BCTA News

The Transportation Security Administration has EXTENDED the mask mandate for ALL forms of public transportation to May 3, 2022.

This means that passengers MUST continue to wear their masks in all BCTA Customer Service areas and on all BCTA busses.

This also means that the previously posted range of penalties for failing to adhere to the mask mandate will remain in effect until May 3, 2022.

As a reminder, the range of penalties are as follows:

• $500 – $1000 for first offenders
• $1000 – $3000 for second offenders

Thank you for your cooperation.                                                                          

Please be advised that effective Tuesday, April 5^th, 2022 the Trip Planner, Bus Tracker, and the Automated Trip Information line will be down from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM.

If you have any questions, please speak with a BCTA Customer Service Representative.

Thank you for riding with BCTA.

Please be advised that effective Tuesday, March 29^th, 2022 until Friday April 29^th, 2022, the East Bus Way stop will be closed. The alternate stop will be 900 Liberty Ave. at William Penn Place.

If you have any questions, please speak with a BCTA Customer Service Representative.

Thank you for riding with BCTA.

The Beaver County Transit Authority will hold a public hearing at 4:00 pm on Friday, April 1, 2022 to receive public comments regarding proposed service changes to the Fixed Route Service System and a Fare Increase on Express 4 Service.  Service Changes which if approved would take place on Monday, May 2, 2022 and Fare Changes which if approved would take place on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.  The hearing will be held in the Board Room of the BCTA Transportation Center, located at 200 West Washington Street, Rochester, PA 15074.  Written comments regarding the proposed changes will be accepted until 3:00 pm on Friday, April 15, 2022.  All written comments should be mailed or delivered in person to BCTA, 200 West Washington Street, Rochester, PA 15074.  Persons not able to attend the meeting may review the proposed modifications by contacting Terri Riley, Technology & Data Specialist at 724-728-4255 to schedule an appointment prior to the date of the public hearing.  All comments received in person or in writing will be reviewed by BCTA’s Board of Directors and taken into consideration when making any final decisions regarding the proposed changes to the service and the fare increase on Express 4. 

DESCRIPTION:

Proposed Changes for May 2, 2022:

• Change revenue start time on Route 1 to 4:47 a.m. and move all subsequent bus stops forward five minutes so that departure time from Ambridge Park and Ride is 5:50 a.m.
• End Route 1 trip in Chippewa at Dunhams at 10:12 p.m.
• End Route 2 trip in Aliquippa at 10:50 p.m.

Prior Changes During Covid That Remain:

• Terminate Route 3
• Reduce Express 4 trips from 11 to 3
• Reduced Route 1 trips from 37 to 33
• No changes to Route 11
• No changes to Route 2

Proposed Fare Increase

• Route 4 Express – $4.00 to $5.00, effective July 5, 2022

Please be advised that effective March 7^th, 2022, the Rochester Transportation Center Lobby and Front Desk new hours of operation will be 5:30 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Friday.  Saturday hours will remain the same, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

If you have any questions, please speak with a BCTA Customer Service Representative.

Thank you for riding with BCTA.

App and on-board validation devices installed across fleet for safer and faster boarding as BCTA looks to Fast Forward local fixed route transit

The BCTA is announcing the launch of a mobile ticketing system on March 1, 2022. The Transit Authority partnered with Masabi; a company that brings Fare Payments-as-a-Service to the public transit industry.  BCTA’s Mobile Ticket app is Powered by the Justride platform; the app lets riders buy tickets and passes anytime, anywhere, using their smartphones. The app is fast, easy, contactless and a safe way to pay and ride the local bus service.

The BCTA Mobile Ticket app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. It allows riders of BCTA services to purchase and use fare products such as single ride, day pass, 11 Ride, 7 Day passes, 31 day passes and reduces fares directly from their mobile device. Group travel is also possible with multiple fare products purchased using the same device.

As part of the project new validation devices have been installed across the entire BCTA fixed route bus fleet.  Passengers scan their dynamic and encrypted mobile passes on the devices when boarding the bus and an audible beep and a colored screen identifies the ticket as valid for use. These validation units will help speed up boarding times making riding BCTA services faster and safer by enabling contactless fare payment and validation. The validation units are powered by Masabi’s Justride Inspect software.

Riders can also go to BCTA’s website and use a new BCTA web portal service to purchase tickets and passes to use with the BCTA Mobile Ticket app.

Mary Jo Morandini, BCTA’s General Manager said “BCTA is pleased to have partnered with Masabi on the mobile ticketing app.  Customers will now find it faster and easier than ever to pay fares. A rider installs the BCTA mobile app on their smart phone and they never have to deposit coins or tickets in the fare box again.  Riders board the bus and simply scan the bar code appearing on their phone on validation devices installed on the buses.  And for those without a smart phone, a ticket can be printed from their computer and scanned on all fixed route buses”. 

“More and more, people are using their smartphones in almost all aspects of their daily life, and this makes mobile ticketing a logical choice for agencies of all sizes,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “The change in people’s behaviors brought about by social distancing requirements has made mobile ticketing and the move towards more contactless journeys a must-have for transit agencies. We’re delighted to be working with BCTA to launch a network-wide mobile ticketing option for their riders, helping passengers and agency staff to stay safe and fast-forwarding public transit to a contactless future.”

Following the President’s order and announcement regarding efforts to combat the Omicron variant, TSA, in conjunction with the CDC, will extend the face mask requirement for individuals across all transportation networks throughout the United States, including at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on over-the-road buses, and on commuter bus and rail systems through March 18, 2022.

The TSA Administrator stated the combination of vaccinations and face masks work and are highly effective in terms of slowing the spread of the virus in the transportation system, and they make travel safer for everyone.

The range of penalties, which took effect Friday, September 10, 2021, will be

$500 – $1000 for first offenders and $1000 – $3000 for second offenders.