Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Effective October 1, 2026
When you visit PRT’s website (including rideprt.org and all other PRT websites and subdomains) or use our mobile apps or services such as ReadyFare®, Ready2Ride® TrueTime® and Aira®, you share your personal information with us in various ways.
This Privacy Policy explains how Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) collects, manages, shares, and protects your personal information. It also describes the tools and options available to you for managing that information.
This policy applies to PRT’s websites, mobile apps, web services, the collection of personal information associated with reduced fare or paratransit services, and any sites or products that display these terms. Together, these are referred to as our “Services.”
If the terms, conditions, or privacy policy of another PRT website, subdomain, or application conflict with this Privacy Policy, this Privacy Policy takes precedence.
Below, you’ll find our full Privacy Policy, with a summary at the beginning of each section. These summaries are provided for your convenience and to help you find the information you’re looking for.
We strongly recommend reviewing the full policy to learn how we use and manage your personal information and what options are available to you.
By using our Services, you understand and agree to our use of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.
For more information about the terms associated with PRT’s Services, please review our Terms of Use.
This Privacy Policy covers:
Section 1 - Introduction to our privacy practices
Section 2 – Information we collect
Section 3 – How we use your personal information
Section 4 – When and why we share your personal information
Section 5 – How we protect your information
Section 6 – SMS and mobile text messaging
Section 7 – Your choices and privacy options
Section 8 – Our Do Not Track policy
Section 9 – Other important information
Section 1 - Introduction to Our Privacy Practices
Section 1 Summary: PRT operates a variety of online and electronic services to further our mission of providing a safe, reliable, and customer-friendly transit system. We collect personal information in various ways through our Services. We protect your personal information and generally do not share it with unaffiliated third parties, including federal, state or local law enforcement bodies or entities, except as described below.
PRT operates public transportation services in the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania area.
As part of PRT’s statutorily created purpose and mission to provide a transit system that is safe, reliable, and customer friendly, PRT offers various services, including our websites, mobile apps, and other electronic offerings comprising our Services.
Some Services require you to provide personal information directly, such as your name and contact information. Other Services automatically collect information from your device, such as geolocation and browser information.
We take commercially reasonable efforts to protect your personal information. We will only provide it to third parties (1) as stated in this Privacy Policy; (2) to provide you with Services or products you order; or (3) as permitted or required by law.
What is “personal information”?
For purposes of this Privacy Policy, the term “personal information” means information that alone or in combination with other information in our possession, can identify you individually.
Your personal information may be collected when you
use our Websites;
use PRT’s mobile apps or web services, including Ready2Ride® or TrueTime®;
use a ConnectCard® or ReadyFare® electronic fare card or ticket;
tap a registered fare card on PRT vehicles or use credit, debit or mobile pay applications at station fare vending machines;
apply for reduced fare or paratransit services; or
make a purchase from PRT’s merchandise store, to the extent that PRT offers such a store now or in the future.
This Privacy Policy does not apply to information collected by third parties, including transportation providers funded through the PRT-sponsored ACCESS paratransit program.
Your use of those third-party services is subject to the privacy policies of those third parties.
Section 2 – Information We Collect
Section 2 Summary: We collect personal information when you interact with PRT through our Services. Some information, such as location information, device details, and cookie data, is transmitted to us automatically when you use our Services. Aggregate and non-personal information that cannot be used to identify you individually helps us deliver relevant and responsive services. This Privacy Policy does not restrict how we use that non-identifiable information.We do not knowingly collect personal information from users under the age of 13 without consent from a parent or legal guardian.
2.1 Account Information
When you, or someone acting on your behalf like an employer, educational institution, or the PRT Customer Service Center, apply for Services or create an account with PRT, we may require you to provide your name, email address, mobile number, address, or birthday.
You will then create a username and password and provide related information that allows us to confirm your identity during subsequent visits and make it easier to use our Services.
Additional information, including health-related or financial information, may be required to take advantage of certain free and/or reduced fare or paratransit Services that PRT offers or sponsors.
