Recommendations on Port Authority fare structure to be presented soon

After more than two years of work, the Port Authority expects to make preliminary recommendations next month on how to change its fare structure.

CEO Katharine Eagan Kelleman told the authority board Friday she expects to present a report from consultant Four Nine

Technologies on what the agency’s fare structure should look like in the future. The board hired the California firm in January 2019 under a three-year, $210,000 contract.

The consultant was hired to advise the agency on issues such as if it should consider providing free transfers, capping fares for cash customers and setting lower fares for low-income riders. The agency last changed its fare policy in January 2017, when it switched from a twotiered fare based on trip lengths to a flat fee of $2.50 for riders using prepaid ConnectCards or $2.75 for cash customers.

Advocates such as Pittsburghers for Public Transit have long pushed for cash customers,

who often are lower-income riders who can’t afford prepaid cards, to pay the same rate as ConnectCard users. The advocacy group also has been pushing for free fares during the pandemic for lowincome riders who have no other transportation available.

When the agency last considered free transfers, the change would have resulted in $4.5 million to $5 million in lost revenue. Free fares for low-income riders would cost $4 million to $8 million.

The fare study had been expected to take a year, but Ms. Kelleman said it was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She said other agencies across the country have put the issue on hold due to low ridership and other concerns about the pandemic, but she said the Port Authority is ready to move forward.

“We are confident we can handle this,” she said. “This is our first step toward a more equitable system.”

After it receives recommendations from the consultant, the authority would have to hold a series of public hearings under federal law before it enacts any changes.

The Port Authority also announced Friday that a fourth employee had died from COVID-19.

The employee, a 21-year veteran, began his career at Port Authority as a bus operator before working in various roles at the agency, most recently in the Way Department, which is primarily responsible for outdoor maintenance of authority property. He was 61 and he last worked on Feb. 12.

Since March 2020, 376 of Port Authority’s 2,700 employees have tested positive for COVID-19.