State senator proposes multicounty transit authority
State Sen. Jay Costa, D-43rd, is reviving a dormant proposal to bring Western Pennsylvania’s various public transit systems together.
Costa is proposing legislation that would create a multicounty transit authority around Pittsburgh by consolidating the area’s smaller regional transit systems, like the Butler Transit Authority, into Pittsburgh Regional Transit. Costa argues this would offset the problems that public transit has faced in recent years, such as escalating fares, decreasing ridership, cuts in service and loss of COVID stimulus funds.
The proposal mentioned other issues with public transportation in the area,
“It is time to rightsize our regional transportation system,” Costa wrote in a memo promoting his proposal. “The region should not have to compete with its largest city for mass transit funding and services.”
The proposal clarifies that it would not require transit agencies to merge entirely, but it would “provide incentives” for agencies to combine their services.
The Butler Transit Authority, also known as TheBus, was not mentioned by name in Costa’s memo, nor was any transit authority other than Pittsburgh Regional Transit. However, Costa’s office told the Butler Eagle that Butler County would be included in any plans for a southwestern Pennsylvania transit authority.
“It is Sen. Costa’s plan to include Butler County as well as other transit systems,” a representative from Costa’s office said.
If such a proposal becomes a reality, it would effectively become the Pittsburgh area’s equivalent of SEPTA — the Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority — the transit agency that serves the Philadelphia area.
However, this is not the first time that a “SWEPTA” for the Pittsburgh area has been proposed. Around 2013, a similar proposal with the same working name was backed by then-Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald.
“There was a study done 10 or 15 years ago, and it was set aside because it wasn't cost-effective,” said John Paul, executive director of the Butler Transit Authority.
