Port Authority Board Approves Operating and Capital Budgets
Port Authority of Allegheny County's Board of Directors today adopted the agency's $413 million operating and $200 million capital budget for Fiscal Year 2017.
The budget includes the fare policy changes adopted by the Board earlier this year and $1.3 million in service expansions.
Operating expenses for FY2017 are projected to increase a total of $14.5 million over last year, primarily due to additional healthcare and legacy costs; pensions and employee benefits remain the Authority's second-largest expense behind wages and salaries.
Projected increases on the revenue side include additional advertising revenue and state operating assistance.
The operating budget includes a $509,000 total investment to address overcrowding and on-time performance; $182,000 to bring existing routes into compliance with internal guidelines; and $609,000 to expand service on the following routes:
- 79-East Hills
- 89-Garfield Commons
- P17-Lincoln Park Flyer
Capital budget
The $200 million capital budget consists of roughly $10 million in local funding, and $190 million in state and federal funds.
Capital funding is used to maintain the Authority's extensive transit infrastructure system, including more than 52 miles of light rail track, nearly 18 miles of busways, and more than 800 buses and light rail vehicles. The Authority also maintains the Monongahela Incline, 79 bridges, and five rail tunnels.
Among the FY2017 capital expenses is $48.3 million to purchase new buses and about $66 million to improve fixed-guideways and other facilities.