Public Transportation Services in Pennsylvania
- Fixed Route: Fixed route is a bus or rail service following consistent routes and schedules. Vehicles make regularly scheduled stops to pick up and deliver passengers, with each trip serving the same origins and destinations. 49 counties have fixed route bus service.
- Shared Ride: Shared ride services take riders from one location, such as their home, to their destination. These services are designed to serve riders in situations where fixed route services cannot meet their needs. All 67 counties have shared-ride service.
o Trips are scheduled at least one day prior, and vehicles are shared by multiple riders.
o While shared ride services are open to the public, all riders must register with their local shared ride provider before booking. - Transportation services and program applications are managed by local providers.
Transportation Assistance Programs
- The Free Transit Program for Seniors provides a pass to seniors 65 or older to ride for free on all public transportation fixed route bus services in Pennsylvania.
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Complementary Paratransit is for individuals who have disabilities preventing them from using fixed route service. All fixed route public transportation systems offer ADA Paratransit within 3/4 mile of a fixed route. The cost of service will not exceed twice the cost of the fixed route fare.
- The Senior Shared Ride Program enables seniors 65 years of age and older to use shared ride services and pay only a small portion of the regular shared ride fare.
o PennDOT pays 85% of the full fare for seniors. Various local agencies may partially or fully cover the remaining 15% of the fare. The passenger is responsible for any remaining portion of the fare. - The Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Program provides discounted shared ride service rates to persons with disabilities aged 18-64 who live/travel outside fixed route systems
o In 66 counties, passengers pay a portion of the regular fare and the PwD program pays the remainder of the fare (up to 85%) for trips that are not eligible for any other funding source. Proof of disability is required. - The Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) provides non-emergency medical transportation at no cost to Pennsylvania residents who receive medical assistance and have an unmet transportation need. MATP is managed by the Department of Human Services (DHS).