None of the seven speakers at Thursday’s public hearing for Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s proposed bulk pass program spoke against the idea of selling passes at a reduced rate for business, schools or apartment buildings to give to patrons at the same or lower cost.
In fact, they mostly wanted to know what took so long and what else the agency could do to make transit more affordable for riders.
Beginning in January, the agency plans to offer 31-day passes normally priced at $97.50 to bulk buyers for $28. Under the PRTner Pass, the sponsor must distribute the passes to everyone in the group at the purchase price or lower.
The goal is to provide a benefit to groups, increase ridership, and reduce car pollution and road congestion.
After two information sessions earlier this week with potential participants, the agency held the hearing Thursday that is required under federal regulations any time it makes a substantial change in fare policy.
Rider Amy Zaiss of Beechview, who moved here three years ago, said she was surprised the agency didn’t have such a bulk program. She has lived in cities that require employers to provide transit passes.
Without the program, she said, “We will never reach our transit goals and our climate goals.”
Laura Wiens, executive director of Pittsburghers for Public Transit, called the program “a win-win for all,” including PRT. It will increase ridership for the agency and provide a needed benefit from employers or apartment owners to middle-class riders, she said.
Dr. Elizabeth Miller, chief of adolescent medicine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, said it was important to include schools in the program because regular attendance is a key element in child development. Leaders should do “everything we can do to make sure children get to school,” and providing transportation would be one step in “reducing substantial barriers” some families face.
Gayle Rabare of Homewood Children’s Village, which provides services to needy families in the neighborhood, agreed.
“Transportation is a huge barrier our families face,” she said. “This would help. The less they have to worry about that cost, the more they have to use for other things.”
The program also would improve Downtown Pittsburgh by reducing the number of people who drive into the business district by themselves, said Tosh Chambers, director of mobility for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
“For Downtown to continue to flourish … we need to make it easy for people to arrive here,” he said.
PRT will continue taking comments and suggestions on the program on its website through 5 p.m. Oct. 11. The agency’s board will vote on the program at its October or November meeting.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.