates ride time from North Side T Station to Gateway T Station will be approximately four minutes, with trains leaving the station about every four minutes during weekday peak.

Update: Time Change for Wood Street Station Closure This Weekend

2011-12-14T11:26:00.000-05:00

Wood Street T Station will be closed for part of the weekend so that Port Authority contractors can conduct rail maintenance. During this time, all Downtown T service will begin and end at Steel Plaza Station.

Please note that closure times have changed and that Wood Street Station will now be closed during the following times:

• Saturday, Dec. 17 from approximately 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 18 from approximately 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Signs will be posted informing riders where to board service.

Special shuttle buses will not be provided during the closures, but riders may use regular Downtown bus service to travel between stations. Riders normally traveling inbound to Wood Street Station may catch any 61-series or 71-series bus outside Steel Plaza at Sixth Avenue and Bigelow Square, then take it to Sixth Avenue at Wood Street. To travel from Wood Street Station to Steel Plaza, riders may board any 61-series or 71-series bus at Sixth Avenue at Wood Street and ride it to Fifth Avenue at Ross Street.

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

Toys For Tots Drive at Steel Plaza This Friday

2011-12-13T09:36:00.000-05:00

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 this Friday, December 16.

New, unwrapped toys and cash donations will be collected from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Friday 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 the public – you don’t have to be a T rider or even a public transit user to help bring holiday cheer to underprivileged children.

Q92.9 FM radio personalities John Cline and Kerri Griffith will broadcast The Q Morning Show live from the T station during the drive.

Wood Street Station Closed for Next Two Weekends

2011-12-08T09:28:00.000-05:00

Wood Street T Station will be closed for the next two weekends so that Port Authority contractors can conduct rail maintenance. During this time, all Downtown T service will begin and end at Steel Plaza Station.

Wood Street Station will be closed during the following times:

• All day Saturday, Dec. 10 until Sunday, Dec. 11 at approximately 8 p.m.

• All day Saturday, Dec. 17 until Sunday, Dec. 18 at approximately 8 p.m.

Signs will be posted informing riders where to board service.

Special shuttle buses will not be provided during the closures, but riders may use regular Downtown bus service to travel between stations. Riders normally traveling inbound to Wood Street Station may catch any 61-series or 71-series bus outside Steel Plaza at Sixth Avenue and Bigelow Square, then take it to Sixth Avenue at Wood Street. To travel from Wood Street Station to Steel Plaza, riders may board any 61-series or 71-series bus at Sixth Avenue at Wood Street and ride it to Fifth Avenue at Ross Street.

For more information, view our detour notices for Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 17-18, or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Stakeholder Relations Committee Meeting Scheduled for Dec. 8

2011-12-02T13:49:00.002-05:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County's Board of Directors has added a Stakeholder Relations Committee Meeting to its calendar for Thursday, December 8.

The meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. in the Neal H. Holmes Board Room, 5th Floor, 345 Sixth Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh, and is open to the public.

There are no other public meetings scheduled for this month.

Wabash Tunnel Closure Scheduled for Dec. 1

2011-11-30T15:41:00.000-05:00

The Wabash Tunnel will temporarily close on Thursday, December 1 for the removal of an interior fan.

The tunnel will close at 9 a.m. and the closure is expected to take most of the day. The tunnel’s reopening will be announced on Port Authority of Allegheny County’s website and Twitter account, and an update will be provided to media.

The closure is part of a project to remove and reinstall the tunnel’s fans over the next several months. Further Wabash Tunnel closures will be announced as needed.

No Port Authority transit routes use the tunnel. The Wabash Tunnel provides a shortcut for motorists from Route 51 to the South Side and Downtown Pittsburgh, operating as a HOV-2 route during peak periods.

Thanksgiving Service Info & Detours

2011-11-22T10:15:00.000-05:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County transit riders should be aware of several detours and special schedules for the holiday weekend.

Port Authority's bus, T and incline service will operate on holiday schedules for Thanksgiving this Thursday, November 24.

Additionally, about 30 bus routes will be detoured in Downtown and the North Shore from approximately 7 a.m. through 11 a.m. due to the annual Turkey Trot race. The detours will include stop changes and riders may experience delays. View full details on the detour (PDF brochure).

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. The Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed over the holiday weekend.

Service will operate on regular weekday schedules on Friday, November 25.

On Saturday, November 26, approximately 45 bus routes will be detoured in Downtown and the Strip District from about 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. due to the Celebrate the Season Parade. View Saturday's parade detours (PDF).

For more information, contact a Customer Service representative at (412) 442-2000 or the TTY number, (412) 231-7007

Important Info on P12 Park and Ride Lots

2011-11-21T11:29:00.000-05:00

P12 riders who use park and rides should be aware of the following changes to two lots.

The Monroeville Plaza Park and Ride lot will end park and ride service after Friday, December 2, as the plaza has opted to end its agreement with Port Authority. Port Authority apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and is actively seeking to establish another park and ride facility within the corridor to accommodate its displaced patrons.

Additionally, the Holiday Park VFD Park and Ride will have limited parking spaces available from November 23 through December 23 due to the VFD's annual Christmas Tree sale. Only about 20 spaces will be available during this time, except on Thursdays, when the lot will be closed entirely due to bingo.

For more information, visit our Park and Ride page or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Reminder: Schedules Change for 13 Routes on Sunday, Nov. 20

2011-11-18T09:27:00.000-05:00

Routine schedule adjustments will go into effect on 13 bus and T routes on Sunday, November 20.

Complete information, including new schedules, is available by clicking here. New schedules are also available at schedule rack locations.

Bus Detours for Light Up Night Weekend, Nov. 18-19

2011-11-17T12:06:00.002-05:00

Most Port Authority of Allegheny County bus service will operate on special detours and likely experience delays Friday and Saturday during the annual Light Up Night celebration and other festivities.

Most Light Up Night detours will go into effect at approximately 6 p.m. Friday, with detours on a few routes beginning earlier. Approximately 75 bus routes will be detoured Friday, with detours lasting through the end of the night. Additionally, about 40 routes will be detoured Saturday between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for a parade.

View our PDF brochure detailing all Light Up Night detours and stop changes.

Riders on bus routes that are not detoured should still allow for extra time when traveling.

For more assistance, please call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007. Detour brochures will also be available soon at major Downtown schedule racks.

This Month's Planning & Development Meeting Canceled

2011-11-14T11:28:00.000-05:00

Port Authority’s Planning and Development Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 16 is canceled.

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

Wood Street T Station Closures This Weekend

2011-11-11T14:30:00.002-05:00

Wood Street T Station will be closed for part of the weekend so that Port Authority contractors can conduct rail maintenance. While the station is closed, all Downtown T service will begin and end at Steel Plaza Station.

Wood Street Station will be closed during the following times:

Saturday, Nov. 12 from approximately 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 13 from approximately 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Please note that these times have been revised.

During the closures, riders should board outbound T service at Steel Plaza's Track 4/B Platform. Signs will be in place to direct riders to the correct boarding location.

Special shuttle buses will not be provided between stations, but riders may travel free of charge using Downtown buses. Riders normally traveling inbound to Wood Street Station may catch any 61-series or 71-series bus outside Steel Plaza at Sixth Avenue and Bigelow Square, then take it to Sixth Avenue at Wood Street. To travel from Wood Street to Steel Plaza, riders may board any 61-series or 71-series bus at Sixth Avenue at Wood Street and ride it to Fifth Avenue at Ross Street.

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

Veterans Day Detours & Service Information

2011-11-10T10:28:00.001-05:00

Veterans Day parades in Downtown Pittsburgh and McKeesport will detour bus service on Friday, Nov. 11, but Port Authority service will follow weekday schedules.

The Federation of War Veterans' Societies will hold its 92nd annual Veterans Day parade in Downtown Pittsburgh. Nearly 50 Port Authority bus routes will be detoured by the parade in Downtown and the Strip District.

The first detours will begin at approximately 8:30 a.m. in the Strip District, with Downtown detours beginning around 10 a.m. Many regular bus stops will be discontinued and temporary stops established in their place. Regular routing and stops are expected to resume by approximately 2 p.m. Riders should allow for extra time when traveling during the parade.
View PDF detour brochure for the Downtown Pittsburgh parade.

Additionally, a Veterans Day Parade will be held along Fifth Avenue in Downtown McKeesport, detouring one Port Authority bus route from approximately 9 a.m. to noon, or as directed by McKeesport Police.

View PDF detour card for the McKeesport parade.

For assistance, call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or the TTY number, 412-231-7007. The Customer Service phone line will operate on its regular weekday schedule on Veterans Day, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Downtown Service Center on Smithfield Street will be closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day. The agency's Twitter feed will not be staffed on Veterans Day.

Respect your bus stop!

2011-11-08T09:50:00.000-05:00

A friendly reminder from Port Authority...

Many bus stops are located near businesses or private residences. Port Authority tries to locate bus stops in areas that are convenient to transit, but we also have to be a good neighbor.

While waiting for your bus, please:

• Don’t litter
• Don’t wait on private property, like porches, doorways or stairs
• Don’t block access to nearby businesses
• Don’t block the sidewalk – please allow a path for others to pass
• Don’t engage in loud or rowdy behavior

Inconsiderate behavior can result in the loss of your bus stop!

We appreciate your cooperation.

Clocks Ready to Fall Back

2011-11-04T15:01:00.001-04:00

Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend as clocks are set back one hour on Sunday at 2 a.m.

If you're a late night rider, please be advised that Port Authority service and schedules will remain on Daylight Saving Time until service ends that night.

When Port Authority service resumes later Sunday morning, we'll be back on Standard Time with everyone else!

Wood St T Station Closed Next Two Weekends

2011-11-03T12:39:00.003-04:00

The closures will begin each Saturday at approximately 12:45 a.m., after the final T has departed Downtown. Work will occur around the clock until Sunday afternoon or early Monday morning before the a.m. commute. Closures are scheduled for the following times:

Saturday, Nov. 5 at 12:45 a.m. until Sunday, Nov. 6 at approximately 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 12 at 12:45 a.m. until Monday, Nov. 14 at approximately 4:30 a.m. (before start of morning T service)

During the closures, riders should board outbound T service at Steel Plaza's Track 4/B Platform. Signs will be posted to direct riders to the correct boarding location.

