While Heritage Community Initiatives is regarded by state officials as just another transportation agency along the lines of Port Authority of Allegheny County, for more than 3,000 registered riders it remains a lifeline.

In a demographic report issued by the Braddock-based agency last month, Heritage officials said its vans had provided more than 820,000 rides serving more than a dozen Southeastern Allegheny County towns.

Using data from applications made by those 3,000-plus riders, Heritage found that only 3.2 percent of rider households make more than $30,000 a year. The annual household income categories on the application actually rise to “over $80,000.”

The application can be acquired in hard copy or by downloading from heritageserves.org. It can be emailed to ride@heritageserves.org or mailed to 820 Braddock Ave., Braddock, 15104.

Applicants get special cards they use to get on the vans. The cards are not transferable to other riders.

The official list of towns served is 12 but Heritage CEO Paula G. McWilliams said Clairton residents still make heavy use of the vans they can get at McKeesport's transportation center.

The demographic report said 85 percent of Heritage riders make Port Authority connections.

McKeesport is a Heritage community as well as East McKeesport, East Pittsburgh, Liberty, Monroeville, North Versailles, Pitcairn, Port Vue, Turtle Creek, Wall, White Oak and Wilmerding.

In those communities:

• The average age of a Heritage rider is 47.

• Women make up 59 percent of the ridership.

• One out of every four riders bring a child with them.

Braddock is not a Heritage community because of extensive Port Authority service within that borough's limits.

Port Authority board chairman Robert Hurley said Tuesday that Heritage provides a service his agency can't, with on-demand runs as well as connections Port Authority once could make before route cutbacks.

He said those route cutbacks can't be remedied with state Act 89 funds, though those funds can be put toward extensions of existing routes.

Patrick Cloonan is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161 ext. 1967, or pcloonan@tribweb.com.

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