FACT CHECK: THE TRANSIT "CLIFF"

By The Pittsburgh Public Press • Published: January 22, 2026

Debunking the myths behind PRT's $100 Million Deficit.

When the Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) board approved a "stop-gap" budget in late 2025, it gave the city a two-year reprieve. But in the halls of Harrisburg and on social media, several myths persist about why we are in this mess. We've checked the data so you don't have to.

Myth #1: "PRT is running out of money because ridership never returned after 2020."

The Reality: While it's true that ridership is still roughly 25-30% below 2019 levels, that is not the primary driver of the $100 million deficit.

The real culprit is the "Federal Cliff." Between 2021 and 2024, PRT stayed afloat using hundreds of millions in federal pandemic relief. That money was always a temporary bridge. The "deficit" we see now is simply the old, pre-pandemic structural gap reappearing now that the federal band-aid has been peeled off.

Myth #2: "The $106.7 million 'Flex' from the Governor solved the problem."

The Reality: This is a classic case of "Robbing Peter to pay Paul." By shifting $106.7 million from the Capital Budget (money for repairs, new buses, and rail maintenance) to the Operating Budget (money for driver salaries and fuel), PRT is essentially using its "house repair fund" to pay the "grocery bill."

The Result: We saved 41 bus routes for now, but we delayed safety-critical infrastructure. The more we "flex" capital money, the more likely we are to see rail derailments or bus breakdowns in 2027 and 2028.

Myth #3: "They should just use smaller buses to save money."

The Reality: This is one of the most common suggestions, but the math doesn't work.

Labor is the Load: Approximately 70-75% of the cost of running a bus route is the driver's salary and benefits.

The Math: It costs PRT nearly the same amount to put a driver in a 15-passenger van as it does to put them in a 40-foot bus. Using a smaller vehicle saves a few cents on fuel but does nothing to solve the multi-million dollar labor and pension obligations that drive the budget.

The Real Problem: The "Act 89" Stagnation

The actual reason for the crisis is a legislative one. Under Act 89 (passed in 2013), state funding for transit was tied to payments from the PA Turnpike. Those payments have flattened while inflation—specifically for fuel and healthcare—has skyrocketed.

The Bottom Line: PRT isn't "overspending." It is operating on a 2013 paycheck in a 2026 economy.

📊 Vital Signs: PRT's Fiscal Health