Special shuttle buses will not be provided between stations. However, riders normally traveling inbound to Wood Street Station may catch any 61-series or 71-series bus outside Steel Plaza at Sixth Avenue and Bigelow Square, then take it to Sixth Avenue at Wood Street. To travel from Wood Street to Steel Plaza, riders may board any 61-series or 71-series bus at Sixth Avenue at Wood Street and ride it to Fifth Avenue at Ross Street.

For more information, view our detour notices for this weekend and next weekend, or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Oct. Board Meeting Canceled; Special Meeting Scheduled

2011-10-25T13:11:00.002-04:00

Port Authority's Board of Directors meeting scheduled for Friday, October 28 has been canceled.

A special Board meeting will be scheduled for Tuesday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m. in the Neal H. Holmes Board Room, 5th Floor, 345 Sixth Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Schedules on Thirteen Routes Adjusted Nov. 20

2011-10-24T15:32:00.000-04:00

Schedules for several bus and T routes will be revised on Sunday, November 20, 2011. Port Authority of Allegheny County routinely adjusts schedules four times per year to improve service.

The next regularly scheduled service adjustments will take place in March 2012.

To view 11/20/11 schedules, click on the route name.

• 12 McKnight: A new stop will be added at the lower entrance of the new Kane Center building. Schedule times will be adjusted to reflect the stop addition.
• 38 Green Tree: Three morning inbound-only trips arriving Downtown at 8:40 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. will be added to address overcrowding. The trip arriving at 8:40 a.m. will begin at Chartiers Valley Shopping Center, the trip arriving at 9:10 a.m. will begin at Mt. Lebanon T Station and the trip arriving at 9:30 a.m. will begin at Greentree Road opposite Orchard Spring Road.
• 51 Carrick: The schedule will be completely revised and trip times will be adjusted throughout the day on weekdays and on Saturday evenings. Weekday trips will be adjusted to provide better coordination with the 48 Arlington route. Additionally, two a.m. inbound trips and two p.m. outbound trips will be added to address overcrowding. Adjustments will also be made to school day-only trips. On Saturdays, the inbound trips arriving Downtown at 9:20 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. will begin at Brentwood Town Square instead of at Caste Village. The Saturday outbound trips leaving Downtown at 8:40 p.m. and 9:20 p.m. will end at Brentwood Town Square rather than Caste Village.
• 51L Carrick Limited: Afternoon trip times will be adjusted to provide better coordination with the 51 Carrick route and address overcrowding.
• 53L Homestead Park Limited: Due to the closure of the County Airport Park and Ride, 53L inbound short trips (those that start before 7 a.m.) will be extended to begin at the West Mifflin bus garage and will include a new stop at Lebanon Road past Noble Drive.
• 56 Lincoln Place: Due to the closure of the County Airport and Elks Lodge park and ride lots, the 56 will be rerouted to use Lebanon Church Road between Buttermilk Hollow Road and Pittsburgh-McKeesport Boulevard. Schedule times will be adjusted for all days to better coordinate with the 57 Hazelwood route and help address overcrowding.
• 57 Hazelwood: Schedule times will be adjusted for all days to better coordinate with the 56 Lincoln Place route and help address overcrowding.
• 67 Monroeville: The stop change at Monroeville Mall will become permanent with the 11/20/11 schedule. Schedule times are adjusted.
• 68 Braddock Hills: The stop change at Monroeville Mall will become permanent with the 11/20/11 schedule. Schedule times are adjusted.
• 82 Lincoln: To better accommodate student travel to school, one inbound trip will be added beginning at East Liberty Boulevard at Penn Avenue and arriving Downtown at 8 a.m.
• 91 Butler Street: The stop changes at the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital in Fox Chapel will become permanent with the 11/20/11 schedule.
• P68 Braddock Hills Flyer: The stop change at Monroeville Mall will become permanent with the 11/20/11 schedule. Schedule times are adjusted.
• Red Line: The weekday outbound trip that leaves Downtown at 7:58 a.m. will be extended to South Hills Village. The weekday inbound trip that arrives Downtown at 9:20 a.m. will be extended to begin at South Hills Village at 8:40 a.m.

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

Single Lane on Mt. Lebanon Boulevard Saturday

2011-10-20T09:57:00.000-04:00

Auto traffic on a portion of Mt. Lebanon Boulevard will be restricted to a single lane Saturday so that Port Authority personnel can conduct repairs at the light rail crossing.

Single lane will be in place between Cook Drive and Castle Shannon Boulevard beginning Saturday at midnight and ending at approximately 6 p.m. that same day. Flaggers will direct motorists.

Impact to Port Authority T riders will be minimal, with minor boarding changes in effect at Poplar, Arlington and Castle Shannon stops. Read more.

Book Fair in Steel Plaza Station This Week

2011-10-17T13:16:00.001-04:00

Grab a gift or some reading material for your commute at the Books Are Fun Fair in Steel Plaza T Station this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (October 19-21)!

The book fair will be located on the station’s mezzanine level across from Crazy Mocha and will be open each day from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sale is open to the public -- you don't have to be a T rider or transit rider to stop by.

Cash, credit cards and personal checks will be accepted.

A portion of the vendor’s proceeds will benefit the United Way of Allegheny County.

45 Bus Routes Detour Saturday, Oct. 15 due to Occupy Pittsburgh

2011-10-14T19:54:00.002-04:00

Updated: Detours have ended and buses are resuming regular route. Updated 1 pm.

Nearly 45 Port Authority bus routes will be detoured due to street closures in Downtown Pittsburgh and the Hill District for the Occupy Pittsburgh event on Saturday, October 15.

The first detours will begin in the Hill District at approximately 9:30 a.m., affecting the 81, 82 and 83 bus routes until about 11:15 a.m. due to a rally. More information.

Then from approximately 11:15 a.m. until about 3 p.m., nearly 45 bus routes will detour as the event becomes a march along numerous Downtown streets, including Centre Avenue, Sixth Avenue, Fourth Avenue, Grant Street and Liberty Avenue.

Many regular bus stops will be inaccessible to buses during this time, and the entrance to the East Busway will also be blocked. View full detour information, including temporary bus stop changes.

Due to the unpredictable nature of the event, detours are subject to change without notice. Riders are urged to allow extra time to get to their destination due to road closures as well as traffic from numerous sporting events also taking place tomorrow.

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

Temporary changes to Monroeville Plaza Park & Ride

2011-10-04T14:02:00.002-04:00

Due to a sinkhole on the property, temporary changes will be made to the bus stop and main parking area at the Monroeville Plaza Park and Ride. This Park and Ride serves the P12 Holiday Park Flyer bus route.

While the sinkhole is being fixed, the bus stop will be relocated to the Roomful Express fire lane at main entrance, and the main parking area between the plaza's entrances will be closed.

Riders may park in the spaces in front of Roomful Express, in addition to the two other designated parking areas behind Roomful Express and behind Giant Eagle. Riders must not park in the closed lot or in front of Giant Eagle/CVS. Those who park outside the designated areas will have their cars towed at their own expense.

These changes take effect Wednesday, October 5 and will be in place until further notice.

View a PDF diagram showing parking areas.

View the detour notice for the bus stop change.

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

40 Bus Routes Detour Oct. 1 for Parade

2011-09-29T09:43:00.003-04:00

During the annual African-American Heritage Day Parade on Saturday, October 1, about 40 Port Authority bus routes will be detoured and see temporary stop changes in Downtown Pittsburgh and the Hill District as well as along Bigelow Boulevard.

Detours are expected to begin at approximately 11 a.m. Regular service and stops should be restored by around 1 p.m.

View a PDF brochure listing affected routes and stop changes. Printed copies of this brochure are available at major schedule rack locations.

Please note that additional closures may or not occur during the parade, slightly altering detours on fewer than 10 routes. View additional detour information.

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

Good news about bikes on transit.

2011-09-23T12:56:00.000-04:00

Port Authority's bus fleet is now 100 percent equipped with bike racks!

This is the result of the hard work and dedication of many community partners -- including Bike Pittsburgh and Sustainable Pittsburgh, and was made possible by grants from national and local sources alike, including the federal government and The Richard King Mellon Foundation.

Port Authority is also instituting a more bike-friendly policy on its light rail system. Bicyclists may now bring their bikes onboard the T during peak hours in either direction!

For complete information about bikes on transit, visit our website or pick up an updated copy of the We Like Bikes brochure at major schedule rack locations. To learn how to use our bus-mounted bike racks, check out the video below.

Bus Routes Detour for Sunday's Great Race

2011-09-22T11:02:00.000-04:00

During the 34th 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 at approximately 4:45 a.m. Regular service is expected to resume by about 12 p.m.

Additionally, two temporary special bus routes, the 5K and 10K, will operate during the race to provide service between Downtown and Oakland, and Downtown and Squirrel Hill, respectively.

Brochures detailing detours and special bus service are available on our website and at major schedule rack locations.

View PDF brochure listing detours for the Great Race.

View 5K and 10K bus service PDF brochure.

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

Blue Line-Library Detours 9/23-9/25

2011-09-21T16:00:00.000-04:00

A portion of the Library line will be closed and Blue Line T service will detour this weekend so that Port Authority can conduct track work at the South Park Road crossing and near the Beagle Stop.

Work will begin at approximately 7 p.m. on Friday, September 23 and continue all weekend until approximately 4:30 a.m. on Monday, September 26. During this time, light rail service will not operate south of Lytle Station. Instead, special Port Authority shuttle buses will operate from Lytle Station to Library Station, serving temporary bus stops adjacent to affected light rail stops. Riders may transfer to/from Blue Line-Library light rail service at Lytle.

Regular Blue Line-Library service is expected to resume with the start of Monday’s a.m. commute.

Additionally, approximately 30 parking spaces at the Lytle Station Park and Ride lot will be used for staging equipment, and will be unavailable this week as well during the work.

