PRT is in the news again. Once again they are crying broke. They spent millions changing their name from PAT to PRT to no avail. Obviously, rebranding didn’t change a darn thing. They repeat the same process every year crying broke, then announcing route cuts, then raising prices a quarter. Then there’s the public outcry, then public meetings and, finally, the state gives them the money, our tax dollars, and then they are quiet until next year when the process repeats itself.
Folks, PRT is not a sustainable business model. Do you know the state has even tacked on a $50 million fee/year from the Pennsylvania Turnpike as part of the funding for PAT …er, PRT, each year? That’s in addition to multiple tax funding streams paid directly from the state.
As a vehicle driver with state licensing fees, tags, gas taxes and poor road maintenance, I am tired of supporting public transportation that isn’t to my benefit. And it’s maddening to see big empty buses traveling down the road that don’t say “GARAGE” on the destination. The state needs to draw some lines for funding, raise fares to the 2026 economic reality or go out of business. Let private companies compete for bus and subway business and quit raising my taxes.
Robert W. Smith
Plum