Westmoreland County Transit Authority

1. Westmoreland County Transit Authority Hop on! We’re headed your way!

2. Who am I?

3. Who am I? • Lori Brkovich, Director of Planning and Marketing • Primary Duties • Design fixed routes and create schedules • Track and analyze route and ridership statistics • Oversee the customer service function • Marketing and promotion of WCTA and its services • Maintain WCTA website

4. What is WCTA? History and General Information

5. What is WCTA? • Westmoreland Transit’s Mission: “To provide and promote safe and reliable public transportation by trained and skilled individuals who are sensitive to the needs of passengers and all residents of Westmoreland County.”

6. Westmoreland Transit has been providing fixed-route bus service in Westmoreland County since 1978. Services are provided by private companies under contract with Westmoreland Transit. Westmoreland Transit operates a total of 17 weekday and 5 Saturday routes.

7. Westmoreland Transit operates a fleet of 31 buses ranging in size from small 18-passenger buses to 49-passenger deluxe coaches.

8. Service is provided to the following communities: • Westmoreland County Boroughs Avonmore Manor Delmont New Florence Derry Mt. Pleasant East Vandergrift Scottdale Export Seward Irwin Vandergrift Ligonier Youngwood New Stanton

9. Service is provided to the following communities: • Townships Allegheny St. Clair Bell Sewickley Derry Unity Hempfield Washington Ligonier Mt. Pleasant North Huntingdon Penn

10. Service is provided to the following communities: • Cities Arnold Lower Burrell Greensburg New Kensington Jeannette Latrobe • Municipality Murrysville

11. Service is provided to the following communities: • Service is also provided to eastern Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh, as well as to Cambria County.

12. Westmoreland Transit Routes What types of bus routes does the Authority provide?

13. Commuter Routes • Two types Pittsburgh Commuter Local Commuter • Designed to meet demands of passengers traveling to and from work • Typically operate in the morning and afternoon only • Utilize Park and Ride lots • Travel a direct path or busway making as few stops as possible

14. Commuter Routes Pittsburgh Commuter Routes • Route 1F- Greensburg- Pittsburgh Flyer • Route 2F- Latrobe- Pittsburgh Flyer • Route 3F- Mt. Pleasant- Pittsburgh Flyer Local Commuter Routes • Route 18F- Irwin- Greensburg Flyer • Route 20F- East Flyer

15. Main Routes • Travel throughout the day along main roads and highways • Designed to connect different parts of the county • Meet at the Transit Center for timed transfers • Serve major shopping centers and points of interest along major roadways

16. Main Routes • Route 4- Greensburg- Pittsburgh • Route 5- Greensburg- Jeannette • Route 6- Greensburg- Irwin- Herminie • Route 8- Greensburg- Youngwood- New Stanton • Route 9- Greensburg- Derry • Route 12- Greensburg- New Kensington • Route 14- Local New Kensington • Route 14J- New Kensington-PSU- Pittsburgh Mills • Route 16- Greensburg- Mt. Pleasant

17. Feeder Routes • Designed to “feed into” main routes at an outlying transfer point • Generally use smaller buses and travel within local communities • Provide local service to residents of more rural communities

18. Feeder Routes • Route 11- Johnstown- Latrobe • Route 15- Avonmore- New Kensington • Route 17- Local Scottdale

19. Saturday Routes • Operate only on Saturdays • Designed to provide primarily leisure service along major roadways • Meet at the Transit Center for timed transfers

20. Saturday Routes • Route 4S- Greensburg- Pittsburgh • Route 5S- Greensburg- Jeannette • Route 9S- Greensburg- Derry • Route 14S- Local New Kensington • Route 16S- Greensburg- Scottdale

21. How much does it cost to ride?

22. How much does it cost to ride? • Fares: • Base fare is $1.50 (one zone) • Additional zone charge is $1.50 • Fares and zones are route-specific • Listed on each printed schedule

23. How can I save money?

24. How can I save money? • Purchase a Monthly Pass • Offered at a 20% discount • Can be purchased from the 15th of the preceding month through the 5th of the month of use • Valid for unlimited trips for a calendar month • Purchase a 10-Trip Pass • Punch ticket- trip punched each time you ride • No expiration date • Offered at a 10% discount

