Westmoreland Transit gets $7M in federal money to cover pandemic losses

Westmoreland County’s Transit Authority received $7.2 million in federal bailout money, an award officials say will enable the public transportation agency to continue operating its full schedule for the next several years even as other revenues erode because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The federal money comes at a time where ridership on the authority’s 25 daily and Saturday commuter and local routes has declined by more than 80% since mid-March, Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said.

“We should be fine to continue operating as we are. Our fare revenue is important, but it doesn’t cover most of our expenses,” Blahovec said.

Officials said last summer upon passage of the authority’s $12.4 million operating budget that fare box revenues account for just $1.2 million of revenues. Funds primarily come through state and federal grants.

Blahovec said the authority could receive an additional $1 million from the state later this year.

Authority officials are expected to approve a budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year in June.

Ridership on the fixed-route bus system had been trending downward for the past three years, and officials were crafting a new service model to help bolster its operations when the pandemic resulted in fewer people traveling and stalled the planning effort.

Since mid-March, the authority has continued to operate all of its routes, though on a limited basis.

An informal survey of commuter riders, the largest segment of the authority business, offered hope that more riders plan to travel to Pittsburgh in June, leaving open the possibility to increase the service in the coming weeks.

“We’re ready to go back to normal when it is safe,” Blahovec said.

Officials said safety precautions, such as daily vehicle cleaning and sanitizing, will continue, as will requirements that passengers and drivers wear masks and while on transit authority property. Seats have been cordoned off to promote social distancing.

Blahovec said the coronavirus has not had a major impact on staff. One driver tested positive for the virus in mid-April, and there have been no other authority employees infected, he said.

Meanwhile, the authority board last week ratified a new one-year labor contract with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1735, which represents about 60 drivers, mechanics and utility workers for the transit agency’s fixed-route system. The union had been working under terms of its previous labor deal negotiated with the private company that had operated the authority’s service until the end of last year.

The authority now operates the service, and all drivers, mechanics and other support staff are employees of the transit agency.

Union members will receive 2.5% raises starting in August, Blahovec said.