Port Authority Likely To Raise Fare

The Port Authority of Allegheny County will likely increase its fares starting in January of 2010. PAT spokesman Jim Ritchie says a fare hike will be a result of state funding remaining at current levels. As PAT develops a budget for the new fiscal year that starts July 1, it's counting on a $4 million increase in fare revenues. The amount of the fare boost has not been determined and public hearings will be held by the Authority before the board votes on any increase. Ritchie says the increase is not likely to be more than 25 cents added to the base fare of two dollars. He says the State's Transportation Funding and Reform Commission has recommended that fare hikes be enacted in smaller amounts more frequently rather than large jumps every 4 or 5 years.