Motorists should be aware that South Park Road will be closed at the light rail crossing at Brightwood Road for the duration of the project. A posted detour will be provided for auto traffic.

Friday night’s Blue Line-South Hills Village service is unaffected by this project.

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

Error on 56 Lincoln Place Schedule

2011-09-19T16:05:00.000-04:00

The latest 56 Lincoln Place schedule (dated 3/27/2011) is missing an a.m. round trip on Sundays and holidays.

In addition to the trips currently included in the schedule, there is another departure at 7:46 a.m. from Mathias and Quarry streets in McKeesport that arrives/departs Downtown Pittsburgh at 8:30 a.m. The outbound portion of this trip arrives at Mathias and Quarry streets at 9:16 a.m.

All other information stated on this timetable is accurate. We apologize for the inconvenience.

September Planning & Development Meeting Canceled

2011-09-19T13:28:00.002-04:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County's Board of Directors has canceled its Planning and Development Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 21.

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

A full schedule of Board and committee meetings is available on our website.

Reminder: No Steelers shuttle service this season.

2011-09-09T11:31:00.001-04:00

With the Pittsburgh Steelers regular football season starting this weekend, Port Authority of Allegheny County reminds fans that special bus service to Heinz Field will not be offered this year.

Fans still may use regular Port Authority bus and T service to reach the North Shore on game days. The Trip Planner at PortAuthority.org is a convenient way to locate nearby routes and view schedules, and route information is also available through Google Maps.

Also, the T will offer service to two new North Shore stations starting in March 2012, providing more convenient transit access to sports venues, including Heinz Field, and other popular destinations.

The Steelers service was eliminated within a 15 percent reduction in service on March 27 to address a loss in state funding. At that time, 29 routes were eliminated and 37 others saw significant reductions. The Harmar bus division was closed and about 270 Authority jobs were eliminated.

The Steelers start the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 11, in Baltimore. The first home game at Heinz Field will be on Sept. 18.

For route information, riders may visit www.portauthority.org or contact Port Authority Customer Service at (412) 442-2000 or the TTY number, (412) 231-7007.

Port Authority Salutes the National Veterans Wheelchair Games

2011-09-08T15:21:00.000-04:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County was proud to help the participants, organizers and fans of the 31st National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs paid the Authority for extra service. Numerous Authority employees helped to coordinate, maintain and drive the extra service. One operator, Debra Bonneau, documented the experience and her grandson, Davone Bonneau Jr., created this video.

Holiday Service & Detours for Labor Day

2011-09-01T09:37:00.000-04:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County's bus, T and incline service will operate on holiday schedules on Monday, September 5 in observance of Labor Day.

The Customer Service phone line will hold holiday hours on Monday and will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Downtown Service Center will be closed on Labor Day and Port Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed.

Additionally, the annual Labor Day Parade will detour more than 30 bus routes in Downtown, the Hill District and along Bigelow Boulevard on Monday from about 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. View a PDF brochure detailing temporary stop changes.

Riders traveling this weekend should also be aware of schedule adjustments that go into effect for about 30 routes starting Sunday, September 4. New schedules for affected routes are also posted on this website.

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

Red Line detour has ended.

2011-08-27T17:25:00.000-04:00

The Red Line is back on regular route for the rest of today and tomorrow due to station renovations ending early.

Reminder: Last weekend for Red Line detours.

2011-08-26T14:55:00.000-04:00

The Red Line will be detoured again this weekend as Port Authority contractors will renovate the Fallowfield T Station platforms in Beechview. This is the final weekend for this work.

Red Line operations will be affected from Saturday's start of service until Sunday's end of service. During this time, service to Red Line stops will be provided by a combination of detoured Red Line service, bus shuttles and local light rail shuttles.

For complete detour information, including a map of service options, visit the Latest News section of our website or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Change to September service adjustments.

2011-08-25T10:45:00.000-04:00

The change to O12 McKnight Flyer's Downtown routing and stops will not go into effect on September 6, 2011 due to construction of the Seventh Avenue/Crosstown Expressway bridge.

O12 buses will remain on their current routing until the construction is over and the bridge reopens.

Port Authority will announce an official date for the O12 routing change at a later time.

The O12's extra trips will still go into effect on September 6.

Read more about Port Authority's September service adjustments here.

Movie-Related Detours: Updated Aug. 19

2011-08-19T14:09:00.000-04:00

Detours will take place throughout the month due to street closures. Additionally, delays are highly likely throughout August and throughout the city due to traffic control measures.

Due to the nature of filming, detours are subject to change without notice.

Filming-related detours are expected to end by Monday, August 22.

Listed below are currently available detours; more detours will be added as they become available or if detours change. Click through to view specific details on a detour, including hours of impact and temporary stop changes.

To receive email notification on new detours as they’re posted, subscribe to our detour alerts.

For all detours, including those not related to filming, view our detour list. For questions, contact Customer Service at 412-442-2000, or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Detours by Date

Friday, August 19

Approximately 8 am to 10 or 11 pm: Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

Detours: 6, 29, 31, 86, 88, 91, G31

Regular route, delays expected: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, O1, O5, O12, P13
BCTA-Route 1, BCTA-Route 3, New Castle Transit Route 71-Pittsburgh
After 10 pm: Closure Of Smithfield Street and William Penn Place Between Sixth and Liberty Avenues; Closure Of Seventh Avenue From Liberty Avenue To Grant Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty & Sixth Avenues, Grant Street
Detours: 28X, 40, 43, 87, G2, P1

Saturday, August 20

Closure Of Smithfield Street and William Penn Place Between Sixth and Liberty Avenues; Closure Of Seventh Avenue From Liberty Avenue To Grant Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty & Sixth Avenues, Grant Street
Detours: 28X, 39, 40, 43, 87, G2, P1
MMVTA-Commuter A Donora-Pittsburgh, Westmoreland Transit-4S Greensburg-Pittsburgh Local

Sunday, August 21

Closure Of Smithfield Street and William Penn Place Between Sixth and Liberty Avenues; Closure Of Seventh Avenue From Liberty Avenue To Grant Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty & Sixth Avenues, Grant Street
Detours: 28X, 40, 43, 87, G2, P1
MMVTA-Commuter A Donora-Pittsburgh

Detours by Route

1 Freeport Road

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

2 Mt. Royal

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

4 Troy Hill

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

6 Spring Hill

August 19 (detoured): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

7 Spring Garden

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

8 Perrysville

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

11 Fineview

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

12 McKnight

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

13 Bellevue

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

14 Ohio Valley

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

15 Charles

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

16 Brighton

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

17 Shadeland

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

18 Manchester

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

28X Airport Flyer

From 10 pm August 19 through August 21 (detoured): Closure Of Smithfield Street and William Penn Place Between Sixth and Liberty Avenues; Closure Of Seventh Avenue From Liberty Avenue To Grant Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty & Sixth Avenues, Grant Street

29 Robinson

August 19 (detoured): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

31 Bridgeville

August 19 (detoured): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

39 Brookline

August 20 (detoured): Closure Of Smithfield Street and William Penn Place Between Sixth and Liberty Avenues; Closure Of Seventh Avenue From Liberty Avenue To Grant Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty & Sixth Avenues, Grant Street

40 Mt. Washington

From 10 pm August 19 through August 21 (detoured): Closure Of Smithfield Street and William Penn Place Between Sixth and Liberty Avenues; Closure Of Seventh Avenue From Liberty Avenue To Grant Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty & Sixth Avenues, Grant Street

43 Bailey

From 10 pm August 19 through August 21 (detoured): Closure Of Smithfield Street and William Penn Place Between Sixth and Liberty Avenues; Closure Of Seventh Avenue From Liberty Avenue To Grant Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty & Sixth Avenues, Grant Street

86 Liberty

August 19 (detoured): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

87 Friendship

From 10 pm August 19 through August 21 (detoured): Closure Of Smithfield Street and William Penn Place Between Sixth and Liberty Avenues; Closure Of Seventh Avenue From Liberty Avenue To Grant Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty & Sixth Avenues, Grant Street

88 Penn

August 19 (detoured): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

91 Butler Street

August 19 (detoured): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

G2 West Busway-All Stops

From 10 pm August 19 through August 21 (detoured): Closure Of Smithfield Street and William Penn Place Between Sixth and Liberty Avenues; Closure Of Seventh Avenue From Liberty Avenue To Grant Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty & Sixth Avenues, Grant Street

G31 Bridgeville Flyer

August 19 (detoured): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

O1 Ross Flyer

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

O5 Thompson Run Flyer

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

O12 McKnight Flyer

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

P1 East Busway-All Stops

From 10 pm August 19 through August 21 (detoured): Closure Of Smithfield Street and William Penn Place Between Sixth and Liberty Avenues; Closure Of Seventh Avenue From Liberty Avenue To Grant Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty & Sixth Avenues, Grant Street

P13 Mt. Royal Flyer

August 19 (delays expected): Closure Of Penn Avenue From Tenth Street to Ninth Street; Intermittent Traffic Control On Liberty At Seventh Street, Penn at Tenth, at Ninth Streets

Regional Transit Carriers

Reminder: Red Line detoured again this weekend.

2011-08-19T12:30:00.000-04:00

Port Authority contractors will renovate the Fallowfield T Station platforms in Beechview during this weekend and next weekend, detouring Red Line T service.

Red Line operations will be affected from each Saturday's start of service until Sunday's end of service. 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.

For complete detour information, including a map of service options, visit the Latest News section of our website or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Partial East Busway Closure Aug. 20-21

2011-08-18T13:14:00.000-04:00

Port Authority's Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway will be closed between Neville Ramp and the East Liberty Bus Division this weekend so that City contractors can work on a new pedestrian bridge between Ellsworth Avenue and the Eastside retail development. The closure will detour the P1 East Busway-All Stops bus route and temporarily close the Negley and East Liberty busway stations.

The P1 will detour primarily via Centre and Penn avenues. P1 riders who normally use Negley Station should use stops on Centre at Negley (inbound) and Centre at Negley/Giant Eagle Market District (outbound) during this time. For riders who normally use the East Liberty Station, the P1 will stop on Penn Avenue at Target (inbound) or Penn opposite Target (outbound). Delays are possible due to the P1's use of local roads. View more detour information.

