Mid Mon Moves will reshape public transit in the Mon Valley

The MMVTA is reviewing current transit conditions, fares and other issues.

The Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority is moving forward with a major overhaul designed to make public transportation faster, more reliable and more accessible across Washington, Fayette, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.

The yearlong effort, known as Mid Mon Moves, began in May and will continue through spring 2026.

Its goal is to evaluate the authority’s current fixedroute system and reimagine how buses serve the region’s communities.

A dedicated website, www. midmonmoves.com, will provide ongoing updates and opportunities for public input throughout the project.

MMVTA Executive Director Ashley Seman said it’s a transformative project for transportation in the Mon Valley.

“Mid Mon Moves is about more than changing bus routes — it’s about reshaping how people experience transit in the Mon Valley,” Seman said. “We’re looking to reduce travel times, improve rider comfort and expand access without increasing costs. By working directly with our communities and riders, we’re building a system that truly reflects their needs.”

At Tuesday’s Carroll Township supervisors meeting, MMVTA President George Eckert offered an update on the Mid Mon Moves project and emphasized the importance of community input in shaping the future of public transit.

Eckert addressed local leaders and residents, outlining the agency’s goals and sharing early findings from the initiative, underscoring the potential for expanded service in the area and highlighting the economic and transportation needs unique to communities like Carroll Township.

“We’ve started a survey in June, and we’re moving along, or should finish up in May (2026),” Eckert said. “We’re looking at either expanding or decreasing routes within the 22 communities and maybe adding some communities.”

Residents in areas such as West Newton, Scenery Hill and West Brownsville have already expressed interest in new transit service.

MMVTA is using data to evaluate these opportunities, looking at factors like vehicle access and employment concentration.

“There are more jobs in Carroll Township than there are residents,” Eckert said. “This is the kind of statistics we’re using.”

According to Seman, the project will focus on reducing travel times, improving transfer experiences at key bus stops and increasing the frequency and efficiency of service along high-demand corridors.

Plans also call for upgrading bus stops with better amenities to improve comfort, safety and dignity for riders.

MMVTA is exploring how to expand service to new communities while keeping operations cost-effective and conducting a fare structure analysis to ensure pricing remains fair and efficient.

“This is very much a community effort, and MMVTA is excited to hit the ground with this project,” Seman said. “Riders will be asked to complete surveys and provide feedback throughout the process, ensuring that the final outcomes reflect the real needs of the people who rely on public transit in the Mon Valley.”

While the study will include a review of regional travel patterns to and from Allegheny County, Seman noted that the primary focus remains on improving transit within Mid-Mon Valley communities.

“The goal is to create a transit network that meets the unique needs of this region while still maintaining smart, efficient connections to surrounding areas,” she said.

The project follows a structured timeline broken into nine key phases.

As of September 2025, MMVTA is completing its review of existing transit conditions, conducting internal engagement with staff and partners and analyzing the current fare structure.

Starting this fall, MMVTA will develop two potential transit network scenarios that propose different ways to organize routes and coverage. Public feedback will be gathered through surveys and meetings to guide the design.

The first engagement phase, scheduled for November and December, will focus on understanding where riders want to go.

A second phase in February will ask how the authority can better meet riders’ needs. The final recommendations will be published in spring 2026.

The authority’s outreach efforts include virtual stakeholder meetings, direct engagement and a robust public feedback process.

The project website will serve as the central hub for updates, surveys, event announcements and draft proposals. MMVTA encourages the public to visit www.midmonmoves. com regularly as the planning process moves forward.

MMVTA currently operates 10 fixed routes, including five local lines serving 21 member municipalities, four commuter lines to Downtown Pittsburgh and one university shuttle in partnership with PennWest California.

Mid Mon Moves is the most comprehensive transit system review MMVTA has undertaken in decades, with the goal of creating a smarter, more responsive system shaped by the people it serves.