Allegheny County makes half-off fares permanent for low-income transit riders

A trial program that offered cheap mass transit fares to low-income Allegheny County residents is becoming permanent.

Building on the success of the pilot program started under her predecessor, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato announced Monday that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries in the county can soon apply for a 50% discount on Pittsburgh Regional Transit fares.

“Expanding transit access to serve low-income residents of Allegheny County will help improve their ability to get around and their quality of life,” Innamorato said in a statement.

The new program, called Allegheny GO, will begin June 3 and affect more than 130,000 eligible county residents seeking rides on Pittsburgh Regional Transit, the area’s largest public transit provider.

Agency CEO Katharine Kelleman said the program is a step towards “recognizing that access to reliable transportation is a fundamental right that should be available to everyone.

“This program is about more than just discounted fares. It’s about dignity and equity,” she said.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit serves on average about 110,000 riders per weekday across its bus, light-rail and incline systems.

A pilot program that ran for 12 months starting in December 2022 saw nearly 15,000 people participate, including more than 9,500 adults and about 5,000 children.

The program doled out free monthly Pittsburgh Regional Transit passes, discounted fare passes for half-off rides and ConnectCards preloaded with $10 to people on supplemental assistance.

The Allegheny County Department of Human Services will fund the program.

Innamorato spokeswoman Abigail Gardner said the total costs will be variable but the county expects to spend $1.2 million for every 10,000 discounted riders a year.

If every eligible participant applied, it would cost the county $15.6 million annually. Allegheny County’s operating budget for this year is over $1 billion.

Pittsburghers for Public Transit, an advocacy group, lauded the move.

Interested riders should download Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Ready2Ride app before applying at Allegheny GO’s website: https://discountedfares.alleghenycounty.us.

Eligible applicants will have the ability to pay for discounted fares within their app.

Initially, Allegheny GO will be available to applicants with smartphones. Eventually it will be available on Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s new smartcard set to launch in 2025.