25. How can I save money? • Commuter Choice Program • Tax-free incentive • Options: • Cost of passes is set up as a pre-tax benefit • Employee pays no Federal or Social Security taxes on the amount deducted • Employers can pay any percentage of the cost of a pass, including providing them for free • Companies can set up a Commuter Choice account by calling 724-832-2705

26. Where can I buy passes? • Greensburg Transit Center • Passes can be purchased in person with cash, check or credit card. • Charge by phone • Mail order- forms on buses and at Transit Center • Online • Go to the link on the website, www.westmorelandtransit.com

27. Where can I buy passes? • Port Authority Service Center • 534 Smithfield Street, downtown Pittsburgh • Giant Eagle Supermarkets • Mountain Laurel Plaza • Eastgate Plaza • Hempfield Square • North Huntingdon Square • Murrysville • New Kensington

28. How can I get transit information?

29. How can I get transit information? • Call the transit center at 1-800-221-9282 • Choose menu option 2 for schedule information • Transit center is staffed: • Monday through Friday 5:30 am- 8:30 pm • Saturday 8:30 am- 4:30 pm • Visit our website at www.westmorelandtransit.com

30. How do I read a schedule?

31. How do I read a schedule? • Schedules are read left to right • Find your point of origin (where you are getting on the bus) • Look below for pick-up times • Read across and find your destination (where you are going) • Look below for arrival times

32. How do I read a schedule? • Schedule exercise • A client needs to go from the Greensburg Transit Center to Jeannette Hospital. What times can she catch a bus and what times will she arrive at Jeannette Hospital?

34. Answer: Depart Greensburg at 8:15, 10:15, 12:15, 2:15, 4:15, 6:15, 8:15 Arrive Jeannette Hospital at 8:58, 10:58, 12:58, 2:58, 4:58, 6:58, 8:58

35. How do I transfer buses? • Sometimes you may need to ride more than one bus to complete your trip • Main routes meet at the Transit Center for timed transfers • Feeder routes connect to main routes at outlying points

36. How do I transfer buses? • Find the schedules you will need for your entire trip • Match up transfer times • Be sure to tell your driver that you will be transferring to another bus • The driver will give you an orange transfer coupon that you will give to the driver of the next bus

37. How do I transfer buses? • Transfer exercise • A client needs to go from Irwin (PA Ave./ Main St.) to Mountain Laurel Plaza. The client needs to arrive at Mountain Laurel Plaza around 5:15 pm, but not later. • What time would he catch he bus in Irwin? • Would he have to transfer buses? • What time would he arrive at Mountain Laurel Plaza?

40. Answer: Depart Irwin at 3:43 pm. Arrive in Greensburg at 4:09 pm Transfer to Route 9 in Greensburg at 4:15 pm Arrive at Mt. Laurel Plaza at 4:58 pm

41. What else should I know about riding the bus?

42. What else should I know about riding the bus? • Always pay your fare as you board the bus • Have exact change • Westmoreland Transit operates on a flag stop system • You do not need to be at a bus stop sign • You can board anywhere along the route provided it is a safe stop • Request an orange “Bus Hailer” from the driver or the Transit Center

43. What else should I know about riding the bus? • When the bus is approaching your stop, use the pull cord or button above you to signal a “Stop Request” to the driver. • No food or beverage is permitted on the bus

44. What other services does Westmoreland Transit provide?

45. Special Services • Senior Free Transit Program • Made possible by funding through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. • Offers free transportation for senior citizens ages 65 and over. • Senior Transit ID Cards are available at the Transit Center with proof of age.

46. Special Services • Reduced Fare Transit Program • Enables persons with disabilities to ride a fixed-route bus for one-half of the regular fare. • Applications can be obtained at the Transit Center, and require verification by a health care provider. (Exception: persons possessing a Medicare card automatically qualify).

47. Special Services • Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) • Administered by Westmoreland Transit for Westmoreland County. • Funded by Department of Public Welfare • Provides transportation to medical appointments for Westmoreland County residents who receive medical assistance. • Eligible individuals must register for the program and call to schedule trips. • Register by calling 724-832-2706 or toll free 1-800-242-2706.

48. Special Services • Americans With Disabilities (ADA) Complementary Paratransit Program • Provides service to individuals whose disability prevents them from using a fixed-route bus. • Provided by taxi and “mirrors” public bus service. • Requires application completed by individual and a health care provider. • Applications are reviewed by an independent agency, and eligibility is based on diagnosed disability.