2.2 Payment Card Information
When you buy fares or products, or load your ReadyFare® or ConnectCard ® card through the Services, you will be asked to provide payment card details.
PRT uses a third-party payment processor to handle payment card transactions. PRT does not store or process your payment card information for ReadyFare® purchases, but some encrypted payment card information is temporarily stored for certain ConnectCard® purchases.
2.3 Social Media
We may collect personal information about you from third parties, such as online social networks if you take part in a forum or follow PRT on social media platforms.
We may also collect personal information when you click “Share This” or “Like” buttons; use social media buttons or plugin-ins; or refer to PRT using hashtags.
Personal information collected by a third party, such as a social networking site, is handled according to that third party’s privacy practices and not this Privacy Policy.
2.4 Third Party Advertising
PRT uses certain third parties to promote our Services and provide advertising on our behalf through the internet.
These third parties may use cookies to collect information about your visits to our website or use of our apps, as described in Section 2.7 Cookies and Web Beacons.
They also may use information about your visits to our website and apps to serve targeted advertisements that are relevant to you. Those advertisements may appear on other sites that you visit.
2.5 Interacting with PRT
You may provide personal information when you interact with PRT.
For example, when you contact PRT by email, we collect your email address and any other personal information you provide. When you subscribe to one of our electronic newsletters, you must provide your name and a valid email address. If you participate in a PRT promotion, you may be required to provide certain contact information. You may provide your address, telephone number and organizational affiliation. If you participate in a voluntary survey, you may choose to provide demographic information. If you apply online for a job with PRT, we collect personal information such as your name, address, resume details and other employment-related information you provide.
Applicant information is used only by PRT for consideration of your employment.
2.6 Using the Services
PRT collects certain information automatically when you use the Services.
For example, if you use our TrueTime® real time information system, your device’s geolocation information may be collected, if location services are enabled on your device, so that we can alert you when your bus, train or streetcar is arriving. Additionally, when you tap a ReadyFare® fare instrument on a PRT vehicle validator, certain geolocation information is gathered and stored to track the fare validator’s location.
This geolocation information is encrypted, with the exception of ReadyFare® validator geolocation data, and generally not subject to public records requests.
We also receive the internet protocol (IP) address of your computer, mobile-device or the proxy server or router you use to access the internet; operating system details; type of web browser you use; mobile device details, including your mobile device identifier provided by your mobile device operating system; and search data.
We use this information to provide a streamlined user experience and ensure the security of the Services.
2.7 Cookies and Web Beacons
We may automatically collect certain information through the use of “cookies.”
Cookies are small data files stored on a user's computer or device when they visit a website. Cookies send information back to the originating website on each subsequent visit or to another website that recognizes that same cookie.
Cookies can store certain information,including customer preferences such as language and navigation history.
We may use cookies to combine personal information collected automatically with data, including personal information, previously stored from other interactions with our website or app and third-party sites.
We examine metrics such as which pages you visit; which features you use; which links you click; which resources you view; the performance of our marketing efforts; and your response to those marketing efforts.
This allows us to offer relevant and useful information to users of our Services.
If you wish to opt out of allowing certain cookies, you may change your browser settings so that cookies from our website cannot be set.
Please note that if you delete, block, or otherwise restrict cookies, or use a different computer or internet browser, you will need to renew your cookie-management choices.
2.8 Aggregated and Anonymized Information
PRT collects certain information that is aggregated and anonymized, including statistical information about how users as a whole access and interact with the Services. Examples include which Service features and web pages are most frequently accessed; which bus and rail lines are most frequently used; how many people open our newsletters; and which technical issues affect our users.
This aggregated and anonymized information cannot be used to identify you individually and is not considered personal information.
This Privacy Policy does not limit how PRT may use aggregated and anonymized information.
2.9 Information from Children Under 13
PRT complies with the requirements of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) and the Federal Trade Commission’s rule interpreting COPPA (16 CFR § 512).
