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Board approves more Pittsburgh-area transit cuts

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The board of the transit agency serving Pittsburgh and its suburbs has approved the agency's largest service cuts in its 48-year history due to a projected $64 million deficit in its 2012-13 budget.

The Port Authority of Allegheny County board approved Friday cutting 46 of 102 remaining bus routes and ending service after 10 p.m. on all but 13 bus and light-rail routes. The cuts could result in 500 layoffs and come even as the board approved a base fare increase of 25 cents, to $2.50.

The authority's contract with its largest union expires in June. Gov. Tom Corbett says the union should consider concessions before looking to the state for more transit subsidies, but union leaders say they want state funding guarantees first.

The cuts could be reversed if state funding is received by September.