Westmoreland County transit officials will further reduce commuter and local bus service starting March 30.
Ridership has dropped about 80% over the last two weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic, Transit Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said Thursday.
All non-life sustaining businesses in the state have been ordered closed, resulting in fewer people using public transportation to go to work.
“Our commuter service (to Pittsburgh) is down to about nobody,” Blahovec said.
The authority will cut back both its weekday commuter and local bus services. Most routes will continue to operate on reduced schedules. Saturday routes will continue as previously scheduled. Starting next week, customer service staff operating from the Greensburg transit center will be open weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The revised schedule is posted on the authority’s website.
“This will allow us to use less drivers and have fewer buses on the road to be exposed to the virus,” Blahovec said.
Meanwhile, the changes will allow the authority to improve efforts to keep buses clean. Buses will be disinfected daily, he said.
Thursday’s announcement came a week after authority officials implemented an initial round of service reductions on both its commuter routes and the Westmoreland Go paratransit system. The authority this week added solo rides to its door-to-door subsidized ride program for low-income and elderly riders who receive medical and human services.
No additional changes are currently planned for the Go Westmoreland system, Blahovec said.
Transit officials asked riders to practice social distancing on buses and to not sit directly behind drivers.
Blahovec said some drivers have accepted voluntary furloughs and others will work reduced hours as part of the revised schedule.
“We’re trying to keep everyone whole,” Blahovec said.
Westmoreland County Transit Authority revised schedules
Pittsburgh Service:
Route 1F Greensburg-Pittsburgh Flyer
Inbound beginning at 5:15 a.m. from Westmoreland Crossroads Park & Ride
Inbound beginning at 6:50 a.m. from Westmoreland Crossroads Park & Ride
Outbound leaving at 3:40 p.m. from Pittsburgh Federal Reserve Building
Outbound leaving at 4:00 p.m. from Pittsburgh Federal Reserve Building
Outbound leaving at 5:00 p.m. from Pittsburgh Federal Reserve Building
Route 2F Latrobe-Pittsburgh Flyer
Inbound beginning at 5:20 a.m. from Arnold Palmer Airport Park & Ride
Outbound leaving at 3:40 p.m. from Pittsburgh Federal Reserve Building
Outbound leaving at 5:10 p.m. from Pittsburgh Federal Reserve Building
Route 3F Mt. Pleasant-Pittsburgh Flyer
Inbound beginning at 5:20 a.m. from Countryside Plaza Park & Ride
Outbound leaving at 5:10 p.m. from Pittsburgh Federal Reserve Building
Route 14F New Kensington-Pittsburgh Flyer
Inbound beginning at 6:15 a.m. from Hyde Park Road
Outbound leaving at 5:05 p.m. from Pittsburgh Federal Reserve Building
Route 4 Greensburg-Pittsburgh Local
Inbound beginning at 8:30 a.m. from the Greensburg Transit Center. Last trip inbound leaving at 2:30 p.m.
Outbound leaving at 10:30 a.m. from Forbes and Grant. Last trip outbound leaving at 4:30 p.m.
Local Service:
Route 5 Jeannette Shopper operating on the 5S Saturday schedule.
Route 6 Greensburg-Irwin will start at Kohls at 9:38 a.m. and will follow regular routing. Service will end at 4:09 p.m. at the Greensburg Transit Center.
Route 8 Greensburg-Youngwood-New Stanton will start at 10:15 a.m. at the Greensburg Transit Center. Service will end
at 4:05 p.m. at the Greensburg Transit Center.
Route 9 Greensburg-Latrobe Shopper will operate on the 9S Saturday schedule.
Route 11 Johnstown-Latrobe will start service in New Florence at 8:35 a.m. Service will end at 3:55 p.m. in Seward.
Route 12 Greensburg-New Kensington will start service at 10:15 a.m. at the Greensburg Transit Center. Service will end at 4:30 p.m. at Autumn Brook Apts.
Route 14 Local New Kensington will operate on the 14S Saturday schedule
Route 14J will have trips to Walmart at Pittsburgh Mills at 12:25 p.m. and 3:53 p.m. There will be no trips to Penn State or Leeds.
Route 15 Avonmore-New Kensington will start service at Avonmore Civic Center at 11:35 a.m. Service will end at
Avonmore Civic Center at 4:30 p.m.
Route 16 Greensburg- Mt. Pleasant will start service at the Greensburg Transit Center at 10:15 a.m. Service will end at
the Greensburg Transit Center 4:04 p.m.
Route 17 Local Scottdale will start service at Walmart at 9:20 a.m. Service will end at the Scottdale American Legion at 2:46 p.m.
Route 18F and 20F Temporarily Discontinued
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