State and Allegheny County officials have asked the Port Authority to hold off on public hearings on a possible fare increase and service cuts until a state commission finishes its report on long-term transportation funding.

Hours after the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported in Tuesday's editions that the transit agency was considering hearings next month on a record fare increase and service cuts, Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Steve Bland met with Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Michael Masch, Gov. Ed Rendell's budget secretary.

Mr. Onorato confirmed yesterday that they asked the agency to wait until the Pennsylvania Transportation Funding and Reform Commission -- which was meeting at about the same time -- turns in its recommendations Nov. 15.

Port Authority officials previously said they couldn't wait to begin developing ways to deal with a projected $31.5 million budget shortfall, which is expected to begin impacting the agency in January.

"Let's at least allow the transportation commission to do their work," Mr. Onorato said. "I'm not opposed to hearings if there is something to hold a hearing on."

Although all parties say politics isn't involved in either the transportation commission report or the timing of hearings on service cuts and a fare increase for the Port Authority, the commission's report won't be released until after the Nov. 7 election. That means Mr. Rendell won't have to deal with the potentially sticky issue of raising fees or increasing taxes immediately before he faces the voters.

Mr. Bland yesterday acknowledged the meeting with Mr. Onorato and Mr. Masch, but he said it had nothing to do with the agency delaying hearings on potential changes. He denied being pressured to slow the process of fare hikes and bus-trolley service cuts because Mr. Rendell is up for re-election.

Mr. Bland said authority staff members haven't completed the comprehensive analysis he wants and he's not prepared to recommend "the prudent things to do to sustain the system over the long term."

"We can do better with more time," he said. "We have to decide whether we can afford the system we've got or get a system we can afford."

At Tuesday's meeting, Mr. Onorato told Mr. Masch and Mr. Bland that the county has no more money for a funding formula that requires $1 in matching money for every $3 from the state. Under the formula, the county is to provide about $24 million in this year's $347.5 million operating budget.

"That's consistent with what [Mr. Onorato] has been saying all along," Mr. Bland said of the county's subsidy.

As a result, the authority has been considering a plan to consolidate fare zones and charge a single $2.50 base fare in Allegheny County; a $3.50 fare for the limited service it provides in neighboring counties; service reductions up to 24 percent; and job eliminations and layoffs in a 3,000-employee workforce.

Mr. Bland also said Mr. Masch suggested there is a chance the state Legislature will approve the reliable, dedicated source of funding that transit agencies have sought for years, rendering moot all of the preparations for drastic fare and service moves.

"What I'm hearing is that [state leaders] will require a significant local effort" as part of a long-term solution, he said, such as part of a regional sales tax.