To add weekend service on 10 routes in Nov.
Port Authority
Port Authority’s recently approved new budget includes $3.7 million for adding weekend service on 10 routes where residents have been lobbying for improvements for years.
Philip St. Pierre, the authority’s director of service planning and scheduling, said the additional service is scheduled to start in November and includes Saturday and Sunday service on four routes; Sunday service on five others that already have Saturday trips; and the extension of service both
days on another route.
Although the service is included in the budget, Mr. St. Pierre stressed the agency could face continuing financial problems as a result of the COVID19 pandemic that could jeopardize those plans or make it difficult to hire and train 10 additional drivers. Tthe agency also has about 100 employees off due to illness, underlying medical problems or caring for family members, which could make it difficult to staff additional service.
The proposed changes come at a time when the agency is moving its annual review of service changes from May to November so staff has time to evaluate service requests and include funding for them in the budgeting process that begins in January. Previous changes began in the spring, but Mr. St. Pierre said the agency pushed for more changes in November rather than waiting for 18 months for the next round.
The agency can’t add rush-hour service on weekdays because it doesn’t have garage space for more than 720 buses. But on weekends, when service is less frequent, it can add service if funding is available.
Mr. St. Pierre said his experience in Tampa showed that adding weekend service can increase weekday ridership by showing riders they can get to work every day without driving.
Advocacy group Pittsburghers for Public Transit is thrilled with the additional service.
“It’s really gratifying that Port Authority is responding in one fell swoop to add this much service,” Executive Director Laura Wiens said. “It’s definitely accentuated at a time like this [pandemic] when we see how many service workers are really essential workers who rely on pubic transit.”
Mr. St. Pierre said it’s important for Port Authority to continue hearing from riders.
“We have heard the need for this type of service through our community engagement and comments received through our service request process,” he said.
“We have been able to develop plans based on that feedback, and we hope the community will continue to give feedback on the future of their transit service, especially as we embark on NextTransit, the agency’s long-range plan.”
Routes scheduled for new service on Saturdays and Sundays are: Route 20 Kennedy; Route 29 Robinson; Route 36 Banksville; and Route 93 Lawrenceville-Hazelwood.
Sunday service will be added on Route 4 Troy Hill; Route 22 McCoy; Route 39 Brookline; Route 60 Walnut-Crawford Village; and Route 74 Homewood-Squirrel Hill.
Route 2 Mount Royal will have weekend service extended to Shaler, matching weekday service.