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At press time, the Port Authority of Allegheny County was expected to propose the elimination of fare zones as part of a plan to simplify and expedite the process of riding buses and light-rail cars.
Regardless of where riders travel, all fares will cost $2.50 when using a ConnectCard, the authority’s electronic-fare system (or $2.75 for cash fares). According to PAT’s demographic stats, a fourth of customers will save $1.75 per ride. The changes, if approved, would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. The plan was to be brought before the PAT board on Jan. 13.
“By eliminating the zones and keeping the base rate steady,” wrote PAT CEO Ellen McLean in an email, “we are protecting our most vulnerable customers while giving those who live farther away more incentive to use public transportation.”
While the change will eliminate the more expensive suburban fares, it will also do away with the Downtown free zone. PAT is also proposing eliminating paper transfers ($1 transfers will be available only for ConnectCard users, while cash riders will have to pay the $2.75 fare again). The Downtown-North Side free zone for the T will remain free thanks to private subsidies, according to PAT spokesperson Adam Brandolph.
A one-time fee of $2 for ConnectCards is also being proposed to start in 2017. Currently, ConnectCards can be obtained for free at the Downtown PAT service center and more than 70 retail outlets throughout the region.
To speed up stop times, PAT is proposing that all bus riders pay when boarding, and that all exits will be through the buses’ back doors. (Riders unable to use the back door can exit through the front.) For T riders, PAT is proposing an honor system starting on or after July 1, 2017, where riders outside the free zone will tap ConnectCards at receptacles either in car or on station platforms. PAT police will use portable validators to check whether riders have paid. T car riders will be able to enter any door.
Under the new fare system, PAT expects to lose as much as $4 million by 2018. But Brandolph says PAT believes ridership will increase due to cheaper, less confusing rides. A 60-day comment period, if approved, will open Feb. 1, and PAT’s board will decide on any changes at the end of April.
This article appears in Jan 13-19, 2016.
Thank you for proposing that all bus riders pay when boarding…I ride the bus daily and I still find the current pay system confusing.
I hope if and when the changes happen that they create short videos of “how to” and show them on the local tv stations and share them on social media.
I hope Ellen by referring to the most valued customer is speaking of those that need public transportation. Those without cars or the means must have away to get to work and play.
Having a free zone is stupidly at its best. A captive audience downtown should have to pay to play. The added stress on a system without compensation is robbing from the system and cheating the tax payers. The bye product of free zone And it’s costs are service cuts and services eliminated.
These proposals are mostly great. The article doesn’t mention the propsal to create a $7 day pass. It would be best if we also capped daily charges on connect cards to $7 for rides, so if there are transfers and multiple trips per day users shouldn’t have to pay extra because they didn’t have the forethought to buy a day pass.
If we wanted to make up for missing cash from reducing the cost of zone 2 fares, a minor parking charge could be added to the free park and ride lots.
A $2 charge for parking plus the reduced fares would still be cheaper than the current round trip fares and encourage carpooling. This would make the most sense at park and ride lots that tend to reach capacity most days.
It looks like changing the fare structure will allow busses to switch to pay as you board and hopefully streamline the process of boarding and departing (allowing buses to open rear doors for exiting passengers) and making the system less confusing for new users. All good things. Looking forward to a more efficient transit system.
Sounds good! Two suggestions:
1) Many travelers use public transportation in the city they’re visiting (I usually do.) Start selling cards preloaded with $18 credit for $20 at an airport kiosk (or on the 28x airport flyer), at the Amtrak station, and at partnering car rental offices (so visitors can park and ride.)
2) I love the day pass proposal and don’t understand why we haven’t always had that. As commented below, cap daily charges on a Connect card to the amount of a day pass.
I should be allowed to manspread if I pay double. I can afford it since I make 37 more cents an hour