PRT avoids service cuts, fare hikes with over $100 million in state funds

Pittsburgh Regional Transit on Friday announced it will receive over $100 million in state funds to prevent drastic service cuts and fare increases.

The money will be used to plug a $100 million deficit projected in the transit agency’s budget.

PRT will not need to move ahead with plans to cut service by 35% and raise fares by 9% next year, which was a proposal that had sparked serious concern among riders.

“This approval gives us the breathing room we need to protect our riders and keep our region moving,” PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman said in a statement. “But let’s be clear: This is merely a Band-Aid fix. It buys us time to work toward the long-term, sustainable funding solution transit agencies across Pennsylvania desperately need.”

PennDOT on Friday approved PRT’s request to use up to $106.7 million in state funds to cover its operating expenses over the next two years.

The agency on Thursday asked Gov. Josh Shapiro and PennDOT to pull from a pot of money dedicated to transit infrastructure work across the commonwealth.

The transit authority will present a resolution to its board later this month to formally amend its budgets.

Some capital projects will be delayed, PRT said in a statement, but no “safety-critical” work will be impacted.

Shapiro on Monday announced the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority could use up to $394 million earmarked for capital improvements to cover its operating costs.

SEPTA had faced a budget deficit of more than $200 million going into this fiscal year and was poised to eliminate nearly half of its bus and train services while raising fares by more than 20%.