Shared-ride fare hiked by nearly 25%

By JOE NAPSHA
TribLive

Riders using the Westmoreland County Transit Authority’s shared-ride program will be hit with a fare hike of almost 25% beginning Oct. 1, an increase that the authority board was told was necessary to keep the program afloat long term as COVID-relief funds are coming to an end.

The authority on Thursday approved the 24.7% increase by a 4-2 vote. It was supported by members Roy Bodnar, Roderick Booker, Dan DeBone and J. Wood Weissinger, while it was opposed by Charles Blanchard and board chairman Anthony Lizza.

The shared-ride program serves senior citizens and those receiving medical assistance. It takes riders door-to-door for trips such as medical appointments and shopping.

The subsidized trips for senior citizens will increase from an average of $2.40 for a two-mile ride to $3.15, according to Alan Blahovec, transit authority executive director. He said seniors pay only about 15% of the actual fare.

For the general public, the same trip will increase from $16 to $21.

The subsidized ride program is supported in large part by the state, by money from the Pennsylvania Lottery, the medical assistance program and funding from the program for people with disabilities, as well as grants, Blahovec said.

“It’s absolutely time. Nobody likes to do this,” but there has not been an increase in fares for the shared-ride since 2018, said Alan Blahovec, transit authority executive director. Blahovec said there should have been increases every two or three years, but the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted implementing any increase and there subsequently was a shortage of drivers.

The increase is projected to generate about $1.1 million, Blahovec said.

Ashely Cooper-Brounce, authority deputy director, said the increase was necessary because the transit authority has relied upon funding remaining from the COVID relief program. That money is being drawn down and must be fully distributed by 2029, Cooper- Brounce said.

Despite the long period without an increase, Lizza said that he could not support such a high increase. He favored smaller increases spread out. But, he did not specify how those incremental increases would be applied.

“Any way we can go lower? I feel bad for the senior citizens,” Lizza asked transit authority staff.

Blanchard favored a delay in implementing the increase, suggesting that it be imposed beginning in January, rather than October, to give the affected riders more time to prepare for the increase.

The proposed increase was included in the transit authority’s 2026-2027 budget approved in May, Blahovec said, but its implementation was delayed.

The increase on senior citizens is a slight one, DeBone said, and is necessary for the program.

Booker said it was the best alternative for the authority.

“The (COVID relief) money is running out,” Blahovec said. “It’s time to get it sustainable.”