Port Authority's 50th Anniversary Bus & T Wraps

Port Authority celebrates the past but looks to the future of transit in Allegheny County.  Step back in time and ride on one of our Anniversary Bus or T's. #50yrsPGHTransit



Port Authority Celebrates 50 years by Connecting Riders to Goodies during Morning Rush

On Thursday morning, March 27th, Port Authority commemorates the past 50 years while looking to the future of Pittsburgh public transit.  Celebrate with us beginning at 7:30 am and join the Authority’s friends at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum as they distribute small tokens of our appreciation to riders at Steel Plaza, Gateway and North Side T Stations.*

Panera Bread will kick things off at Gateway Station distributing goodies to morning commuters on Thursday, March 27th.  On Friday morning, Brueggers’ Bagels greets riders with free takeaways at Steel Plaza and Wood Street T Stations and on Tuesday, April 1st, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review will be at the North Side T Station with more freebies to wrap things up.*

 

Stay tuned to 91.3 WYEP for more information and upcoming events surrounding Port Authority’s 50th! 

*One per customer, while supplies last.

 

Port Authority Celebrates 50 Years This Year

March 1, 2014 marks Port Authority of Allegheny County’s 50^th anniversary.

Port Authority was created in 1959 when the Pennsylvania Legislature authorized the consolidation of 33 private transit carriers. By combining fare structures and centralizing operations, Port Authority established the first unified transit system in Allegheny County, officially coming into existence on March 1, 1964.

Be sure to keep an eye out in the months ahead as we commemorate 50 years of connecting people to life.

To learn more about Port Authority, visit the About Us page.

The Mon Incline Turns 140!

Tomorrow, May 28, is the Mon Incline's 140th birthday. In honor of this occasion, here are some facts and a look back at the history of this iconic form of transit:

• The Mon Incline opened to the public on May 28, 1870 and is believed to be the oldest incline still operating in North America.
• The incline originally cost $50,000 to build.
  
• The nearby Duquesne Incline opened in 1877.
• Port Authority took over Mon Incline operations in 1964 and the incline was declared a historic structure by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation in 1970.
  
• The Mon Incline has undergone several renovations and modernizations over the years: the installation of a steel structure in 1882; renovated stations, new cars and track structure in 1982; and the introduction of a computerized operating system in 1994.
  
• While Port Authority buses and T see their biggest ridership numbers on weekdays, the Mon Incline is most popular on Saturdays, likely due to the number of people who use it for sightseeing. The incline carries about 2,200 riders each weekday, 3,500 on Saturdays and 1,900 on Sundays.
  
• The Mon Incline's track is 635 feet long and its elevation is 369.39 feet.
• The incline travels at a speed of six miles per hour and carries up to 23 riders in each of its two cars.

Commemorative bus passes now available

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

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

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

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

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

Mon Incline Honored by Pittsburgh Magazine

The Port Authority-operated Monongahela Incline is featured as the city’s “Best Park n’ Ride” on Pittsburgh Magazine’s annual “Best of Pittsburgh” list. Highlighted as a fun, inexpensive activity that’s great for families, the historic railway offers easy access to all the amenities of Station Square and one of the best city skyline views anywhere! The incline has been taking riders to and from Mt. Washington since May 28, 1870, making it the oldest continuously operating funicular railway in the U.S. It officially became a part of Port Authority in 1964.

Thanks to Pittsburgh Magazine and all those who voted for the incline in the Readers Poll!

150 Years of Streetcars

There's still time to make it to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum's 150 Years of Pittsburgh Streetcars celebration. The anniversary event -- "From Horse Cars to Hybrids" -- kicked off Thursday and runs through Sunday. The doors are open 10-5 daily. Port Authority CEO Steve Bland participated in a cake-cutting ceremony Thursday along with museum officials.

The event marks the 150th anniversary of Pittsburgh's first horse car line, which began operating along Penn Avenue on Aug. 6, 1859. Visitors will get a rare look inside the only preserved Pittsburgh horse car and learn a bit about life during that era. Other streetcars are on display as is a Port Authority hybrid bus -- demonstrating the progression of public transportation.

More than 24,000 people visited the museum in 2008. The building covers 28,000 square feet and houses nearly 30 electric railway passenger, freight and work cars from the region.

For more info, call 724-228-9256 or visit http://www.pa-trolley.org/.