Rate increases delayed by authority
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Port Authority of Allegheny County board voted to postpone bus and train fare increases until March 1 in hopes that Gov. Ed Rendell and the Legislature will craft a long-term transit financing package by then.
Rendell announced Tuesday an $18.8 million stopgap financing plan to keep the Port Authority, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority in Philadelphia, and 29 other transit agencies in the state from hiking rates and cutting service early next year.
The Port Authority had planned to increase base fares from $1.75 to $2 on Feb. 1 and to $2.50 on July 1, and to cut service by about 27 percent. Executive Director Paul Skoutelas said the board delayed the Feb. 1 rate increase by a month because officials hope that new long-term financing will be in place by Jan. 31.
Rendell favors raising certain vehicle-related fees to generate $110 million a year to help fund the transit agencies. Rendell said he'll meet with state lawmakers on Jan. 11 and will ask them to reconvene a week early, on Jan. 17, so a long-term financing package can be passed by Jan. 31.
SEPTA officials have scheduled a Dec. 30 meeting to discuss postponing rate increases set to go into effect Jan. 23.