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The Port Authority of Allegheny County, doing business as Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), is the public transit agency serving Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, including the city of Pittsburgh, with limited service to adjacent counties in the Greater Pittsburgh region.
PRT is the second-largest public transit agency in Pennsylvania and, , was the 20th-largest in the United States. It operates a system of bus, light rail, and incline services. The agency was established in 1956 and began transit operations in 1964. In 1977, it opened the South Busway, one of the earliest bus rapid transit corridors in the United States; the network has since expanded to include the East and West busways, which remain a core part of the system. The agency also operates the Wabash Tunnel, 54 park-and-ride facilities, and more than 80 bridges. In , the system recorded passenger trips.
The agency adopted the Pittsburgh Regional Transit name for public use in 2022 while retaining its legal name. It is constituted as a port authority under Pennsylvania law and is funded by federal, state, and local sources. Governance is provided by a board of directors appointed by Allegheny County, the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and the Governor of Pennsylvania. The agency is led by a chief executive officer, and its headquarters are located in the Heinz 57 Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.
History
Pittsburgh Regional Transit was established as the Port Authority of Allegheny County by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1956. The agency was initially intended to oversee port facilities in the Pittsburgh area and used the abbreviation "PAT". In 1959, the enabling legislation was amended to permit the acquisition of privately owned transit operators, including the Pittsburgh Railways Company and 32 independent bus and incline operations. The consolidation brought together systems with separate fare structures, labor agreements, and, in some cases, overlapping routes, at a time when ridership had declined.
On April 19, 1963, the Board of Allegheny County Commissioners authorized the acquisition of these transit companies for approximately $12 million.
right|thumb|Port Authority light rail train at Washington Junction station, March 2005
Following the start of service, new buses were introduced to replace vehicles inherited from predecessor companies, and a unified route numbering system and fare structure were implemented. The agency undertook a broader program to consolidate and modernize operations. Most streetcar routes were converted to bus service, reflecting lower operating and maintenance costs. By the early 1970s, only a limited number of streetcar lines remained, primarily those using the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel to reach the South Hills on private rights-of-way.
In the early 1970s, the agency expanded bus service and introduced new routes, including service to Oakland. In 1975, it assumed operation of a Baltimore and Ohio Railroad commuter rail line to Versailles, branded as PATrain. Ridership increased during this period, influenced in part by the 1973 oil crisis. The South Busway opened in 1977. The initial phase of the light rail system was completed in 1987.
During the 1980s, ridership declined as fuel prices decreased and the regional population fell following the decline of the steel industry.
A four-week labor strike occurred in 1992. It reopened in 2004 following reconstruction, which included full modernization and improved accessibility. An extension of the East Busway opened in 2003. In 2012, the North Shore Connector opened, extending light rail service under the Allegheny River to the North Shore.
By the mid-2000s, the agency faced a budget deficit and implemented service reductions in June 2007. In 2008, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato introduced a 10% Allegheny County Alcoholic Beverage Tax to provide funding.
Between 2007 and 2010, the Port Authority reduced expenses and increased revenue while addressing a statewide funding shortfall. In November 2010, the board approved service reductions and fare increases implemented in 2011.
In 2013, the Pennsylvania legislature enacted Act 89, providing dedicated transportation funding.
In June 2022, the Port Authority of Allegheny County adopted the public-facing name Pittsburgh Regional Transit while retaining its legal name.
Fare structure
Pittsburgh Regional Transit uses a flat-fare system, with payment accepted via smart card or cash. Transfers are time-based and valid across modes.
In 2017, the agency replaced its zone-based fare structure with a simplified flat fare, eliminating distance-based pricing and standardizing payment upon boarding. The change also ended the "pay-on-entry/pay-on-exit" system and discontinued the downtown free-fare zone on buses. The "pay-on-entry/pay-on-exit" system and the Downtown/North Shore free-fare zone remain in use on the light rail system.
PRT introduced its smart card fare collection system, known as ConnectCard, in the early 2010s, reducing reliance on paper tickets and cash payments. Discounted fares are available for seniors, people with disabilities, and youth, and passes are offered for frequent riders.
Other services
Pittsburgh Regional Transit owns and operates more than 54 park-and-ride facilities with over 14,000 parking spaces, as well as more than 80 bridges, including those on its busways and highway network. The agency also owns and operates the Wabash Tunnel, a vehicular tunnel.
PRT provides paratransit service through its ACCESS program, which offers shared-ride, door-to-door transportation for elderly and disabled passengers throughout Allegheny County. The service operates daily with advance reservations required.
Future
Potential capital expansions
Several capital expansions have been proposed from various sources. The construction of a light rail line from Oakland to Pittsburgh International Airport has been proposed by County Executive Dan Onorato and former Congressman Mike Doyle, projected to cost about $3.5 billion. Doyle submitted a request to the Federal government to study the feasibility of the project.
See also
- Port Authority Police Department
- List of rapid transit systems
- Paul Skoutelas
- Dennis Veraldi
- SEPTA