BRADDOCK, Pa., Sept. 30, 2025 – Nearly 2,500 clients of 15 service-based organizations will benefit from Heritage Community Transportation’s courtesy rider card program.
The recipient organizations were announced last Tuesday at an annual meeting of local government officials.
Launched in 2021, the program provides nonprofits, schools and government-affiliated entities the ability to provide three-month complimentary rider cards to their constituents.
Card holders are entitled to free, unlimited rides on Heritage Community Transportation (HCT) buses, which serve individuals and families in 16 eastern Allegheny County communities, including East Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Monroeville. Riders often use HCT to connect to Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses (PRT).
Heritage Community Initiatives is the only human service nonprofit designated as a provider of public transportation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and plays an important role in the transportation sector. It operates under the same quality standards and compliance requirements as PRT.
Heritage’s courtesy rider card program continues to grow, receiving nearly 30 applications this year. Recognizing the challenges nonprofits currently face, Heritage increased the number of recipient organizations five-fold compared to past years.
Organizations receiving cards this year for distribution to their clients are:
- Allegheny County Housing Authority
- Allegheny Intermediate Unit/East Allegheny Family Center
- Auberle
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania
- Devereux/TCV
- Dress for Success Pittsburgh
- Foundation of HOPE
- Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
- Jeremiah’s Place
- Milestone Centers, Inc.
- Mon Valley Initiative
- North Hills Community Outreach
- PA CareerLink Pittsburgh
- Three Rivers Community, Inc.
- UPMC Children’s Hospital Empowering Teens to Thrive (ET3) Program
“We know that a lack of transportation is often a barrier to people accessing community services, and it can negatively impact their ability to get and keep jobs,” said Paula G. McWilliams, president and CEO of Heritage Community Initiatives. “It is our honor to collaborate with these 15 fellow nonprofit organizations to further help individuals contribute to our economy and support their health and well-being.”
About Heritage Community Initiatives
Heritage Community Initiatives is dedicated to three essential elements of socioeconomic mobility: transportation, education, and nutrition. For more than 40 years, it has been privileged to serve individuals from more than 80 Allegheny County communities. Heritage Community Transportation, a division of Heritage, offers three fixed bus routes with more than 81 stops. To date, Heritage has provided more than1.6 million rides.