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Just three weeks after the Port Authority of Allegheny County implemented a 15 percent service reduction and laid off 203 employees, it announced plans on July 6 to move forward with its next round of service and job cuts. On Sept. 2, the authority plans to eliminate 34 rail and bus routes and cut Saturday and/or Sunday service on 18 others, and lay off another 174 workers.

The measure will help the authority make up the remaining $44.6 million fiscal-year 2008 budget deficit; before the June service and job cuts, the FY2008 deficit stood at $80 million. To help balance the budget, the agency also will use funds previously designated for capital projects.

Also on July 6, authority officials notified affected employees and presented the new service plan to Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 29.

However, if the Pennsylvania legislature approves additional funding for state transit agencies, the authority will rescind its service and job cuts.