Fewer buses will be running on Allegheny County roads and streets this morning as 29 routes are eliminated.

Schedules will change on almost 80 others.

On Saturday the president of the union representing Port Authority drivers and mechanics along with several community leaders made last-minute pleas to the transit agency's board to hold off 15 percent service reductions for a week. That delay would allow time for Port Authority executives, County Executive Dan Onorato and leaders of Local 85 of the Amalgamated Transit Union to continue talks on money-saving concessions, they said.

Board members met in executive session for about an hour, but when they returned they took no action to postpone the cuts.

The Port Authority has said service reductions are necessary to balance its budget in the face of rising operating costs and a reduced state subsidy.

The decision to carry out the service cuts and accompanying layoffs drew a furious reaction from union President Patrick McMahon. "The board has shown no consideration for the people with this kind of decision," he said. "I don't know how they will be able to sleep at night."

About 180 Port Authority workers will lose their jobs.

He also had harsh words for Mr. Onorato, who had tried to work out a deal between the Port Authority and its workers. The county executive drew Mr. McMahon's anger after he rejected a package of concessions proposed by the union as being too small.

"Dan Onorato -- union buster," Mr. McMahon said. "That's the label you will have whatever else you do in your life. You stink. You're a Republican."

A spokeswoman for Mr. Onorato, who did not attend the Port Authority meeting, said he had no comment.

Port Authority board members are appointed by Mr. Onorato and confirmed by county council, but it operates as an independent public agency.

Saturday's Port Authority board meeting was a continuation of Friday's regular session. The meeting was extended after the transit workers union proposed a concession package Mr. McMahon estimated would reduce costs by $16 million to $18 million.

The offer was significant, Port Authority CEO Steve Bland said Saturday, but "it was well short of the necessary savings of $30 million."

Mr. McMahon proposed a 10 percent pay cut for his workers, with the money being used to build up their pension fund. Drivers, mechanics and first-line supervisors also would give up a 3 percent pay hike scheduled for January.

Mr. Onorato had proposed two alternative plans that included a wage freeze, health care and pension givebacks and changes in overtime and work rules. Mr. McMahon said Mr. Onorato's proposals contained two "deal-breakers." His members would not accept changes in their health-care coverage or in the coverage offered retirees.

They would be willing to negotiate on other aspects of Mr. Onorato's plans. "My members are willing to sacrifice," Mr. McMahon said. As he spoke to the board, his voice broke several times, and he seemed near tears.

"I see no harm in delaying for a week," board member Charles Martoni said. He also serves on county council.

"Come back to the table," the Rev. Ken Love urged the board.

"PAT and the workers have gone more than halfway with concessions," former county council President Rich Fitzgerald said.

While Port Authority employees were not ready to talk about changes in health-care coverage now, the union would discuss it in the future, Mr. McMahon said. "I'm going on record for the first time that retiree health care needs to be fixed," he said.

In a related move, the board approved proposals by a private bus company to take over two suburban routes that now have been eliminated by the public transit agency.

Mr. Martoni was the lone vote against the plan.

Lenzner Coach Lines will take over service between Downtown and Marshall and Franklin Park, routes that the Port Authority is giving up. The new private bus service will start Monday morning.

The transit agency initially had planned a 35 percent cut in service to deal with its financial woes, but a $45 million one-time state grant held off that more drastic action.

The Port Authority board approved stretching out the extra state money over 18 months, a move that resulted in the controversial 15 percent service cut. That action would give Gov. Tom Corbett and the Legislature time to agree on a new way to finance mass transit and state highway projects, officials have said.

That decision was opposed by the union, by some Port Authority riders and by many local leaders. They argued for retaining current schedules, even if it meant spending the entire one-time extra state allotment before June 30, the end of the Port Authority's fiscal year. Such a move would create a transit crisis and force legislators to act, they said.

The cuts in service taking effect today are designed to keep the Port Authority's transit system operating without more drastic changes until state officials agree on a permanent funding source, Mr. Bland said. He said he understood the passion of those who oppose the service reductions, but the board's decision offers riders "consistency and stability of service."

Mr. McMahon wasn't buying it. "There will be massive confusion on Monday morning and all next week," he predicted.