Port Authority services impacted by covid cases as 7th transit driver dies from virus

A seventh Port Authority employee has died, officials announced, as covid-19 and its omicron variant continue to take a toll on the transit service in Allegheny County.

The employee, a five-year bus driver, died Jan. 3, according to Port Authority spokesman Adam Brandolph.

Nearly 30 employees of the transit service have tested positive for coronavirus since Jan. 1.

That follows a count of 84 confirmed cases in December.

Brandolph said 74% of Port Authority’s employees are vaccinated.

New hires have a mandate to be fully vaccinated within 30 days of starting the job.

Existing employees receive financial incentives for getting the shot — $200 to be vaccinated and $100 for the booster.

Participants receive $150 when the entire agency reaches 75% and another $150 when the entire agency reaches 85%, Brandolph said.

Many Port Authority bus and light rail trips have been affected by the pandemic-related operator shortage.

The service is asking for patience from riders.

“Although our goal is 2% out of service, with increased cases in the last few weeks of December we saw an uptick to about 4%, or about 200 trips a day,” Brandolph said. “Although we don’t yet have statistics, I expect that remains the case this week.”

Port Authority provides about 6,200 trips a day over 98 bus routes and three light rail lines.

“The omicron variant has clearly taken its toll on Port Authority employees, and the lack of operators is causing longer-than-normal wait times throughout the transit network,” Brandolph said.

The operator shortage is expected to continue until the rate of covid cases levels off.

Early on, Port Authority reduced its capacity to coincide with a dip in ridership during the pandemic. It had since lifted those restrictions and in late 2021, a favorite tradition of decorating some buses and trains had returned.

Drivers were told to refrain from putting up decorations in late 2020 due to concerns they would hinder cleaning and sanitizing efforts.

Riders can contact customer service at 412-442-2000 or at portauthority.org.