On March 20, 2025, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) announced a plan to cut route service by up to 40% along designated bus and light rail routes throughout the region. The plan also calls for a reduction of the footprint of paratransit ACCESS service by 62% for the County, an increase of fares, and closure of facilities and infrastructure.

Several of the proposed service cuts are set to directly impact stops within QVCOG member communities (see below).

QVCOG Routes Impacted by Cuts

• Route 13 – Bellevue – Major Route Reduction - No service past 11:00 p.m., Increased wait times;
• Route 14 – Ohio Valley – Route Eliminated;
• Route 16 – Brighton (crosses into Bellevue and Avalon) - Major Route Reduction No service past 11:00 p.m., increased wait times; and 
• Route 19L – Emsworth Limited – Route Eliminated; PRT is also proposing the closure of three of their seventy-nine bridges. The bridges are: Avalon/California Avenue Bridge (Avalon Borough), Ben Avon/Church Avenue Bridge (Ben Avon Borough), Emsworth/Camp Horne Bridge (Emsworth Borough).

If the proposed plan is not revised or delayed Without additional state funding for public transit included in the upcoming budget, PRT officials state the plan would take effect in February 2026, per an article written by 90.5 WESA (dated 3-20-2025). Per the aforementioned article, PRT faces a $100 million deficit starting on July 1, 2025 that grows exponentially every year after. To keep their current levels of service, PRT is asking the state for a $117 million increase in their subsidy to sustain current levels of service for 10 years. PRT receives more than half of its funding for operations from the Commonwealth as established by Act 89 of 2013. Per PRT, “those funding levels were always meant to be a 10-year solution.” PRT cites that the funding crisis is not unique to Allegheny County, with many transit agencies across the state facing similar situations.

Requested Action:

Impacted communities are asked to make their voices heard by participating in the public comment period which will run from March 31st through June 18th. An additional survey will be made available on the PRT website. Interested parties may call PRT Customer Service at 412-442-2000 and ask to be transferred to the public comment inbox. Please be sure to leave your name, zip code, and a message. Write to PRT: Pittsburgh Regional Transit, ATTN: Funding Crisis Pittsburgh Regional Transit, 345 Sixth Ave, 3rd floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

Additionally, PRT will be conducting three in person public hearings. A registration form can be accessed here.

• HEARING #1: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on April 29 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
• HEARING #2: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on May 6 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum
• HEARING #3: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on June 12 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center

The input gathered during the public comment period will be shared with state officials to demonstrate the far-reaching impact of potential transit cuts and the urgent need for a sustainable funding solution. Most importantly, interested parties are encouraged to contact their elected state representatives and senators (listed below).

Regional Legislators:

• Representative Valerie Gaydos - PA House District 44 (Aleppo, Bell Acres, Edgeworth, Glenfield, Glen Osborne, Haysville, Leet, Leetsdale, Sewickley, Sewickley Heights);
• Representative Arvind Venkat - PA House District 30 (Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Emsworth, Kilbuck)
• Representative Emily Kinkead - PA House District 20 (Avalon, Bellevue)
• Senator Devlin Robinson - PA Senate District 37 (Aleppo, Bell Acres, Ben Avon Heights, Edgeworth, Glenfield, Glen Osborne, Haysville, Kilbuck, Leet, Leetsdale, Sewickley, Sewickley Heights)
• Senator Wayne Fontana - PA Senate District 42 (Avalon, Bellevue, Ben Avon, Emsworth)