EDITORIAL – Port Authority proposes cuts, hikes

The Port Authority of Allegheny County proposed eliminating more than half of its bus routes… The Port Authority of Allegheny County proposed eliminating more than half of its bus routes and added two different fare increases options yesterday. It also proposed a plan to enlist the aid of 15 CMU-designed mega-robots to reduce the number of bridges in Pittsburgh by two-thirds.

OK, maybe we’re lying about the bridge thing, but it’s clear that the city isn’t interested in making it easier for us to get around.

The proposed eliminations would include 123 of 213 weekly bus routes, 55 of 100 Saturday bus routes and 26 of 75 Sunday and holiday bus routes, according to the Post-Gazette.

Of the two proposed fare increases, one would eliminate all zones and instead charge a $2 “flat fare” that would entitle riders to a ticket, upon request, for unlimited transfers for the next two hours.

The other proposed increase would raise the base fare in Zone 1 from $1.75 to $2.50. Zone 1 accounts for 80 percent of all rides in the system.

County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Steve Bland also proposed additional consolidations, cuts and eliminations. According to the Port Authority, daily transit vehicle hours would be reduced by 25 percent

So where dose this leave riders? Out in the cold, waiting even longer for a bus.

The Port Authority is projected to have a $75 to $80 million operating budget deficit for the 2007-08 fiscal year, beginning July 1. The proposed measures are an effort to head off the largest funding deficit in the Port Authority’s 43-year history.

We understand that the Port Authority wants to suture its wounds and end the bleeding, but hacking routes and inflating fares isn’t helping Pittsburgh. Without a comprehensive public transportation system, the city is even more unattractive to young people. People don’t want to live in a city they have to navigate with a car – this eliminates one of the greatest advantages to living in a city.

And for the people who rely on public transportation as their primary means of transportation, the future is bleak. Fare increases will only further cripple their ability to maintain some sense of economic stability, and cash-conscience riders might opt to work closer to home to avoid public transit altogether.

These proposals feel more like a step backwards for Pittsburgh than a good idea. We hope that the Port Authority can come up with a solution that will balance Pittsburghers’ needs with financial realities.