The closure will go into effect with start of service Saturday. The stations and busway portion will reopen for Monday's start of service.

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

Headlines: Study says most transit systems cutting service, raising fares.

2011-08-17T14:03:00.000-04:00

Port Authority is not alone in its need for reliable transit funding. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, a recent study from the American Public Transportation Association showed that more than half of the nation's transit system cut services or raised fares since 2010 due to funding issues and rising costs.

Read more here.

Service Adjusted on 30 Routes on Sept. 4

2011-08-16T09:04:00.000-04:00

Schedules for about 30 bus and T routes will be revised starting Sunday, September 4, 2011. Port Authority of Allegheny County adjusts schedules four times per year to improve service.

Routes that will be adjusted are:

2 Mt. Royal
6 Spring Hill
8 Perrysville
13 Bellevue
14 Ohio Valley
16 Brighton
19L Emsworth Limited
38C Greentree Express
44 Knoxville
48 Arlington
51 Carrick
51L Carrick Limited
61D Murray
69 Trafford
71A Negley
71C Point Breeze
74 Homewood-Squirrel Hill
75 Ellsworth
82 Lincoln
86 Liberty
G2 West Busway-All Stops
O1 Ross Flyer
O12 McKnight Flyer
P3 East Busway-Oakland
P12 Holiday Park Flyer
P16 Penn Hills Flyer
P68 Braddock Hills Flyer
Blue Line-Library
Blue Line-South Hills Village
Red Line

For details on adjustments as well as links to September schedules, visit our website or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Please note that for weekday-only routes, changes will go into effect on Tuesday, September 6, due to the Labor Day holiday falling on Monday, September 5. Holiday schedules will be in effect on Labor Day.

Red Line Work Resumes Next Three Weekends

2011-08-11T14:53:00.005-04:00

Red Line work postponed from July will resume this weekend and continue for the remaining weekends in August.

Port Authority contractors will renovate the Fallowfield T Station platforms in Beechview August 13-14, August 20-21 and August 27-28, detouring Red line service.

The Red Line will be affected each Saturday and Sunday from start of service until end of service. During this work, service to Red Line stops will be provided by a combination of detoured T service, local light rail shuttles and bus 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 the local light rail shuttle that will operate in both directions between Overbrook Junction and Potomac. Inbound rail shuttle riders must board from outbound side at Mt. Lebanon and Dormont Junction after 8 p.m. Sunday, August 14 and Sunday, August 21 due to maintenance in the Mt. Lebanon rail tunnel.

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.

Regular operations will resume in time for each Monday's a.m. commute.

To view a map of shuttle stop locations and service options, click here. For further assistance, dial Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Closures of East Busway, Wabash Tunnel This Week Due to Filming

2011-08-09T14:55:00.000-04:00

Multiple detours and temporary closures will take place this week within the Port Authority system due to filming of The Dark Knight Rises.

The Wabash Tunnel will be closed all day Wednesday, August 10 and Thursday, August 11 due to filming in the area. The closure does not affect Port Authority service, but motorists who use the tunnel should plan alternate routing.

Also on Thursday, numerous bus routes will detour due to a partial closure of the East Busway between 26th Street in the Strip District and the busway's Downtown entrance near Liberty Avenue and Grant Street. The closure will be in effect from start of service through approximately 3 p.m. During the detour, East Busway routes will not serve Penn Station; temporary stops will be on Liberty Avenue in front of the Greyhound Station (inbound) and Amtrak Station (outbound). The busway is expected to reopen in time for the afternoon rush.

Additionally, station annunciators will be silenced at Steel Plaza and light rail vehicle annunciators will be silenced at Wood Street and Steel Plaza on Thursday due to nearby filming. This will be in effect from start of service until approximately 7 p.m., or when filming finishes. Production representatives and Port Authority staff will be on hand to assist visually-impaired riders.

Many other bus routes will also be detoured due to filming throughout Downtown this week. Details on these detours as well as the busway and Wabash Tunnel closures are available on our website.

Even if their bus route is not detoured, riders should expect delays throughout the week due to filming-related traffic controls and changes in traffic patterns.

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

Headlines: "Port Authority in Peril?"

2011-08-05T16:13:00.000-04:00

Last night, KDKA-AM's Robert Mangino hosted Port Authority CEO Steve Bland for an hour-long interview. The topic? The two largest financial issues facing Port Authority today: funding and legacy costs.

Listen here.

Movie-related detours posted on our website.

2011-08-02T15:41:00.000-04:00

Filming of the next Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises, will impact most Port Authority routes at some point during the month of August. Primary areas of impact will be Downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland, although other neighborhoods may also be affected.

Detours will take place throughout the month due to street closures. Additionally, delays are highly likely throughout August and throughout the city due to traffic control measures.

Due to the nature of filming, detours are subject to change without notice.

Currently available filming-related detours are now listed on our website; more detours will be added as they are released.
To receive email notification on new detours as they’re posted, subscribe to our detour alerts.

For all detours, including those not related to filming, view our detours page. For questions, contact Customer Service at 412-442-2000, or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

New Park & Ride in Lincoln Place

2011-07-29T15:50:00.000-04:00

Port Authority has established a new Park and Ride lot located at the former Muldowney bus loop in Lincoln Place. The lot is located a short walk from 56 Lincoln Place bus stops on Mifflin Road and 53L Homestead Park Limited stops on Interboro Avenue.

The lot, which is Port Authority property, will accommodate 10-15 cars, with striping for spaces to be added at a later date. The lot is located on Muldowney Avenue near Beggs Street.

The existing shelter at the lot will not be served by buses. For inbound 56 service, riders should walk to Mifflin Road past Interboro Avenue (in front of the Sunoco gas station). For inbound 53L, riders should walk to Interboro Avenue past Leaside Drive (opposite the Sunoco station). Riders using these stops will pay a one-zone fare to ride Downtown.

Port Authority continues to actively pursue new Park and Ride opportunities in the area following the discontinuation of rider parking at the Elks Lodge and Allegheny County Airport lots.

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

Red Line Detours Postponed to Aug. 13-14, 20-21 & 27-28

2011-07-28T12:09:00.000-04:00

Scheduled work to renovate the Fallowfield T Station platforms in Beechview has been postponed. Work will not occur this weekend or next weekend, and associated detours will also be pushed back.

Platform renovations will now occur the weekends of August 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28. Red Line operations will be affected from each Saturday's start of service until Sunday's end of service.

During these weekends, Red Line service will detour. 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 the 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.

Regular operations will resume in time for each Monday's a.m. commute.

For more infomation, view our map or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

County Airport Park & Ride Closing

2011-07-27T17:13:00.000-04:00

Upon further evaluation of lot usage and existing available bus service, the Port Authority Park and Ride lot at Allegheny County Airport will be discontinued effective this Sunday, July 31. The 53L Homestead Park Limited currently serves the lot.

Riders who use this lot -- as well as riders who may be considering using the lot due to the closure of the Elks Lodge Park and Ride -- may wish to consider using the Century III Mall Park and Ride Lot as an alternative or view our Park and Ride map for other options.

Please note that anyone riding to or from the county airport may still do so by catching the 53L on Lebanon Church Road; the bus will no longer enter the lot but will continue its routing past the airport.

Port Authority is actively searching for new park and ride opportunities in and around the area and will alert our riders if other options become available. Port Authority thanks the airport for its years of cooperation and support for the Park and Ride program.

For more information on park and ride lots, riders may visit our Park and Ride Information Page or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Elks Lodge Park & Ride Closing

2011-07-25T13:07:00.002-04:00

Due to sale of the property, the Elks Lodge Park and Ride lot in Lincoln Place will close effective Sunday, July 31. Bus routes 53L Homestead Park Limited and 56 Lincoln Place currently stop at the 60-space lot.

Riders may consider using the following park and ride lots as an alternative:

~~Allegheny County Airport~~~~: Served by 53L Homestead Park Limited with departures approximately every 20 minutes during peak periods. 120 spaces available. Located in Zone 2.~~
NOTE: The County Airport Park and Ride will also close effective Sunday, July 31.
Century III Mall: Served by Y1 Large Flyer with departures approximately every 15 minutes during peak periods. 160 spaces available. Located in Zone 2.

Port Authority thanks Elks Lodge for its years of participation in the Park and Ride program.

For additional information on park and ride lots, riders may visit our Park and Ride Lot Information Page or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Reminder: Red Line Detours This Weekend.

2011-07-22T16:08:00.001-04:00

Due to station renovation in Beechview, the Red Line will detour tomorrow and Sunday. Service to Red Line stops will be provided with a combination of detoured T service, local light rail shuttles and bus shuttles.

For full details, including a link to a map of service options, view our earlier blog post.

Additionally, riders going outbound on the local light rail shuttle at Dormont Junction and Mt. Lebanon Station after 8 p.m. on Sunday must board from the inbound side due to maintenance in the Mt. Lebanon rail tunnel.

Regular Red Line service will resume in time for Monday's start of service.

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

Port Authority Reaches Agreement with Police Union

2011-07-22T15:37:00.000-04:00

The Port Authority Board of Directors today approved a new labor agreement with the Port Authority Transit Police Association, which represents its police officers.

The agreement runs through July 31, 2013 and applies to more than 30 employees who work for the Authority's Police Department. This agreement was ratified by our police officers, but not by the unit representing sergeants and lieutenants, who work under a separate agreement. Management will continue to work with that group to reach a settlement.

The contract is retroactive to Aug. 1, 2009. Wages are frozen under the first two years of the agreement with the possibility of increases in the last two years.

"Recognizing the current financial condition of the Authority, this is certainly an austerity contract," said Jack Brooks, Chairman of the Port Authority Board of Directors. "Our police already have helped address the legacy cost issue as they gave up post-retirement healthcare in 2007 along with management and non-represented staff."

Also, new police employees hired on or after Sept. 1 will be enrolled in a defined contribution retirement program along with management and non-represented staff.

New Member Joins Port Authority Board

2011-07-22T12:40:00.000-04:00

The Port Authority of Allegheny County is pleased to welcome Amanda Green Hawkins as the newest member of its Board of Directors.

