Each quarter the Port Authority adjusts its transit schedules and routes to account for rider’s requests, ridership shifts, construction, road closures and/or all of the other unexpected hiccups that might affect Pittsburgh roads.
In case you missed it, the most recent set of schedule adjustments will go into effect on Sunday, Sept. 1st, 2019. You can check Port Authority’s website to follow these quarterly service changes.
The @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline is a volunteer-run twitter account that gives riders updates on Port Authority’s daily happenings. The Hotline has no official connection to the Port Authority (again, it is a volunteer-run twitter account) but the updates are helpful nonetheless. The Hotline is a big supporter of PPT, and an enormous advocate for public transit. We’re thankful for they’re support and happy to share this rundown of the Q3 service changes compiled by the @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline.
Rundown of Q3 Service Changes, with takeaways from the @PGH_Bus_Info Hotline
The @Bus_Info_Hotline’s overall takeaway from this quarter’s changes:
“These September changes don’t have a super #wowfactor, but they’re steady improvements across the board. We remain hopeful and optimistic about the continued service improvements.
It remains to be seen yet if these smaller changes are in place of generally bigger or “major” changes associated with the September operators pick [when the bus operators choose new routes to drive according to seniority] or if PAAC has still yet to determine 2019-2020 improvements
As of this publication, the Authority still hadn’t released a summary of service evaluations, which gives options for more significant service changes.
Additionally, a notation remains that the portion of the Annual Service Report was TBD With an addendum to come later this year”
These changes below will go into effect on Sunday, September 1st 2019 .
19L – Emsworth Limited – Many departure times have changed and schedules have been adjusted. On weekdays, this route will now serve Penn Station to connect to the East Busway routes. This route will no longer serve Chatham Center on weekday afternoons. Customers who typically board at Chatham Center may want to board at the newly established stops on Grant Street.
@PGH_Bus_Info Hotline’s takeaway:
The 19L will better connect with East Busway and East End routes. The added stops on Grant will be good for some folk and an extra bus to move about town to/from the busway doesn’t hurt
21 – Coraopolis – Minor schedule adjustments have been made. The service will return to Neville Island.
@PGH_Bus_Info Hotline’s takeaway:
This route had been detoured through Groveton for months due to construction on the Neville Ave bridge. While its great for people on Neville who lost access during the detour, especially because of the number of jobs there, people who have been using the service while its been detoured through Groveton may be sad to see it go.
And a final bonus: service hours were made slightly longer for each day of service!
36 – Banksville – Travel times have been adjusted throughout the day. Many departure times have changed.
52L – Homeville Limited – Many departure times have changed and schedules have been adjusted. Two inbound trips arriving Downtown at 9:40 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. have been added. Two outbound trips departing Downtown at 7:37 a.m. and 3:23 p.m. have been added.
@PGH_Bus_Info Hotline’s takeaway:
More service never hurts!
Y1 – Large Flyer – Many departure times have changed and schedules have been adjusted. Bus stops at Century III Mall have been consolidated into one and the Park-and-Ride at the mall has been relocated to the area near the current Y46 sheltered stop south of JCPenney.
Y46 – Elizabeth Flyer – Many departure times have changed and schedules have been adjusted. Weekend service hours have been expanded.
@PGH_Bus_Info Hotline’s takeaway:
Unfortunately, the trade-off for later service is worsened headway between trips.
Y47 – Curry Flyer – Many departure times have changed and schedules have been adjusted. Weekend service hours have been expanded.
@PGH_Bus_Info Hotline’s takeaway:
Again the trade-off to later and earlier service is worsening headway’s, unfortunately
Y49 – Prospect Flyer – Many departure times have changed and schedules have been adjusted. Weekend service hours have been expanded.
@PGH_Bus_Info Hotline’s takeaway:
1 later trip on Saturday Nights
2 later trips on Sunday nights + holiday
Changes will benefit riders and workers. But a possible downside is that while Y49 riders gain more advantages here, the headway’s problem gets worse. It’s a theme across Y series routes. Unfortunately the tweaks on Y routes do appear to cause increased difficulty on weekends for folks transferring from the Blue Line T to the bus or vice versa.
67 – Monroeville – Many departure times have changed and schedules have been adjusted. Earlier service has been added to weekends serving Monroeville Mall.
87 – Friendship – Many departure times have changed and schedules have been adjusted. An additional trip has been added arriving and leaving Downtown at 11:04 p.m.
@PGH_Bus_Info Hotline’s takeaway:
Nice but a shame they couldn’t do the same for Saturday’s.
P71 – Swissvale Flyer – On weekdays, a new morning and evening trip have been added.
@PGH_Bus_Info Hotline’s takeaway:
This will help rush hour commuters on the line!
PortAuthority Customer Service can be reached by phone @ 412-442-2000
Weekdays 5a to 7p
Weekend + Holidays 8a to 430p
or via Twitter @PGHTransit or @PGHTransitCare
The @PGH_BUS_INFO Hotline can be reached by phone @ 412-759-3335 ONLY When PortAuthority Customer Service is Closed/unavailable
Or via Twitter anytime: @PGH_BUS_INFO
The PGH Bus Info Hotline will be back on PPT’s blog in for the next set of Quarter Service Adjustments. See ya then! (And if you want, you can check out last quarter’s changes here. )