There's plenty of room for productivity gains and operating efficiencies in Allegheny County transit service, a consultant told Port Authority officials today.

The authority is paying Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates up to $800,000 to analyze and help revamp the agency's bus routes. Consultant Geoffrey Slater said there is room for route consolidation to avoid empty trips.

About a year from now, the authority plans to start making the major changes intended to create a more user-friendly system, attract more riders and reflect new demographics and development without increasing its overall operating costs.