PITTSBURGH -- The Port Authority of Allegheny County is working to revamp and improve overall transit service, and a number of bus stops may be eliminated as part of the plan.
Before any cuts are made, the authority is giving riders a chance to voice their concerns.
An "open house" meeting is being held Monday at the University of Pittsburgh's Alumni Hall building in Oakland. The Port Authority wants riders to look at three plans being considered and offer their thoughts so that a decision can be made this summer. For more information, visit
www.portauthority.org.
"I don't drive a lot, and it was really convenient that the bus stop was right there, and it's going to be a hardship," said Mary Jo Caliendo, of Munhall, who attended another open house at the Omni William Penn Hotel last week.
Caliendo looked at each of the three proposals, but is concerned with what it could mean for her commute.
"And I think it's going to be an issue in general because there are so many people that ride that bus, so many seniors that depend on it," Caliendo said.
Channel 4 Action News' Amber Nicotra reported concerns like Caliendo's are what Port Authority officials want to hear and the reason for the open houses to go over the new plans.
The first two concepts being considered are similar to the system currently in use, with Pittsburgh at the center and service to outlining areas.
The third idea is a grid concept that officials said works well in other cities, but is not ideal for Pittsburgh.
"This isn't a pick and choose kind of situation. They can like one part of the first concept and one part of the second concept and tell us that," said Port Authority spokesman Jim Ritchie.
"They want to reduce congestion and make things more efficient. They just have to do that but you can't do that without impacting some people negatively," said Aaron Dolan, who lives in the South Hills.
That means some of the 16,000 bus stops will be cut.
"There are probably too many stops. When we drive about a block to pick up people, I think, 'Why aren't we all just walking maybe to one or two of these places?' versus having five," said Penn Hills resident Gina Walker.
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