June 8, 2007

Port Authority Announces Connect ’09 Initiative

Pittsburgh, PA – Port Authority today announced the start of Connect ’09, an ambitious 18-month initiative to connect neighborhoods through new service models and connect the region by enhancing coordination of transit services and adopting a regional fare collection system based on smart card technology.

“While we continue to work toward achieving long-term public transit funding solutions in Pennsylvania, we must also begin to formulate significant changes to our business model that will ensure the most efficient operations possible with available funding in the future,” said Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Steve Bland.

“Among the primary goals of this broad analysis of our business practices, to be completed in 2009, are the creation of a Transit Development Plan that uses extensive public input to redesign our service and the achievement of more seamless regional transit services made possible in part by modern fare collection technologies.”

Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler, who attended today’s announcement along with Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) executive director Jim Hassinger and Westmoreland County Transit Authority executive director Larry Morris, said Port Authority’s Connect ’09 initiative is precisely what is needed given funding challenges faced by public transportation providers across the state.

“Port Authority of Allegheny County and the other regional transit agencies should be applauded for their vision to make transit use in the region more attractive,” said Mr. Biehler. “Steps to coordinate service, introduce improved fare collection technology and reach new markets can help grow the market for public transit.”

“Still, Pennsylvania as a whole must solve the long-standing and destructive lack of a broad-based and inflation-sensitive dedicated funding sources for transit if such regional innovations are to be successful. Transit in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and across the state faces ruinous service cuts that will break the links riders need to reach jobs, education and medical care. Decisions in Harrisburg must be made now to ensure transit continues its important role supporting the quality of life for millions of our residents.”

The Transit Development Plan, which will focus primarily on Port Authority’s bus system, will engage both the public and regional operators in identifying the population characteristics of traditional and emerging neighborhoods and their most appropriate service models. Because many urban neighborhoods have witnessed significant population declines and demographic changes, and because many suburban areas have seen significant growth in patterns that do not support traditional transit approaches, it is expected that new models will include neighborhood circulators, trunk and feeder services and demand responsive services.

“This project will give a real boost to the efforts of the region’s transit operators toward more regional service integration and easy-to-use public transportation,” said Mr. Hassinger.

This examination of service was strongly recommended by the Pennsylvania Transportation and Funding Reform Commission, which also called for greater coordination of regional services and better data collection to establish ridership patterns. Port Authority hopes to achieve those goals by replacing its antiquated fare collection system – and helping interested regional operators do the same – with state-of-the-art smart card hardware and software.

Port Authority plans to program $34 million in federal capital funds and to seek matching state capital funds for this purpose, enabling it to provide interested regional operators with 80 percent of the funding for their purchases.

“The Westmoreland County Transit Authority has a long history of working cooperatively with the Port Authority of Allegheny County and the region’s other transit operators in providing quality public transportation throughout southwestern Pennsylvania,” said Mr. Morris. “Connect ’09 will take regional cooperation to a new level and we fully support the Port Authority’s efforts.”

In a 2006 SPC survey of Port Authority customers, 62 percent said they would purchase a smart card to pay for transit services. Smart card technology would provide a major amenity for customers, allowing them to add value to the card automatically or on demand and making possible other purchases. Port Authority believes extensive participation in this effort could result in a regional smart card and a regional fare structure that would permit some level of continuity between systems in the region.

As part of its Connect ’09 initiative, Port Authority will allow all regional operators to pick up and discharge customers in Allegheny County beginning June 17 in an effort to alleviate the impacts of the 15 percent service reduction that takes effect that day.

Connect ’09 will also include efforts to better manage financial resources through containment of unit costs and an independent examination of pension and healthcare costs, as well as efforts to boost employee productivity through the development of autonomous work units.

“It’s time to focus on a future in which both Port Authority and the services it delivers are more efficient and productive and more closely matched to the needs of the region,” said Mr. Bland. “We believe Connect ’09 is the platform on which we can build a better transit system, and we look forward to the public’s help in that process.”