Fare capping, bulk discounts among new possible changes for Port Authority

PITTSBURGH — The Port Authority is looking for vital feedback from its riders, as well as providing updates on what is new and being considered.

Of the notable considerations are fare capping, the elimination of transfers and a bulk discount pass.

You can customize your WPXI News App to receive alerts for Allegheny County news. CLICK HERE to find out how.

But when it came time for public comment, some riders were concerned about affordable fares for those with particularly low incomes.

“Analysis of how any fare structure will disproportionately affect protected classes is critical,” said Helen Garhardt, a hunger advocate with a focus in public transportation.

Garhardt is hoping for more collaboration between Port Authority and specific riders who find themselves in “desert locations” – places where people rely on public transportation but are very far from vital needs, such as food and medical services.

Officials are aware of these concerns and one option on the table to help lower income riders could be fare capping.

“That would basically mean if you rode so many times in a week, the fare would cap at the weekly amount,” Garhardt said.

And if you rode so many times in a month the fare would cap out at the monthly rate as well.

RAW: I-79 crash near Wexford RAW: I-79 crash near Wexford

© 2020 Cox Media Group