For Wilkinsburg high school student Cameron Taylor, there’s only one way to get to school — by bus.

Out of the 569 students who attend City Charter High School in Downtown Pittsburgh, most are like Cameron and rely on public transit to commute.

Given Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s proposed increase in fares and drastic cut of services amid its massive budget deficit, local students might not be able to get to school.

“There is no alternative,” said Taylor, 18, who attends City High.

Irreversible impact

The transit authority is facing a $100 million budget deficit in 2026 and has called on the commonwealth to help fill its budget gap. In 2025, there’s a budget deficit of $50 million.

In order to close the gap, PRT is proposing to reduce service by 35% and raise fares by 9%, according to spokesperson Adam Brandolph.

“Obviously, we are opposed to the proposal that we’ve made, but absent the additional funding from the state, there are no other options for us,” he said of what he called devastating cuts.

The cuts, which would go into effect in February 2026, would include the total elimination of 41 of its 98 bus routes — and 19 municipalities and three city neighborhoods will lose service altogether, according to Brandolph.

There will be a reduction in frequency of another 50 routes as well, he said.

The authority receives funding from Pennsylvania — state operating assistance, and this year, it received $283 million, according to Brandolph. But Act 89, which funds public transportation statewide was passed in 2013 and hasn’t aligned with the increase in costs that those 12 years brought.

“The funding that we’re receiving back from Harrisburg is not enough to support the transit needs of our region,” Brandolph said.

The authority is requesting $117 million, and if it receives any amount within that threshold, the proposed changes would likely be less, he said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro is proposing a bill that would mean a $40 million increase in funding.

But without any financial backing, the authority is planning to raise fares by 25 cents, end all service after 11 p.m. and eliminate the light-rail Silver line.

Upcoming Local Events

More local events

The proposal would make PRT the fifth highest fare in the country, according to Brandolph.

The first public hearing on the proposed changes was held Tuesday at David L. Lawrence Convention Center’s Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom, where transit authority leadership listened to people voice concerns.

Brandolph said PRT had received more than 2,000 comments prior to the public hearing that came through virtually or by mail.

Also on Tuesday, a “Save Our Service!” rally was held in an empty parking lot— outside of the convention center where the Pittsburgh Regional Transit hearings are taking place.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato were among the speakers.

“This is a serious situation. It’s a situation that has a consequence that we can’t afford,” Gainey said. “It’s a situation that goes deeper than just mass transit.”

The proposal stands to cut numerous residents off from employment, he told the crowd of over 100 people.

Innamorato said the region is facing a crisis.

“Without action from Harrisburg, our region stands to lose something that is absolutely essential to so many families and individuals and our regional economy,” she said.

Featured Local Businesses

More local businesses

Education in danger

Zane Aqra has depended on public transit since he was 14. He spoke out at hearing.

“I go to school downtown, and I hang out downtown and I work downtown,” said Aqra, 17, of Penn Hills to TribLive. “Couple different jobs downtown — all of which relied on public transit.”

After he graduates this spring, he’s decided to stay in Pittsburgh, where he will major in civil engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.

“I’m going to rely on public transit to hang out with my friends, to venture off campus, to explore the city. I hope to see that this access doesn’t change,” Aqra said. “I’d love to be able to have free rein to go wherever I want.”

Aqra’s daily commute to Stanwix Street, where City High is located, is about 30 to 35 minutes by bus, he said, which is “not terrible.”

Nathan Budziszewski, a financial literacy and technology teacher and ed tech specialist at City High, said at least half of the staff members take public transit.

He usually uses it as well, but he’s been carpooling to work during the last year due to work on trolley lines.

“I’ve heard … that there’s already been parents (saying) that we want to send our kids (to City High), but your option’s now the lowest on our list,” Budziszewski said. “They’re being opted out by force.”

These planned cuts will hurt recruitment and parent flexibility, he predicts. Students are becoming anxious over the situation, he said, citing the anxiety of potentially missing class and how it could impact grades if students arrive late by bus delays.

“Our school’s model is to model the real world. That was part of it … learning to ride transit,” Budziszewski said.

The public comment period on PRT’s proposed changes is open through June 18, and specific cuts can be found on its online “Funding Crisis” page.

“In some communities, it may be I’m waiting 40 minutes more, an hour more for a bus,” Brandolph said. “But in some communities, there isn’t going to be a bus coming.”

Upcoming Local Events

More local events