[Image Description: Black text reads “Breaking: PRT proposes devastating transit service cuts. Our coalition has a better idea.” on a white background with a red star. Below, many hands hold up colorful signs that read “Transit for All PA!”, “Transit Moves Us”, and “Dignity for Intercity Bus Riders”.]

Devestating cuts to transit service have been proposed in Allegheny County. The time is now to learn more and take action!

Our entire region needs a good transit system in order to function–whether you’re taking ACCESS to your doctor’s office from McKeesport, or taking the T to work from the South Hills. The state government has proposed a budget $100 million short of what Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) needs to maintain current service levels–which are already 20% less than what they were five years ago. 

On March 20th, PRT announced the cuts they would have to make in order to operate under the proposed budget, and we’re not gonna lie–they’re bleak. If enacted, the cuts would gut paratransit, shrink or eliminate 95 lines, and bring fare hikes across the board. These cuts would hit hardest for our disabled community, elders, and folks with no other transportation options.

But transit riders and workers are ready with a response that meets the scale of the crisis. 

Our statewide coalition, Transit For All PA!, is organizing thousands of riders across the state to push for a new, dedicated funding source for public transit in the state budget. From Pittsburgh to Pottstown, Erie to Philly, we all need abundant, protected public transportation. And we can win it, together! 

Use our tool to email your state elected officials, and mark your calendar for our statewide call on April 2nd, where we’ll lay out our platform and put it into action together.

Then, keep reading under the cut for our guide to the biggest impacts these proposed cuts would have on our region. Remember, better transit–not worse–is possible, necessary, and transformative. We’re ready to bring this challenge to our state elected leaders: are you ready to meet this moment with us?

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Now that you’ve taken action, let’s get into the nitty gritty. What exactly did PRT propose at their board meeting on March 20th? You can watch a recording of the meeting here, or you can keep reading for our guide to the biggest impacts: 

General & Infrastructural Impacts

Let’s start at a high level. PRT has already lost 36% of its service and 50% of its riders in the last two decades, and these proposed cuts would remove even more from our already service-starved region. 

In PRT’s own estimation, the proposed cuts would have a devastating effect on our region as a whole, with disabled riders and night shift workers particularly impacted: 

• All service after 11 PM will be eliminated, leaving night shift workers with no way to get home
• Half of PRT’s bus garages, Collier and Ross garages, would have to close–a major blow to operator jobs across the system
• 180,000 residents and 50,000 jobs would lose access to public transit
• St. Clair Hospital, CCAC West campus, and many K-12 schools would lose service completely
• Downtown Pittsburgh would lose 30% of service, and the Pittsburgh airport will lose 63% 
• These cuts would hit hardest for those who have no other way to get around 
• The Bus Line Redesign project that we have been working so hard on would be eliminated
• Three bridges, ten park and ride lots, and the Wabash tunnel would close entirely 

On top of all this, such drastic service cuts would also create a traffic crush on our streets, and more crowding on buses and trains–as well as worsening impacts to climate change and air pollution by forcing more people into personal vehicles.

Service Cuts & Fare Hikes

PRT also proposed major cuts and fare increases to both fixed-route and paratransit services across the region. 

Paratransit Impacts

[Image Description: a map of Allegheny County showing communities that would lose paratransit service guarantees under the proposed cuts. There is a blue shape overlaid on the center of the county that shows areas that would retain service, which extends out to small pieces of several communities in all directions.]

The above map shows the devastating changes to Allegheny County’s paratransit service under the proposed cuts. The blue zone shows areas that are within the minimum-standard ADA service zone; in these areas, service frequency and reliability would remain the same, but it would be 62% smaller than it currently is today. 

In the pink zones of the map, paratransit riders would lose service protection–in other words, there would be no guarantee that paratransit could pick them up at the time or day that they need to make a trip. They could be told that their ride wouldn’t be available until three hours later than needed, or they could be told that they couldn’t get a ride at all. This is an unacceptably bad proposal for our disabled community. Riders could be left stranded on their way to doctor’s offices, jobs, grocery stores, and more–or forced to pay up for a car or an accessible taxi/rideshare. Paratransit is a lifeline, and to shrink it by the proposed 62% would be a massive blow.

On top of these massive service cuts, paratransit fares would increase between 14% and 24%, depending on the length of the ride–bringing the cost of a ride between $3.90 and $6.00 for most riders. 

Impacts on Fixed Route Transit (Bus, T, and Incline)

When it comes to fixed-route bus, T, and incline service, fixed-route fares would increase 9%, bringing a regular fare from $2.75 to $3.00.

PRT proposed a 40% decrease in service across the board. The map below shows affected areas, with pink areas losing transit altogether.

[Image Description: a map of Allegheny County showing communities that would lose all service under the proposed cuts in pink.]

Below is a chart with proposed changes to weekly service:

Fixed-route service would be cut entirely from 19 municipalities and 3 Pittsburgh neighborhoods:

This is overwhelming! What should I do?

These cuts don’t have to happen–we can still act now to save our system! If you haven’t already, use our tool to contact your elected officials. Then, sign up for our statewide organizing call where we’ll start to put the pressure on the state government to champion transit funding for big cities and small towns alike. 

Stay tuned to our newsletter, blog, and social media for more updates as they develop!