Since 2008, Mrs. Hawkins has served as Allegheny County Councilwoman for District 13, representing various Pittsburgh neighborhoods, and will serve as County Council’s official presence on Port Authority’s Board. Her term on the Authority’s Board expires December 31, 2015.

Mrs. Hawkins is director of the Civil and Human Rights Department and assistant general counsel for United Steelworkers, and has represented the union throughout the United States federal court system. She served as a voter protection attorney for the Democratic Party in 2004 and 2006, and was involved with the Obama-Biden campaign’s Counsel for Change and its Labor, Employment and Workplace Committee.

She is a member of the Democratic National Committee and its Rules and Bylaws Committee, as well as the AFL-CIO’s Lawyers Coordinating Committee and its Minority Caucus. Additionally, she sits on the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute of Politics Board of Fellows and is co-chair of its Workforce Development Policy Committee.

She is a graduate of Duke University and the Northeastern University School of Law.

“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I am very pleased to welcome Amanda,” said John A. Brooks, chairman of the Board of Directors. “It is important for public agencies like Port Authority to be in touch with the voice of labor, and Amanda will help us achieve that goal.”

“I am eager to work with Amanda on the issues facing public transportation in Allegheny County,” said Steve Bland, Port Authority CEO. “Her fresh perspective and a diverse set of experiences will no doubt prove a valuable asset to Port Authority riders and staff.”

Red Line Detours July 23-24, 30-31; Aug. 6-7, 13-14.

2011-07-21T10:08:00.001-04:00

Port Authority contractors will renovate the Fallowfield T Station platforms in Beechview over the next four weekends, affecting the operation of Red Line service.

The Red Line will be affected each Saturday and Sunday from start of service until end of service on July 23-24, July 30-31, August 6-7 and August 13-14. During this time, service to Red Line stops will be provided by a combination of detoured T service, local light rail shuttles and bus 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 the 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.

Regular operations will resume in time for each Monday morning's start of service.

For more information, view our map of service options, see the Detour Notice or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

July Planning & Development Committee Meeting Canceled

2011-07-18T15:59:00.000-04:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County's Board of Directors has canceled its Planning and Development Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 20.

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

For more information on Board and Committee meetings, visit Port Authority's website.

New Bus Stops at New Target in East Liberty

2011-07-07T13:31:00.000-04:00

Port Authority will establish two new bus stops this week to serve the new Target store located on Penn Avenue between Penn Circle South and Shady Avenue in East Liberty.

The inbound stop will be located on Penn Avenue opposite Eastside III Drive in front of Target. This stop will inbound service for following bus routes: 71C Point Breeze, 74 Homewood-Squirrel Hill, 77 Penn Hills, 82 Lincoln, 86 Liberty, 88 Penn and 89 Garfield Commons.

A new outbound stop for those routes will be established across the street from Target at Penn Avenue at Eastside III Drive.

The new stops will go into effect this Friday, July 8. Target is expected to open Sunday, July 24.

In addition to service at the new stops, many other routes will also provide nearby access to Target via adjacent stops, including the P1 and other routes at the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway's East Liberty Station, located across Penn Avenue from the store, and the 75 Ellsworth, which stops on Ellsworth Avenue near the busway station. For more information, use our online Trip Planner or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Holiday Service in Effect on July 4

2011-06-30T08:51:00.000-04:00

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

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 Monday in observance of Independence Day. The Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed on July 4.

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

Stakeholder Relations Meeting Added for July 7

2011-06-28T09:08:00.000-04:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County's Board of Directors has added a Stakeholder Relations Committee Meeting to its calendar for Thursday, July 7.

The meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. in the Neal H. Holmes Board Room, 5th Floor, 345 Sixth Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh, and is open to the public.

A full calendar of Board and committee meetings is available on Port Authority's website.

Headlines: The Future of Port Authority...by Port Authority

2011-06-27T14:47:00.000-04:00

Lately, Post-Gazette's "The Next Page" column has featured several pieces dealing with public transportation. The Post-Gazette recently invited Port Authority staffers to author their own piece explaining how we've tried to improve the system, what challenges we've faced and what's next. Read all about it in "The Future of Port Authority...by Port Authority."

Port Authority Board Adopts Fiscal Year 2012 Budgets

2011-06-24T13:08:00.000-04:00

Port Authority's Board of Directors today adopted a $370.2 million operating budget for its Fiscal Year 2012 (July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012) that maintains service, staffing and fares at current levels.

"There's a window of opportunity now for leaders across the state to finally resolve the transportation funding crisis," said Authority CEO Steve Bland. "Collectively, we can establish a more reliable and sustainable funding source to ensure public transportation continues benefiting riders in the Pittsburgh region and throughout the state."

The Authority is able to stabilize service, fares and staffing through June 30, 2012 only by using most of its remaining reserves and the remainder of the one-time $45 million emergency contribution made by former Gov. Rendell. If leaders are unable to agree on a transportation funding solution by the end of FY 2012, Port Authority then would face a significant deficit for FY 2013 and be forced to cut more service to offset the reduction in funding.

"We're very encouraged by the widespread interest in protecting our transportation programs in Pennsylvania and Gov. Corbett's initiative to seek potential solutions through the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission," Bland said.

The Commission is expected to issue recommendations by Aug. 1.

The Authority's balanced budget follows a rocky year for transit riders. The Authority was forced to increase fares, reduce service by 15 percent in March and eliminate 260 positions to help offset the state funding cuts.

In Pennsylvania, all public transit systems receive a significant level of funding, based on a formula, from state government to help provide daily services. At Port Authority, this amount is supposed to be $184.1 million. However, a state budget shortfall was caused last year primarily by a federal decision to not allow Pennsylvania to generate revenue by charging tolls on Interstate 80. In addition, state sales tax receipts were down.

A few facts about this year's budget:

$370.2 million total expenses, up from $356.6 million – about a 3.8 percent increase.
Approximately $40 million in one-time use of reserves and the remainder of the state’s $45 million emergency contribution are needed to balance the budget.
Port Authority projects ending FY 2012 with only $10 million in reserves.
Union employees will receive a 3 percent contractual wage increase. Non-union employees are under a wage freeze.

Capital Budget

The Authority's Board also approved capital improvement budgets for two years. The fiscal year 2011-12 budget totals $182.9 million and the fiscal year 2012-13 budget totals $149.2 million.

Operating and capital improvement budgets serve different functions. Capital funding received from local, state and federal sources that is designated for specific projects cannot be used for operating expenses.

The capital budget reflects how Port Authority maintains its extensive system, including 26 miles of light rail tracks, nearly 15 miles of busways and roughly 800 vehicles. Major projects such as the North Shore Connector extension are paid with capital budget dollars, not operating dollars.

Headlines: "Critical need: Let's keep an open mind on transportation funding"

2011-06-20T13:48:00.000-04:00

This week the Post-Gazette editorial page weighs in on transportation funding and the monumental task that the newly created Transportation Funding Advisory Commission faces -- determining solutions for sustainably funding mass transit and Pennsylvania's deteriorating roads and bridges. Read more.

Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Introduced.

2011-06-17T08:10:00.000-04:00

Port Authority's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget keeps current service levels, fares and staffing stable through June 30, 2012.

However, if the state's transportation funding crisis is not resolved, the Authority could be facing further challenges in 2013. Read more about current efforts to address transportation funding in Pennsylvania.

A slideshow presentation providing an overview of the proposed budget -- including context, highlights and possible and challenges is available on Port Authority's website, as are charts detailing the proposed operating and capital budgets.

The Board of Directors will vote on the Fiscal Year 2012 budget at its June 24 meeting.

Update: Error on printed 16-19L schedule.

2011-06-16T09:50:00.001-04:00

An error has affected the recently released 16 Brighton and 19L Emsworth Limited bus schedule. The printed schedule brochure dated 6/12/11 is incorrect -- it shows fewer trips and less frequent service than what is actually offered on the 19L and provides incorrect trip times for 16's weekend and holiday service.

The 16-19L schedule currently posted on our website is correct; for riders who don't have internet access, Port Authority is distributing cards on buses and at schedule racks that show the correct information.

Please note that the 17 Shadeland timetable included in the printed schedule brochure alongside 16 and 19L is correct.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Dump the Pump Day is This Thursday

2011-06-14T13:30:00.000-04:00

With high gas prices forecasted for the rest of the summer, now is the perfect time to try transit. June 16 is the sixth annual National Dump the Pump Day, and Port Authority of Allegheny County – along with transit agencies around the country – is encouraging people to save money by parking the car and using public transportation instead.

Pittsburghers can save an average of $799 monthly and $9,583 annually by using transit, according to the latest figures from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), which founded National Dump the Pump Day in 2006.

To calculate your individual savings, visit APTA’s Fuel Savings Calculator.

The benefits of public transit aren’t limited to your wallet. Consider the environmental impact of “dumping the pump”:

Public transportation use in the United States reduces our nation’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually. This is equivalent to the emissions resulting from the electricity generated for the use of 4.9 million households, or every household in Washington DC, New York City, Atlanta, Denver and Los Angeles combined.
One person switching to public transit can reduce daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds, or more than 4,800 pounds in a year.

See how you can reduce your carbon footprint by using public transit with the Carbon Savings Calculator.

To plan your trip using Port Authority transit, try our Trip Planner, view our Park and Ride information or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Reminder: Some Timetables Adjusted on Sunday

2011-06-10T09:19:00.000-04:00

Schedules for about 20 bus and T routes will see adjustments effective this Sunday, June 12.

These minor changes are made by Port Authority four times per year to adjust and improve service.

You can read more about these changes and view the new schedules by visiting our earlier blog post or going to PortAuthority.org. Click on the name of the route to view the new schedule.

Buses Detour for Pride Weekend, June 11-12

2011-06-09T10:53:00.000-04:00

About 35 Port Authority bus routes will be detoured this weekend for this year's PrideFest, Pride in the Streets and Pride Awareness March in Downtown Pittsburgh. Only certain Downtown stops will be served during these events.

