PAT Transit Riders Voice Concerns During 12-Hour Public Meeting

The Port Authority hosted an all-day public hearing on proposed fare increases and service changes Thursday.

PDF: Port Authority Service Cut PlanSURVEY: Are You Upset With The Proposed Cuts? LINK: Port Authority

The meeting went from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

More than 200 people were scheduled to speak before the Port Authority board of directors during the 12-hour public hearing, which is required by the government when there is a fare increase or significant service reduction.

“It's only going to hurt the businesses. It's going to hurt the students and hurt the working class,” said one woman.

“This would be a disaster for riders, for businesses, for neighborhoods, for Pittsburgh,” one rider said.

Channel 11 News talked with Port Authority CEO Steve Bland, who said the company has no other choice.

“In many ways, it's sort of gut-wrenching, you know? You really feel for them,” Bland said. “On the other hand, there's just some tremendously eloquent stories and one of the things we're thinking is how do you get that message out to the general public, to elected officials as to how important it is?”

The port authority is facing a $47.1 million budget shortfall and is considering route cuts and fare increases.

Under the proposed plan, bus and trolley service would be cut by 35 percent, including eliminating 44 routes and cutting 550 of its 2,700 workers.

By cutting those routes, about 90 neighborhoods will lose service completely or face significant loss of service, officials said.

Some of those towns include popular riding areas like Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Lawrenceville, the Hill District, Marshall-Shadeland, McKees Rocks and dozens more.

The authority's board also proposed raising one-way fares on some lesser-used suburban routes to $4. Base fares in and around the city in Zone 1 and Zone 2 will jump 25 cents.

The Port Authority will also take written comments until Aug. 31. The board will then vote on the proposal Sept. 24. If the plan is approved, the fare increase will take effect Jan. 1. Cuts would happen about a week later.

Previous Stories: July 27, 2010: Riders Outraged By Planned Port Authority Cuts

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