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For the time being, Pennsylvania transit agencies can hold off on cutting service and increasing fares.

Last week, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell proposed an interim funding plan that would provide $18.8 million to state transit agencies while the legislature determines a more permanent funding solution. Agencies planned to cut service and raise fares early next year to offset multi-million-dollar budget deficits due to reduced state funding.

The Port Authority of Allegheny County would receive $4.7 million in state funds, enabling the agency to postpone a fare increase scheduled to take effect Feb. 1 until March 1. Facing a $30 million fiscal-year 2005 operating budget deficit, the authority is planning to raise fares from $1.75 to $2, and reduce service on March 6 unless it obtains additional state funding. If the authority doesn’t obtain funds by July 1, it will increase the base fare to $2.50 and cut service an additional 15 percent.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority would receive $13 million in state funding to help address its $62.2 million deficit. The authority is considering delaying its proposal to increase fares and cut service.