Public bus operations adjust schedules amid coronavirus

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
Like many other public-service entities, local public transportation authorities have released daily changes to procedures and operations to try to stop the spread of COVID-19.
On Tuesday, the Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority and Port Authority of Allegheny County announced operational changes.
MMVTA
MMVTA announced it’s reduced fixed-route bus service beginning Monday “due to substantial decreases in ridership and operational challenges brought on by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
MMVTA implores public transit riders to practice social distancing while on-board vehicles and offers free rides on all routes as a means of minimizing contact with equipment and drivers.
Starting Monday, the Commuter A will operate on a modified schedule Monday through Saturday and will offer rides to Pittsburgh between 4:25 a.m. and 8:10 p.m.
Weekday service toward Donora via state Routes 88 and 906 will be offered between 7:10 a.m. and 10:08 p.m. There will be no changes to Commuter A Sunday service.
Express Routes 1, 2 and 3 and the Cal Commuter will not operate.
The Local 1, 2 and 3 will operate on reduced schedules. There are no changes to the Weekender 1 and 2 schedules.
The printable reduced schedules are available at www.mmvta.com and will be on buses within the coming days.
“This temporary reduction will help to protect MMVTA’s frontline employees, while still providing essential trips to our customers. The drivers and support staff are doing a tremendous job in dealing with the current situation and I commend them for their efforts,” MMVTA’s Executive Director Ashley Seman said, adding that MMVTA will continue to evaluate service levels to determine if further adjustments are needed.
For up-to-date information, MMVTA customers are encourage to visit www.mmvta.com; or to call MMVTA’s Administrative Offices 724-489-0880 or MMVTA’s Operations Offices 724-379-5956. Customers are also encouraged to sign up for rider alerts to receive updates via email and/or text messages.
Port Authority of Allegheny Co.
PAT announced new temporary operational procedural changes to promote physical distancing and help to further reduce the spread of germs and illness during the ongoing pandemic.
Effective immediately, customers will board and exit through the rear doors of buses to keep passengers aware of social distancing from drivers. Front-door boarding will be reserved for passengers who need the bus to be lowered, to use the ramp or require priority seating.
CEO Katharine Kelleman said bus riders will “simply show their ConnectCard or other fare product to the operator as they board through the rear doors.”
Cash fares will not be collected due to the restriction. Light rail riders will continue to pay at on-board and off-board fareboxes.
“We are committed to the health and wellbeing of everyone in our community, and it is our belief that this small measure will go a long way,” Kelleman said. “While we continue to discourage anyone from going out who doesn’t have to, those who still need to are encouraged to use proper hygiene and maintain your distance from each other.”
PAT announced earlier this week that it has reduced weekday service. On Wednesday, all routes continued to operate, but some, such as 61C McKeesport-Homestead, P7 McKeesport Flyer and Y46 Elizabeth Flyer, are now running less frequently than usual due to low ridership numbers.
The modified schedules can be found at www.portauthority.org/coronavirus. Customers without internet access are encouraged to call Port Authority Customer Service at 412-442-2000 as paper schedules will not be printed.
Weekend service will follow regular weekend schedules. Buses that don’t regularly operate on Saturdays or Sundays will not operate on those days under the modified schedules.
Kelleman said that with fewer buses running, PAT crews will be better able to keep up with the daily disinfecting schedule.