PITTSBURGH -- Scaling back its original projections, the Port Authority of Allegheny County on Friday released new recommendations for slashing bus and trolley service -- but warned that more cuts could be coming.

A final vote will be taken on March 30. If approved, the revised plan would go into effect on June 17.

Instead of a 25 percent cut, the Port Authority now wants to reduce service by 15 percent. CEO Steve Bland said the change was based on riders' feedback and comments made at public hearings.

The following weekday routes will be eliminated:
1B, 1C, 5C, 11A, 11F, 13D, 25C, 25D, 28F, 28G, 31A, 36B, 41A, 50B, 65E, 73B, 79B, 83B, 88A, 91S, 501, CL, CV, DB, F, GR, JL, SW, U

The following weekday routes, originally proposed for elimination, will be retained in full:
1F, 13U, 21B, 25A, 26A, 26B, 36D, 43E, 55E, 58C, 58P, 61F, 67E, 69A, 94A, 500, AVN, BM, CO, G, OV, W

Dozens of other weekday routes will also be retained, but they will make a reduced number of trips, and there may be adjustments in the way the routes are run. Check www.portauthority.org for full details.

The following Saturday routes will be eliminated:
5C, 6C, 15A, 25D, 31E, 36B, 41G, 46D, 46F, 50B, 60A, 60B, 60E, 60K, 67H, 79B, 91S

The following Sunday routes will be eliminated:
5A, 6C, 31E, 41G, 60M, 60S, 75D

The 42M Mount Lebanon short trolley route will be eliminated on Sept. 2.

"We understand there will still be people upset (about the new plan)," Bland said. "It does attempt to address the majority of public comments we received, but it will still leave us with a $40-$50 million budget deficit if nothing else happens."

Financial help from the local or state levels is necessary to ease the budget crunch, Bland said.

Otherwise, an additional service reduction of 10 percent -- bringing the total cuts to the original number of 25 percent -- will take effect Sept. 2, he said.

"If we don't have a funding solution by the start of our fiscal year -- or at least, prospects to have it within a reasonable time frame -- we are going to have to go deeper," Bland said.

"What this board should do is pull together a budget that does not have any cuts in it, take it to Harrisburg and fight for it," said transit rider Paul Lodico. "And all the political leaders in this town from (County Chief Executive) Dan Onorato on down should be doing the same."

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