PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

On March 1, 2005 the Port Authority was able to cancel the increased fares and the service cuts that were to be implemented during the first week of March. They were able to do this because of a stop gap funding measure that Governor Ed Rendell had finally proposed on the last day of February. This stop gap provides funding for public transit in the commonwealth through the year 2006 by "flexing" money originally marked for highway construction.

The joy that came with the announcement from the Port Authority that fares would not go up and that service would not be cut as planned was short lived. Within hours of Rendell's announced stop gap, SPC (Southwest PA Planning Commission) members began to go public with announcements of their own. SPC members, from counties like Indiana. Lawrence and Beaver have said that they won't support the flexing of highway funds for public transit.

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Update 3/11/2005: The Southwest Pennsylvania Commission voted to flex $25.3 million in federal high way dollars over to the Port Authority.  This will allow the Port Authority to operate at present fares and schedules until July 1, 2005, which is the beginning of the new fiscal year.