The buses have been running on time as Westmoreland County Transit Authority employees complete their first month behind the wheel of day-to-day operations.
"We're all doing at least two jobs," said Executive Director Larry Morris.
The authority's initial charter required that it hire a private operator to run the bus service, which though November has provided rides to more than 450,000 passengers on its 19 daily and five Saturday routes.
In late November, county commissioners signed an emergency declaration giving the authority the power to hire drivers and mechanics and take over operation of its buses.
That move was necessary after carrier Edenfield Transit was let go after financial problems prevented the firm from operating the authority's system. Lodestar Bus Lines Inc., which operates the authority's rural service, was hired on an interim basis to take over, but then declined to provide the service, including popular commuter runs to Pittsburgh.
Lodestar, a nonunion shop, would have been required by the authority to take on about 40 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1738.
Those drivers and mechanics now work for the authority.
But the commissioners' emergency declaration did not give the authority permission to hire support staff, supervisors and dispatchers. That work is being done by front office workers at the authority, who handle administrative duties at the Greensburg headquarters. Now, in addition to their regular duties they are staffing supervisory and dispatch positions at the maintenance garage in Hempfield.
Although the emergency declaration is indefinite, it will expire once the authority hires another private bus carrier to operate its service.
"There have been no disruptions in service. I don't know the public even knew the difference," Morris said. "This organization is not really set up to do this kind of work."
Edenfield Transit signed a five-year contract in 2006 to run authority buses for more than $2 million each year.
The authority is using that money to pay drivers and mechanics as well as other costs of having a staff to run and fix the buses.
Morris said documents seeking proposals from private companies will be prepared early next year, although the timetable has not been set.
