Allegheny County Dept. of Human Services started enrolling eligible county residents in its discount transit fares program today. This is an opportunity for certain SNAP households to lower their transportation costs and demonstrate the need for a permanent free transit fares program in the county.
How the discount transit fares program works
The cost of transportation can be a barrier for many community members. The Allegheny County Department of Human Services has launched a 12-month pilot program to understand how reducing transit fares helps low-income residents.
UPDATE: Allegheny County Dept. of Human Services announced on January 27 the following changes and clarifications to program rules:
- Enrollment in this program will end February 12, 2023.
- Eligibility is now partially based on enrollment in SNAP in November 2022 (not September, as had been the case went program enrollment launched in November).
- Those who are eligible for fare discounts through an employer, university, or other program are not eligible to participate.
Who qualifies for the Allegheny County Discounted Fares Pilot Program?
You are eligible if you:
- currently reside in Allegheny County;
- were receiving SNAP benefits in December 2022 or are the parent of a child who was;
- are between the ages of 18 and 64, or are 65+ and have household members below age 65; AND
- do not have another household member ages 18 through 64 who is already participating in this pilot.
How does the pilot work?
If you are found eligible during the online application process, you will be randomly assigned to one of 3 groups:
- Free fares: The county will provide this group with unlimited free fares on all Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT, formerly Port Authority of Allegheny County) trips for 12 months.
- 50% discount: The county will provide this group with a ConnectCard that reduces the cost of all PRT trips by half for 12 months. The card will also be pre-loaded with $10.
- No discount: The county will provide this group with a ConnectCard pre-loaded with $10 but no fare discount.
Upon completing the online program application, participants will immediately be told what group they were randomly placed in.
What participants have to do
Participation in the pilot is voluntary and participants can drop out at any time. Participants must agree to share info about their family and household, including transportation needs, employment status and current use of public transit. The county states that they will keep this information private, confidential, and anonymous; they will not store or share any info about your individual identity.
The county and its research partners will also ask participants to complete occasional surveys about how they use the bus during the program. These surveys are optional and the county will compensate those who complete them.
How to learn more and enroll
To learn more go to discountedfares.alleghenycounty.us
To see answers to frequently asked questions about the program, go to discountedfares.alleghenycounty.us/faqs/
To apply for the program, go to discountedfares-apply.alleghenycounty.us
Want help applying? Leave us a message at (412) 888-0375
Questions? Email: DHSallegheny-discounted-fares-
How the discount transit fares pilot program came about
In September, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced that the county Dept. of Human Services would launch a reduced-fare pilot program for SNAP households. This was a victory for advocates and transit riders that was years in the making.
Just Harvest knows the heavy toll that transit costs take on our SNAP clients. We also understand that low-income households are far more likely to both depend on public transit and have to pay higher cash fares. So in 2018, Just Harvest joined Pittsburghers for Public Transit’s campaign for fare equity. When the pandemic hit, this effort took on a new urgency. We were soon joined by the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council, UrbanKind Institute, and other allies.
Together with transit riders, our coalition won a huge step forward in making transit more affordable for those in Allegheny County who need it most. Other cities have already successfully instituted zero- or reduced-fare programs. Our county has too; area seniors and certain college and PPS students enjoy a fare discount. Such programs increase ridership, strengthening the system by allowing it to draw down increased funds.
We know that this program will be transformational for low-income families. Reducing or eliminating transportation costs will give them the freedom to access healthy food, health care, child care, better jobs, human services programs, and all of civic life. All of our communities will reap the benefits.
(This post was originally published Nov. 17, 2022.)
I just wanted to say that I was one that was lucky enough to get a bus pass and it helped me out greatly. I am so very thankful to you all and if you ever do it again, I need it bad cause I have mental health issues that I need to take care of and I can’t because I’m scared I won’t be able to get there, but I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am very grateful for this program and what you have been able to do for me. Thank you all and have a great day. Love and respect. EAG.