The earliest detours will begin with start of service on Saturday, June 11, with the longest detours lasting until approximately 10 p.m. on Sunday, June 12. Certain routes will be detoured only during Sunday's Pride Awareness March, from about 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

View our PDF brochure detailing detours and temporary stop changes. This brochure is also available at major schedule racks.

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

Red Line Boarding Changes June 9-14

2011-06-08T14:44:00.000-04:00

Port Authority contractors will close the inbound side of the Mt. Lebanon rail tunnel this week to install new track. The closure will begin at approximately 7 pm Thursday, June 9, and continue around the clock until approximately 4 am on Tuesday, June 14.

The closure will require single tracking near the tunnel, affecting boarding for many Red Line riders. During the closure, riders headed inbound from Dormont Junction or Mt. Lebanon stations must board from the outbound platform. Minor delays are possible, particularly during peak periods.

This rail work continues from last week, when contractors closed the outbound side of the tunnel for several days to install track.

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

St. Anne's Park and Ride closed June 13-18

2011-06-08T13:37:00.000-04:00

From June 13 through June 18, 2011, St. Anne’s Park and Ride will be closed to accommodate their annual church carnival.

Port Authority customers who normally park at St. Anne’s are encouraged to use the South Hills Village 2,200-space parking garage during this period. Alternate park and ride lots such as Washington Junction, Castle Shannon and Memorial Hall are also available, but usually fill to capacity early.

Riders parking at the South Hills Village Garage with one-zone transit passes must pay an additional $1.00 in T fare each way between Downtown and South Hills Village. The daily parking rate for the South Hills Village Garage is $2.00.

For more details, call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or use our online Trip Planner or Park and Ride information page.

Update on PA Transportation Funding Advisory Commission

2011-06-06T14:22:00.000-04:00

Gov. Tom Corbett's newly created Transportation Funding Advisory Commission has been discussing the statewide funding crisis since April and is expected to recommend potential solutions for roads, bridges and transit by Aug. 1. The group is led by PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch and charged with looking at potential long-term transportation funding solutions for roads, bridges and transit.

The 35-member commission consists of representatives from throughout Pennsylvania (the full membership list is available on the Commission’s website) and has met twice since its inception, with a third meeting scheduled for today.

Meetings have been focused on a number of topics, including the history of transportation funding in Pennsylvania and a brainstorming session on possible funding ideas for transportation. Meeting minutes and materials are available for public download on the Commission’s website.

Port Authority is closely following the Commission's progress and remains eager to work with leaders statewide on recommendations that would provide sustainable and growing funding sources for roads, bridges and public transit for years to come.

Red Line Boarding Changes June 2-7

2011-06-01T08:39:00.000-04:00

Port Authority contractors will close the outbound side of the Mt. Lebanon Rail Tunnel this week to install new track. The closure will begin at approximately 8 pm on Thursday, June 2 and continue around the clock until approximately 4 am on Tuesday, June 7.

The closure will require single tracking near the tunnel, so the rail work will affect boarding for some Red Line riders. During the closure, riders headed outbound from Dormont Junction or Mt. Lebanon stations must board from the inbound platform.

Holiday Service for Memorial Day, May 30

2011-05-26T10:23:00.030-04:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County's bus, T and incline service will operate on holiday schedules for Memorial Day, this Monday, May 30.

Additionally, the Port Authority system will pause for one minute at noon on Monday in rememberance of military veterans and in honor of those currently serving. Vehicles will pull off to a safe location to observe this moment of reflection.

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. The Authority's Twitter feed will not be staffed on Monday.

Some bus routes will be detoured over the holiday weekend due to parades and other community events. Riders should check with Customer Service or Port Authority’s website for detours on their route. The following detours and service notices will be in effect for the following routes:

Sunday, May 29

Brackenridge Borough/VFW Post 5758 Memorial Day Parade: 1
Carnegie Memorial Day Parade: 31
North Shore Mutt Strut 5K Run/1.5 Mile Walk: 1, 4, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18
Whitaker Memorial Day Parade: 59

Monday, May 30

Allegheny Cemetery/St. Mary's Cemetery Assoc. Memorial Day Parade: 91
Arnold/New Kensington Memorial Day Parade: 1
Blawnox Memorial Day Parade: 1
Brentwood VFW Post 1810 Memorial Day March: 51
Bridgeville Memorial Day Parade: 31
Brookline/Dormont/Mt Lebanon Memorial Day Parade: 41
Castle Shannon Memorial Day Parade: Blue Line-Library, Red Line
Coraopolis and Keith-Holmes VFW Post 402 Memorial Day Parade: 21
Etna/Sharpsburg Memorial Day Parade: 1, 91
Kennedy Township Memorial Day Parade: 24
Lincoln Place VFW Post 5321 Memorial Day Parade: 56
Penn Hills Memorial Day Parade: 77
Pitcairn Memorial Day Parade: 69
Sewickley Memorial Day Parade: 14, 21
Trafford Memorial Day Parade: 69
West View VFW Memorial Day Parade: 8, 13

For more information, visit portauthority.org or contact Customer Service at (412) 442-2000 or the TTY number, (412) 231-7007.

West Busway Partially Reopens May 23

2011-05-22T21:14:00.002-04:00

Bus routes that have been detoured from the West Busway since Friday due to a landslide will return to normal for the inbound commute on Monday morning.

One lane of the busway has been cleared of debris caused by a landslide on Friday. This will allow for inbound buses to again travel through the slide area, located between the Sheraden and Ingram Stations. Bus routes returning to normal inbound travel are the G2, G3, G31 and 28X along with Beaver County's Route 4. Riders heading inbound on Monday should use their regular busway stations.

The outbound lane is expected to remain closed for several weeks as work continues to clear debris and assess the slide area.

Outbound trips on the busway will remain detoured through 3:30 p.m. on Monday. After 3:30 p.m., outbound trips will resume normal routing on the busway and buses will travel through the slide area in an alternating fashion -- controlled by a temporary traffic signal. Delays are possible but expected to be minimal.

Crews worked through the weekend to clear debris and reopen one lane of the busway since the slide occurred on Friday morning. The slide worsened Friday evening, increasing in size and dumping more debris toward the busway.

For more information, contact Customer Service at (412) 442-2000 or the TTY number, (412) 231-7007 for the speech and hearing impaired.

Emergency West Busway Closure in Effect

2011-05-19T14:10:00.000-04:00

Due to an earlier weather-related landslide, a portion of the West Busway has closed for clean up effective immediately.

Routes that use the busway will be detoured through the remainder of the week and into the weekend. This includes the 28X, G2, G3 and G31 routes along with Beaver County Transit's Route 4. The detours include temporary station closings and stop changes. For details, click here.

Normal service is expected to resume by Monday morning, possibly sooner.

The landslide occured earlier this morning between the busway's Sheraden and Ingram stations. Debris from the landslide caused one lane to close as a safety precaution, but buses were not detoured and stops were not affected. Both lanes are now closed to give crews and equipment access to the area for cleanup.

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

Temporary service suspension in Fineview for afternoon of May 21.

2011-05-18T15:58:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, May 21, 2011, Leadership Pittsburgh will host a neighborhood event called, “Lights! Camera! Fineview!” During this event, a number of local streets in Fineview will be closed to traffic from approximately 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

11 Fineview will be unable to serve Fineview during this event. Buses leaving Downtown to Fineview will be detoured via Federal Street, Perrysville Avenue and North Charles Street and then return to Downtown Pittsburgh via regular routing. All outbound bus stops for 8 Perrysville along Perrysville Avenue between Federal and North Charles streets will be served by 11.

The closest bus stops to Fineview during the detour will be on Federal Street at Henderson Street and Perrysville Avenue at North Charles Street.

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

Marathon-related detours for May 14 & 15

2011-05-13T14:42:00.000-04:00

Approximately 50 Port Authority bus routes will be detoured with temporary stop changes during the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon on Sunday, May 15, 2011. Detours will affect routes throughout various city neighborhoods, including Downtown, the North Side, Oakland, West End, South Side and East End.

In Downtown, most affected bus routes will be rerouted to serve stops near the Steel Plaza T station. Most South Hills bus routes, however, will terminate at South Hills Junction where riders may transfer to the T for free. Additionally, routes normally serving both Squirrel Hill and Oakland will not serve Oakland during the marathon, but a free shuttle will transport riders between the two neighborhoods.

Full details on detours and stop changes are now available on Port Authority's website and will be available in brochure form later this week. Temporary signs will not be posted, so riders should be sure to check detour information before traveling and contact Customer Service with any questions.

Detours will begin with start of service Sunday and are expected to last until the end of the marathon, approximately 2 pm. All routes will remain on detour until this time regardless of local street reopenings. During the marathon, riders should anticipate delays and allow for extra time when traveling.

Less extensive detours will be in effect on Saturday, May 14, for other marathon-related events. These detours will be limited to the North Side and parts of Downtown and are detailed in a separate brochure.

To view Saturday's detours, click here (link opens PDF).

To view Sunday's marathon detours, click here (link opens PDF).

For assistance, contact Customer Service at (412) 442-2000 or the TTY number, (412) 231-7007 for the speech and hearing impaired.

Schedules Adjusted for About 20 Routes on Sunday, June 12

2011-05-10T16:07:00.002-04:00

Schedules for approximately 20 bus and T routes will be revised starting Sunday, June 12, 2011. Port Authority of Allegheny County adjusts schedules four times per year to improve service.

