Port Authority, Union, State Close To Deal

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Public transit as we know it will continue with no major cuts if the deal being worked on right now gets finalized and signed off on in the next week or so.

"Obviously there's details to be worked out with the complexities of these type of negotiations and the fact that we don't just want it to be one year or two years we'd like this to be for 10 years," Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.

Here is the deal as it stands right now. As the county executive mentioned, it would extend for 10 years.

Now the financials. Remember, the Port Authority needs $60 million.

Sources say the governor's office and the state have committed $32 million. Sources say union leaders have committed to giving up $15 million a year in wages and benefits.

Management at Port Authority has committed to giving up $10 million in wages and benefits, an additional $3 million from fare increases and naming rights reaching the $60 million number.

"I think you would have a restoration of the system that's there right now, so it would be able to save the cuts," Fitzgerald said.

Sources tell KDKA's Marty Griffin the numbers crunchers are looking at the details right now to make certain the promises all parties make hold up for 10 years.

Also, business leaders told the governor who has been at the bargaining table that at least half of their employees use the bus to get to work. That input has been critical.

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