Holiday decorations return to Port Authority buses after covid hiatus

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas on some Port Authority of Allegheny County buses and trains.

As part of a tradition that began over a decade ago, several Port Authority bus drivers and T operators are exhibiting their holiday spirit by festively decorating their vehicles.

There are currently four buses serving West Mifflin, Collier, East Liberty and parts of the South Hills as well as two rail cars serving the Red, Blue and Silver Lines that are decorated.

A prime example is the 41 Bower Hill bus, which runs from Bridgeville through Mt. Lebanon and Brookline to Downtown. It has everything from tinsel and lights strung overhead and large snowflakes taped to the windows to a Santa Claus figure standing near the front.

Drivers were told to refrain from putting up decorations last year due to concerns they would hinder cleaning and sanitizing efforts. But the Port Authority has given drivers a green light to return to the tradition this year, according to spokesman Adam Brandolph.

“They do it on their own time. They do it with their own money and resources,” he said. “For a long time, there was an operator who would decorate his bus and other operators saw the reaction from customers and they wanted to bring that same excitement and enthusiasm to their routes.

“So, other than last year, it has become a holiday tradition.”

Brandolph said the decorations are not limited to Christmas themes.

“If an operator approached us and wanted to decorate a bus for Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or any holiday or winter celebration that they celebrate, we’d be happy to support that.”

There are limits to how drivers or operators can decorate their buses. For example, they cannot block access to seating.

“This year, unlike previous years, the decorations are a little bit sparse,” said Brandolph. “We wanted to make sure that we can continue to clean and disinfect the vehicles with the decorations still on them. I would say 2019 was the biggest year for the Christmas buses. This is year is sort of getting back into the swing of things mode. Perhaps next year they’ll be able to have even more decorations.”