6 Spring Hill: School trips (marked with an “S” on the March 2011 schedule) are discontinued for the summer.
8 Perrysville: School trips (marked with an “S” on the March 2011 schedule) are discontinued for the summer.
13 Bellevue: The last seven weekday evening trips will operate 10 minutes later. The affected trips will now arrive Downtown at 6:25 p.m. and extend to 12:25 a.m.
16 Brighton: School trips (marked with an “S” on the March 2011 schedule) are discontinued for the summer.
44 Knoxville: School trips (marked with an “S” or “T” on the March 2011 schedule) are discontinued for the summer.
48 Arlington: School trips (marked with an “S” on the March 2011 schedule) are discontinued for the summer.
51 Carrick: School trips (marked with an “H,” “P” or “S” on the March 2011 schedule) are discontinued for the summer. More trips will end at Brentwood Loop, reducing service frequency to Caste Village and Brentwood Towne Square from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes. Trip times adjusted.
54 North Side-Oakland-South Side: The error made on the March 2011 schedule in which "D" trips were shown serving Bausman Street has been corrected. No schedule changes have been made.
61A Wilkinsburg via Forbes Ave: Some weekday inbound trip times will be adjusted between Wilkinsburg and Forbes at Braddock.
61C McKeesport-Homestead: Some outbound trips ending at McKeesport Transportation Center Bay #2 will now end at Lysle Boulevard at McKeesport Transportation Center instead, and vice-versa. The two stops are adjacent and essentially serve the same destination. Trip times will not change and the rest of the route is unaffected.
74 Homewood-Squirrel Hill: School trips (marked with an “S” on the March 2011 schedule) are discontinued for the summer.
78 Oakmont: One weekday evening outbound trip will be added; trip will leave Wilkinsburg Station at 7:46 p.m.
82 Lincoln: School trips (marked with an “S” on the March 2011 schedule) are discontinued for the summer. Some evening trip times adjusted.
87 Friendship: Some weekday trip times adjusted.
91 Butler Street: Some trips will now end at Old Freeport and Freeport roads rather than ending at the VA Hospital. Weekday midday service will now operate every 18 minutes. Numerous trip times adjusted on weekdays and Saturdays.
G2 West Busway-All Stops: Trip times adjusted. Headways adjusted for consistency. On weekdays G2 will now operate every 10-20 minutes during early morning, every five minutes during peak periods, every 10 minutes between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., every 20 minutes midday and every 30 minutes in the evening.
G31 Bridgeville Flyer: Trip times adjusted.
O12 McKnight Flyer: Adding two morning inbound trips to help with overcrowding. The trips will arrive Downtown at 7:35 a.m. and 8:15 a.m.
P1 East Busway-All Stops: Weekday schedule revised with trips added during various periods to address overcrowding. Round trips leaving Downtown between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. will operate 10 minutes later, and a round trip has been added to arrive/leave Downtown at 12:40 a.m. On Saturdays, a 12:35 a.m. round trip will be added. Some minor inbound trip time adjustments will be made on Saturdays in the early a.m. and late p.m., and throughout the day on Sundays.
P2 East Busway-Short: Additional trips added to address overcrowding. Trip time adjustments.
Y46 Elizabeth Flyer: New schedule corrects an error made on the March 2011 timetable. The last round trip on Saturday (arriving/leaving Downtown at 12:20 a.m.) was eliminated with the March service reductions but was mistakenly included in the 3/27/11 schedule. The June 12 schedule accurately reflects this elimination.
Red Line: On Saturdays, all service after 9:00 p.m. will now operate every 30 minutes. Saturday service will also be extended, with the last train leaving Downtown at 12:40 a.m. Service frequency will change on Sundays. From start of service until 11:00 a.m., service will operate every 35 minutes; from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., every 20 minutes; from 5:00 p.m. to last trip, every 35 minutes.

58, 61A-B-C-D detour for Race for the Cure

2011-05-05T10:17:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, May 8, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness "Race for the Cure" will take place in Schenley Park.

Streets within and around the park will be closed during the event, detouring the 58, 61A, 61B, 61C and 61D bus routes from approximately 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

To view a PDF flier with more information on the detour, including temporary stop changes, click here. Pink cards with this information will also be available on buses and at major schedule rack locations.

To view upcoming detours for all routes, click here. Port Authority also offers email alerts for planned detours -- click here to register and subscribe.

State Commission to Address Transportation Funding Crisis

2011-04-29T16:50:00.000-04:00

In the aftermath of a 15 percent service reduction on March 27, Port Authority’s funding and Legacy Cost issues once again have become a focal point – and for good reason.

These are the primary issues that must be resolved to protect public transportation service across Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

There is a very real and growing desire to understand and address these issues. There also is a very real desire to help the Authority build on the improvements it's made in recent years, and to achieve key goals - the greatest being sustainability.

Despite the recent service reduction, the goals that would benefit riders and this community remain constant. And there are three of them:

First, State transportation funding remains at a reduced level and must be addressed. Port Authority’s annual allocation from the State this year was reduced from about $184 million to $150 million.

This has been among the items discussed during County Council President Jim Burn's special committee on transit.

And, on April 21, Gov. Tom Corbett formed the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission, which will seek long-term transportation funding solutions. Gov. Corbett established an Aug. 1 deadline.

The formation of this State commission is a clear sign that this issue is just as crucial in all regions of Pennsylvania.

The commission, which met for the first time on April 25, certainly will play a significant role in determining how Pennsylvania pays for transportation programs, including transit.

Second, and equally important, here at Port Authority, we also must address our Legacy Costs -- namely retiree healthcare and pensions. This problem has been brewing for decades.

Today, Port Authority pays about $31 million toward retiree healthcare. At the much-larger SEPTA – the transit system serving the Philadelphia area – the same expense totals about $8 million.

We must continue working toward correcting this problem. If not, our financial position will continue to deteriorate, service will continue to be cut and the benefits of public transportation to this community will fade.

Our last Collective Bargaining Agreement with ATU Local 85 was a good start as it tackled long-term benefit expenses.

And, we’re encouraged now by Local 85’s interest in discussing these issues. Although talks with the union, initiated by County Executive Dan Onorato, were not successful in staving off the March 27 reductions, they have led to a positive exchange of information.

Third, the Authority must remain committed to improving itself.

We must continue to take the steps necessary to make our services attractive, to encourage ridership, to create efficiencies, to support community growth and revitalization, and to make transit simpler to use.

This is why ConnectCard will be so important when it becomes available to riders in early 2012. This is why finding better ways to get information to riders matters.

We will continue our frank discussion with people as to where we are and what still must be fixed.

For now, although the Authority’s status is not ideal, it is stable. Our financial position will maintain the current level of service through June 30, 2012. In that time, we look forward to working with elected leaders, Local 85, community organizations and State officials to forge lasting solutions that protect public transportation.

Learn more about the Pennsylvania Transportation Funding Advisory Commission here.

Buses, T Follow Weekday Schedules on Good Friday

2011-04-21T10:32:00.003-04:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County's bus, T and incline service will follow regular weekday schedules on Friday, April 22, which is Good Friday.

The Customer Service phone line will be open during regular weekday hours, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Downtown Service Center on Smithfield Street will be closed Friday in observance of the holiday. The Authority's Twitter account will not be staffed on Good Friday.

On Saturday and Easter Sunday, the Customer Service phone line will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For additional information, call Customer Service at (412) 442-2000 or the TTY number, (412) 231-7007, or visit portauthority.org.

Headlines: Port Authority's T cars get new fareboxes

2011-04-20T10:21:00.002-04:00

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette transportation reporter Jon Schmitz updates new farebox installation on the T, including timeline and new fare payment procedures for riders. These fareboxes will pave the way for Port Authority's future smart card system, called ConnectCard. Read more.

Comments temporarily discontinued.

2011-04-04T12:25:00.000-04:00

Blog comments are temporarily turned off due to staff reductions and changing responsibilities. We will continue to post new blog entries as needed, so please check back for new entries and further blog-related announcements.

If you have questions or comments, please contact us via Customer Service at 412-442-2000 (for TTY, dial 412-231-2007) or by using one of our website forms: general comment/question form, Gold Star form (to recognize drivers providing outstanding service) or our complaint form. If you're on Twitter, tweet us at @PGHtransit and we'll respond to you during Twitter hours.

Service Updates on Website

2011-03-30T06:19:00.002-04:00

Please visit our website, www.portauthority.org, for the latest service updates.

Service updates will be posted on the blog in case of a website outage. Otherwise, please visit the website.

Have a concern? Customer Service is available at 412-442-2000 or online.

Service Update for March 29.

2011-03-29T05:57:00.010-04:00

UPDATED 6:45 PM. This is the final update for March 29.

The following routes are seeing trips out of service today:

69: Outbound trip arriving/leaving Downtown at 5:30 pm.

For questions, concerns or complaints, please contact Customer Service.

Service Updates for March 28.

2011-03-28T06:08:00.026-04:00

UPDATED 7 PM. The following routes are seeing trips out of service this evening. This is the final update for March 28 service.

Please check back tomorrow morning for new service updates.

•1: Inbound trip arriving Downtown at 8:04 pm. Outbound trips leaving Downtown at 6:36 pm, 9:16 pm and 10:26 pm.

•8: Trips arriving/leaving Downtown at 9 pm and 10:30 pm.

•12: Trip arriving/leaving Downtown at 8:50 pm.

•15: Trip arriving/leaving Downtown at 9:17 pm.

•51: The trips arriving/leaving Downtown at 6:50 pm and 7 pm.

•53L: Trip arriving/leaving Downtown at 6:25 pm.

•54: Trip leaving Allegheny West at 12:02 am. Trip leaving SHJ at 1:12 am.

•61C: Trip arriving/leaving Downtown at 6:07 pm.

•71A: Trips arriving/leaving Downtown at 7:26 pm and 8:56 pm.

•Y46: Trip arriving/leaving Downtown at 7:35 pm.

Route Changes Start Sun., 3/27; Riders May Check Port Authority Website for Information

2011-03-26T18:59:00.001-04:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County will implement a 15 percent service reduction starting tomorrow (Sunday, March 27). Twenty-nine routes will be eliminated and weekday service will be significantly reduced on 37 additional routes. Full details on the changes are available by clicking here.

Riders concerned about the transition may check Port Authority's website (portauthority.org), where any information regarding service issues will be posted starting Monday, March 28 at 6 a.m. On Monday, the Customer Service phone line (412-442-2000) will operate on its regular weekday hours, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The service reduction is required to counter a decrease in State funding this year.

County Council Proposal Would Force Additional Transit Cuts

2011-03-16T16:56:00.002-04:00

Port Authority of Allegheny County could lose up to $30 million in state and local funding in its current fiscal year under an Allegheny County Council proposal introduced yesterday.

