Port Authority of Allegheny County provides public transportation services throughout a 775 square-mile area that includes Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and small portions of some neighboring counties.
The Authority's 2,700 employees operate, maintain and support bus, light rail, incline and paratransit services each day to more than 220,000 riders.
CEO Steve Bland, who started in June 2006, has guided a series of changes aimed at making Port Authority more efficient, transparent, accountable and reliable. Some of the changes are based on recommendations of the Pennsylvania Transportation Funding and Reform Commission, which was created by Gov. Ed Rendell. Port Authority has relied on the commission’s findings.
Steve Bland’s bio and employment contract.
These changes include the Authority's first top-to-bottom restructuring of its routes, implementation of modern fare collection equipment and significant revising of staff levels and benefit packages.
More changes are underway, including implementation of smart card technology, RapidBus lines and use of real-time information.
Port Authority is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors -- volunteers who are appointed by the Allegheny County Executive and approved by the Allegheny County Council.
Board bios, agendas and resolutions, and meeting schedule.
Port Authority's budget is funded by fare revenue, along with money from county, state and federal sources. The Authority's finances and operations are audited on a regular basis, both internally and by external agencies.
Audit reports.
Port Authority’s fleet includes about 860 buses (including 48 mini-buses) and 83 light rail vehicles (LRVs). The Authority also owns and operates the Monongahela Incline, which not only serves daily commuters but is a significant tourist stop. The Authority leases the Duquesne Incline to The Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline.
Port Authority’s Incline information
The Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline
Port Authority sponsors ACCESS, which is the nation’s largest paratransit program of its kind for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. ACCESS is a door-to-door, advance reservation, shared-ride transportation program that operates in Port Authority’s service area.
ACCESS
Port Authority has made great strides in modernizing and expanding its bus fleet, reducing the average age of the fleet to 8.05 years. The Authority also operates 26 hybrid electric buses.
Port Authority started serving the community in March 1964. The Authority was created by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1959, which authorized the consolidation of 33 private transit carriers because many were failing financially. The consolidation included the Pittsburgh Railways Company along with 32 independent bus and inclined plane companies.
By combining fare structures and centralizing operations, Port Authority established the first unified transit system in Allegheny County.
Port Authority history
In 2009, Port Authority served nearly 230,000 riders on an average weekday. Total passengers for the 2009 calendar year surpassed 67 million. A closer look at the ridership data:
- Avg. weekday ridership - total: 228,719
- Avg. weekday bus riders: 195,853
- Avg. weekday T riders: 25,270
- Avg. weekday ACCESS riders: 5,832
- Avg. weekday Mon Incline riders: 1,764
- Avg. Saturday riders – total: 101,815
- Avg. Sunday riders – total: 58,926
Port Authority owns and maintains an extensive network of transit properties and facilities throughout Allegheny County. This includes:
- Three busways: The 4.3-mile South Busway, the 9.1-mile Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway, and the five-mile West Busway.
- Park and Ride: Lots are located throughout Allegheny County with many locations along busways and the T lines. We offer 62 lots with more than 13,700 spaces.
- Light Rail: The T is a 25-mile light rail system that runs from Downtown Pittsburgh through Pittsburgh's southern neighborhoods and serves many South Hills communities. The T operates as a subway in Downtown.
Construction is underway to expand the T into the developing North Shore where it will support economic activity and offer opportunities for additional expansion. The North Shore is home to the Carnegie Science Center, the Community College of Allegheny County, Del Monte Foods, Equitable Resources, PNC Park, Heinz Field and several other existing and proposed cultural, business and residential destinations.
North Shore Connector overview
Port Authority plays an increasingly significant role in economic development efforts and community vitality within Pittsburgh and throughout Allegheny County's communities.
Our Downtown subway stations have benefited major employers seeking direct access to commuter transportation on weekdays and weekends.
The East Busway is playing a significant role in the burgeoning development pockets near the Negley and East Liberty stations.
More development proposals are emerging at locations along our T lines.
Under state law, Port Authority’s Board of Directors considers requests by other carriers to operate private shuttles that also provide transportation services throughout the community. These include shuttles serving Pittsburgh International Airport, hospitals and even entertainment venues such as the Rivers Casino.
As the community relies on Port Authority to make improvements, we continue to seek ways to improve how we serve riders and the community.
Through our Transit Development Plan process, Port Authority will revitalize its route network. The changes, which will start in April 2010 and unfold in phases over the next few years.
Ultimately, we will consolidate outdated and underused routes to offer riders better and more reliable options. A new route naming system will be adopted to make the system simpler and easier to decipher for new riders and visitors, as well as current riders seeking new ways to travel across the area.
April 4th, 2010 - Route changes
The changes will make Port Authority more efficient and protect its ability to receive maximum levels of state and federal funding.
The Authority also is installing modern fare collection equipment on all of its vehicles over the next couple of years and plans to offer a smart card payment system. The opportunity to join in this effort has been expanded to neighboring transit providers.
We will continue to update our progress and look forward to a positive and productive year serving all of Allegheny County’s communities.