In normal times, people take about 230,000 trips per day on the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s bus and light-rail system.
That’s decreased by about 70% during the covid-19 pandemic to between 65,000 and 70,000 trips daily, authority spokesman Adam Brandolph said.
“It’s a huge deal,” Brandolph said. “It’s affecting everyone nationally and globally.”
The authority is in the midst of drafting a new 25-year plan, NEXTransit, to shape the future of public transportation in the region. This week, three virtual meetings will be held where people can share their ideas about the area’s needs.
“We didn’t plan on doing this during a pandemic,” Brandolph said.
So far, about 3,500 people have responded to surveys the authority has put out seeking input about the service the authority provides and what service it should work toward over the next quarter-century, Brandolph said.
“It’s sort of like, ‘dream a little dream.’ The sky’s the limit,” he said. “Is the answer some sort of shuttle, a new incline? So far the response has been really good.”
The meetings start at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. To access them, click here. Those without internet access can call 1-855-925-2801 and use the code 8342 to join the meetings.
“No idea is too small, no dream is too big,” Port Authority CEO Katharine Kelleman said.
The plan that’s being drafted will be the blueprint the authority uses as it plans for and prioritizes the projects it undertakes in the next 25 years. They hope to finalize the plan next year.
As it seeks this input, the authority is asking people to initially not consider how much a project would cost.
“We don’t want the question ‘How do we pay for it?’ to be a barrier,” Brandolph said.
Instead, the authority wants to know people’s ideas for how the authority can better serve people. Is it better service to the Mon Valley? More suburban stops? A new rail line?
The authority will then study how that can be done and how to fund it, Brandolph said.
“Eventually price and cost may very well be a barrier,” he said.
Despite the decrease in ridership because of the pandemic, the authority is “breaking even” at this point thanks to government subsidies, Brandolph said.
Although the pandemic impacts everything the authority does with its day-to-day operations now, the plan isn’t about dealing with the pandemic.
To do so would be nearsighted, Brandolph said.
“We don’t know if it’s going to affect us in 25 years,” he said.