The Council proposal initially would cut Allegheny County's annual $27.7 million appropriation to Port Authority by $5 million this year. Because this is matching funding (mandated by the State) our State funding also would be reduced. We've had initial discussions with PennDOT and initial estimates show the State reduction would fall between $22 million and $25 million.

Port Authority riders are already facing a 15-percent service reduction due to a $35 million State shortfall created by the failed plan to toll Interstate 80. County Council's proposal, if approved, would force Port Authority to reduce more service than the 15-percent reduction that will occur on March 27.

Based on initial estimates, the Authority may have to cut about 20 percent of its existing service if the proposed funding reduction moves forward -- in addition to the 15 percent already planned.

The Council proposal also could force another fare increase by the end of the year.

"The County Council proposal only leads to cutting more transit service and ultimately hurting riders and commuters," said Port Authority CEO Steve Bland. "Riders have been hurt enough. We need to work together to resolve the transportation funding issue."

Port Authority wishes to continue seeking a long-term solution for transportation funding with local and State leaders.

"This is a frustrating time for those of us who care about protecting public assets such as our mass transit system, and we hope that ultimately this raises a greater awareness of the bigger issues involved," Bland said.

Headlines: "Here's why Port Authority can't shake its cold"

2011-03-14T15:43:00.002-04:00

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Brian O'Neill sits down with Port Authority CEO Steve Bland to talk costs and funding. Read more.

St. Patrick's Day Parade to Detour Bus Routes

2011-03-10T14:26:00.001-05:00

Many Port Authority bus routes serving Downtown and the Strip District will see temporary stop changes, and detoured or shortened routing during the St. Patrick's Day Parade scheduled for this Saturday, March 12.

Many bus routes passing through the Strip District will be detoured as early as 8 a.m., with other detours starting around 9 a.m. Throughout Downtown and the Strip District, certain stops will not be served for the duration of the parade; temporary stops will be served in their place. Regular stops and routes are expected to resume around 2:30 p.m.

Additionally, some West End and South Hills bus routes will terminate at Station Square, where riders continuing into Downtown can transfer to the T for free; the 28X Airport Flyer and outbound G2 West Busway-Oakland also will serve Station Square, temporarily bypassing Downtown.

The Downtown busway entrance will be closed during the parade, and some routes coming from the East End will terminate at Penn Station during this time; additionally some routes that normally serve Penn Station will not do so during the parade.

For more information, including details on temporary stop changes, view our PDF brochure by clicking here, or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or the TTY number, (412) 231-7007. The Customer Service phone line will be open on Saturday, March 12 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Remarks from CEO Steve Bland on March 27 Service Reduction

2011-02-25T14:31:00.002-05:00

The following remarks were delivered by Port Authority CEO Steve Bland at today's Board of Directors meeting:

Good morning. I'd like to speak for a moment about some of the misinformation being spread publicly about the upcoming service reductions.

Information contained recently in flyers and in newspaper ads is not only inaccurate – it's disingenuous, and even dangerous.

This only spreads misinformation and a false hope that somebody here at Port Authority, or on Grant Street, can fix this problem. We all know that's simply not true.

This problem lies in Harrisburg, not in Pittsburgh. The solutions lie with our community as a whole, not with some “magic vote” this Board might conduct.

There is a fundamental problem with how Pennsylvania pays for transportation; and a question of how it will plug the gap left by the failed plan to charge tolls on I-80.

No amount of public pressure on myself, this Board or on County Executive Onorato can change that.

I'll reiterate today what we've been saying for a long time: we agree with you. We know you’re angry, we know you’re hurt, and we know you’re tired of it. We are too.

We don't want to cut service.

The $45 million provided by former Gov. Rendell was a one-time gift and the most responsible thing we can do with that gift is make it last as long as possible and benefit as many people as possible. As much as we appreciate his gift, it does not solve the crisis – it only postpones it to allow for willing parties to arrive at reasonable solutions. If we waste this precious time fighting amongst ourselves, time and money will run out.

Could we use these funds to prolong current service until July? Absolutely. However, if we do so, we enter our next fiscal year with a $55 million deficit, and no realistic way to fill that gap. Unless a new “gift” falls from the sky, you as a Board would be faced with the prospect of cutting services to a level that would damage the entire region, likely even worse than the 35% service cut you approved last November.

Such a decision would not reverse the cuts – you could only postpone, and expand them.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I see what’s going on around the country, and even around the world. Here in Pennsylvania, our new Governor and our Legislators are facing a $4.5 billion deficit in next year’s budget. In states around the nation, services are being slashed. Our state officials are facing the same types of “Sophie’s choices” that we have here at Port Authority. Frankly, to think we’re somehow special and will be spared any pain in this worldwide movement is simply delusional. And, for anyone who believes that help will come from Washington, the prospects there appear even bleaker than Harrisburg at the moment.

It would be a gamble, at best, to spend all of this money now, and then adopt an unbalanced budget in June without a hint of hope that something might get resolved in Harrisburg by January. If that gamble didn’t pay off, we’d be facing service cuts even greater than the 35% originally envisioned before Governor Rendell provided these funds.

It would be akin to driving toward a cliff and hoping somebody builds a bridge before we got there. Unfortunately, given the deteriorating state of our infrastructure, this analogy may not be far from the truth.

For this Board to reinstate services scheduled for elimination in March would be very popular. It would also be very irresponsible.

We all share these frustrations – and the desire to keep as many routes on the road as possible. We will not gamble with this public asset. We will not risk something so valuable to so many.

We will, however, continue to work with anyone and any group – including Local 85 – who wishes to fight for public transportation and who might have viable solutions to end this statewide problem.

That includes riders. That includes local and state leaders. And that includes the members of Local 85. I, for one, hope they redirect their energies into more productive channels.

For those individuals – 4% of our total ridership – whose routes are being completely eliminated, we all feel for you. We listened intently to 13 hours of testimony last August and heard individual stories of how critical our services are to you. We are committed to working with each and every one of you to find alternatives, and for most of you, some alternative does exist. I’d suggest that we all focus our energies into helping people who need help, not in misleading the vulnerable into a false sense that this simply won’t happen.

For the 200 or so employees who are being laid off, we feel for you too, and hope our circumstances allow for your speedy recall. We value your contributions and wish there were some other option.

Winter Weather Service Update

2011-02-22T22:54:00.001-05:00

On Monday night and Tuesday morning, Port Authority experienced service outages as a result of very poor road and weather conditions. As of Tuesday night, all bus routes are back in service and most are using their normal routing with few exceptions:

89A Garfield Commons: Buses detouring via Black and Mossfield to Penn Avenue.

The T is running and the Mon Incline is in service.

Additionally, our website was inaccessible for several hours Tuesday morning due to technical issues. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused.

For assistance, please call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007, or visit us on Twitter at @pghtransit.

March Service Change Information Now Online

2011-02-21T10:39:00.002-05:00

To address a loss in state funding, Port Authority is reducing service by 15 percent effective March 27, 2011. Twenty-nine routes will be eliminated and weekday service will be significantly reduced on 37 additional routes. Along with the reduction in service, the Authority will close its Harmar bus division and eliminate about 270 agency jobs, including 180 through layoffs.

Port Authority recognizes the impact these changes will have on riders throughout our service area and on our community as a whole. We have spent the last two years making the system more efficient and productive, so there are few underutilized routes left to cut – sadly, many well-used routes will be discontinued or scaled back. We are left with little choice until a sustainable transportation funding solution is found.

Our website now includes schedules for routes that will change in March as well as a list of discontinued routes. We have also provided an overview document (PDF format) that summarizes the discontinued and changed routes, and provides information on alternative Port Authority service where available. Our website also includes information on other transportation options (PDF format), including paratransit, other regional carriers, and access to work services.

Printed route schedules for March will be available in the coming weeks. For more assistance in planning trips using transit, use our Trip Planner (select a date of March 27 or later) or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Mon Incline Closed for Maintenance This Weekend

2011-02-11T13:31:00.001-05:00

The Mon Incline will temporarily close through the weekend while work is conducted on its control system.

A bus shuttle will serve the upper and lower stations during the maintenance work, which is scheduled to start Saturday morning at 1 a.m. The incline is expected to resume service in time for the Monday morning commute.

For details on shuttle bus stops, click here, or for more infomation call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.

Super Bowl Night Service Detours

2011-02-04T09:34:00.001-05:00

In anticipation of post-Super Bowl activity, Pittsburgh City Police and other cooperating agencies will close multiple city streets at approximately 9 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6.

These street closures will detour numerous Port Authority bus routes in Downtown Pittsburgh, the North Shore, Lawrenceville, Oakland and the South Side, and many temporary stop changes will be in effect during this time.

The T will also be detoured Downtown -- Wood Street Station will be closed and the T instead will serve Penn Station (at the East Busway entrance) in addition to Steel Plaza and First Avenue stations.

Detours will be in place through the end of service that night, with regular stops and routing resuming with start of service on Monday morning.

For details on detours and temporary stop changes, click here to view a PDF brochure. These brochures are also available at the Downtown T stations, on buses and at the Downtown Service Center on Smithfield Street.

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

Port Authority Board Elects Officers for 2011

2011-01-31T09:54:00.001-05:00

On Friday, Jan. 28, the Port Authority of Allegheny County's Board of Directors elected its officers for 2011.

The Board chose to keep the officers from 2010 unchanged for 2011. The Board elected the following officers:

Chairman: Mr. John A. Brooks
Vice Chairman: Mr. Guy A. Mattola
Treasurer: Mr. James J. Dodaro
Secretary: Dr. Charles J. Martoni

For additional information about the Board, including a meeting schedule, agendas and resolutions, click here.

15% Service Reduction Planned for March 27

2011-01-12T16:14:00.001-05:00

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.

Meeting Notice: Special Board Meeting on Jan. 12

2011-01-10T13:50:00.001-05:00

The Port Authority of Allegheny County Board of Directors will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 9:30 a.m. in the Neal H. Holmes Board Room on the 5th floor of the Heinz 57 Center (345 Sixth Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh).

The Board is scheduled to consider proposals related to service and other items.