Port Authority board fires CEO Steve Bland

PITTSBURGH — The Port Authority of Allegheny County's board has voted 5-3 to fire chief executive officer Steve Bland who has been targeted for removal by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

Four of the five board members who voted to fire Bland were appointed since Fitzgerald took office last year.

Bland was hired by the Pittsburgh-area transit agency in 2006 and has guided it through budget and service cuts due at least in part to decreasing state subsidies. Bland didn't attend the meeting, though Fitzgerald said he planned to address the firing at a news conference later Friday.

Fitzgerald has openly criticized the agency since light-rail service suffered serious delays during a particularly busy weekend in May when a new tunnel and stations opened near the city's sports stadiums and casino.

The board will search nationally for a replacement.

WPXI