On September 30, 2024, PRT released Bus Line Redesign Draft Network 1.0 and began a four month period of robust public engagement with a strategy designed to share materials and hear from all riders in the ways and times that work best for them.

Here's a quick summary of what we've heard so far from online and in-person comments:

Thank you to everyone who has given input on the interactive map, taken the survey, or talked to us in person.

As of November 15, 2024, PRT has hosted 25 pop-up info stations, one online public meeting, one Super Pop-Up public meeting, attended four community organization events, and met with 14 stakeholder groups. We have collected over 1,300 comments and received over 6,100 completed surveys.

If you missed our online meeting, you can watch the recording below.

Event Photos

Below shows a few photos from our team members at recent events.

Engagement Goals

PRT’s goals for this period of public engagement include:

• Ensuring riders and other stakeholders are aware of the proposal and that their feedback can still change the proposal;
• Providing details about the timeline for the project and when route changes from Bus Line Redesign could go into effect;
• Providing details and receiving input about non-route elements of the proposal such as potential new route names, microtransit zones, and transit hubs; and
• Introducing the +20% menu of options to provide clarity about how increased funding could benefit the bus network and the cost of items, including new routes to the airport, increases in frequency, and additional microtransit zones.

Approach

The engagement approach for this phase builds on the work of the previous two phases where the intention has been to create a transparent and equitable process where information is shared openly and it is clear how input can influence the proposals.

This third phase includes the following elements:

• 30+ pop-up events at bus stops and other existing events.
• Schenley Plaza super pop-up on October 16 with multiple PRT projects and programs as well as partner non-profits tabling.
• 15+ stakeholder-hosted meetings where PRT works with other organizations to attend their meetings and gather detailed feedback.
• Four-month online open house with a comprehensive set of materials and opportunities for providing available digitally 24/7 from September 30, 2024 through January 31, 2025. Additional materials continue to be added to clarify the proposals as needed.
• Public meetings starting with an online meeting on October 24, 2024, followed by an in-person meeting on November 14, 2024.
• Staff-administered on-bus surveys will begin in November and focus on routes where relatively few comments have been received at that time.
• Detailed briefings during September 2024 from the following committees/groups: Bus Line Redesign Steering Committee and Stakeholder Advisory Group, Allegheny County Transit Council, and Committee for Accessible Transportation, and all Allegheny County elected officials.
• Tabling at all four of PRT's operating divisions to collect feedback from bus operators.

Materials

A comprehensive set of materials have been and continue to be produced to share information and seek public input on the proposals. These include:

• Interactive and print route maps showing existing routes vs. proposed changes and route-specific surveys as well as commenting on interactive maps*
• Interactive full network map with comment function
• Print surveys*
• Specific topic web pages that outline other improvements woven into the project to make the system better for riders
• Social media campaigns to continuously share out events and activities directly from PRT and through partnerships with other levels of government, non-profits, and employment stakeholders*
• Informational signage, pole cards, and take one cards at bus stops, in buses, and in trains*
• Buses wrapped with project advertisements that are operating throughout Allegheny County
• Frequently Asked Questions to proactively address and provide information

* These items/activities are being translated into Spanish or can be using PRT’s Engage platform.

Focusing on Equity

Prioritizing equitable service is one of the project’s three overarching goals. The above activities have been designed to attempt to meet people where they are and in formats that work best for them. Additionally, pop-up locations and stakeholder groups are being selected to ensure that PRT has detailed input from disadvantaged, underserved, or transit-dependent communities across Allegheny County.

The online engagement is also part of the equity strategy by allowing people to fully participate without the need to attend an event. For those who can’t or would rather not use the online technology, PRT’s Customer Service Center and call line staff have been trained to help explain the proposals and collect feedback from the public.

In the analysis of the resulting input, PRT will be careful to balance the number of comments that may be skewed into some communities with available information about demographics and lived experiences that correlate with transit dependent communities PRT is dedicated to serving.