Westmoreland Transit hopes to boost rebound with extended hours, trips
Two hours of local bus service on Westmoreland County Transit Authority routes will be added in early October as the struggling agency seeks to rebound from massive losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said final details on the expanded service will be released as early as this week and will include additional trips on routes that circulate throughout the county.
“We’re making some changes to try to accommodate people better. We’re trying to go to places people want to go,” Blahovec said.
The authority operates 18 daily and six Saturday routes, including commuter service to Pittsburgh. Ridership plunged during the pandemic, with fewer people traveling to work and other locations.
Bus service decreased by more than 75% during the six months of the pandemic and, overall, officials said the number of riders using buses dipped more than 28% since the summer of 2018. During that same time, revenue from fares dropped by more than $156,000
“It’s been a rough year,” authority board member Rosie Wolford said during a the board’s public meeting Thursday.
Service cuts were implemented in the spring as the pandemic raged, with most local routes finishing service at 4:30 p.m. Blahovec said a revised schedule will extend service to 6:30 p.m., while some routes will begin runs a bit earlier in the morning.
Most of the expanded service will be on routes that operate through Scottdale and to Westmoreland Mall, where Blahovec said the authority expects to run additional trips throughout the day to cater to riders who want access to the casino when it opens at Westmoreland Mall.
The authority’s once-heavily used commuter service will, for now, remain at current levels. Blahovec said the service — which several years ago was the authority’s most used — averaged just 70 riders a day during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the authority continues to supplement its maintenance program with daily disinfection of vehicles to ensure buses are safe. Riders are asked to wear masks, but face coverings are not mandated, officials said.
To date, just one authority employee has tested positive for the coronavirus. A driver was reported to be infected in April.
“We’re holding our own,” Blahovec said.
Rich Cholodofsky is a TribLive reporter covering Westmoreland County government, politics and courts. He can be reached at rcholodofsky@triblive.com.
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