The Services are not directed at individuals younger than age 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information through the Services from anyone under 13 without consent from a parent or legal guardian.
If we learn that we have personal information of an individual under age 13 has been provided to us without parental or legal guardian consent, we will delete that information from our databases.
Section 3 – How We Use Your Information
Section 3 Summary: By using our Services and providing your personal information, you give us permission to collect and use that information as described in this Privacy Policy. We use your personal information to communicate with you and to provide, develop and customize our Services. For example, if you use our online trip planner, we may use your location to guide you to the nearest transit stop. We may also combine information we receive from one service with information provided through another service. For example, if you contact us from an email address we have on file, that communication may be added to your user profile.
3.1 Submission to PRT
When you provide personal information to PRT, either when you create or update your account or interact with our Services, you agree to our use and processing of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.
You can update your preferences associated with our use of your personal information by changing your account settings; closing your account; and/or deleting the Apps from your device or devices.
Any personal information PRT collected before you changed your preferences or deleted your account will be retained in accordance with PRT’s data retention policies and applicable laws.
3.2 Communications from PRT
We communicate with you through email; notices posted through the Services; mobile text messages, when you opt in; push notifications, when enabled by you; and other means available through the Services.
Examples of these communications include:
Service communications
Informing you how to use the Services, including new features; alerting you about the availability of Services and transit systems; confirming purchases; and providing information about other issues related to our Services.
You cannot opt out of receiving service messages from us.
Promotional communications
Sharing information about PRT’s products and services, including notifying you that you may be eligible for certain benefits.
Response communications
Responding to an inquiry from you through the Services, social media or other channels.
3.3 Providing, Developing and Customizing the Services
PRT uses your personal information to provide you with the Services you have requested.
For example, if you sign up for an electronic newsletter, we use your name and email address to send you the newsletter. If you use our trip planning features, we may use your location information. If you provide feedback to PRT customer service representatives, we may use that information to improve features of the Services.
We also use this information to track potential problems and trends and to customize our support responses to better serve you.
PRT may combine personal information you provide through your various interactions with PRT and PRT’s service providers to provide a more customized and relevant experience. For example, if you contact us from an email address we have on file, we may make a note of that communication in your customer profile.
When you register for a Service, PRT uses your personal information to set up your account.
Section 4 – How We Share Your Information
Section 4 Summary: We do not sell, rent or disclose personal information to any unaffiliated third parties, except in the limited circumstances described below, including service providers, transportation partners, and recipients who are entitled to the information for legal or safety reasons.
We do not share your personal information with federal, state or local law enforcement agencies unless we receive a signed judicial warrant, subpoena or other judicially signed order requiring us to do so.
4.1 Service Providers and Transportation Partners
PRT may share personal information with service providers and transportation partners that assist PRT in providing, improving and marketing the Services.
For example, PRT may engage an email service provider to manage our electronic newsletters and promotional communications; a technology company to build software or apps; a payment processor to process purchases or to reload transit fare cards; or an analytics provider to study user habits to help improve PRT’s transit system.
PRT may also share your personal information with transportation partners to provide you with a service you requested through a partnership or promotional offering made by a third party or by PRT.
These third parties have limited access to your personal information and may use it only to perform these tasks on our behalf.
4.2 Disclosures Required by Law or for Compliance Reasons
Except as described in this Privacy Policy, PRT will not sell or disclose your personal information, including to federal, state or local law enforcement agencies, for any other purpose without your prior written consent or authorization unless there is a legal requirement requiring the disclosure.
Examples of legal requirements include a statute; a court order; or judicially signed and issued warrant; a subpoena; or another judicial order.
PRT may release or use personal information in connection with (a) legal proceedings or contemplated legal proceedings that directly relate to that personal information, including instances of fraud or suspected fraud and/or misuse of our website or our apps; or (b) in response to a judicially signed and issued warrant, subpoena or other judicial or court order specifically requesting the information.
If there is a threat of imminent harm to you or others, PRT may also release personal information to prevent or mitigate the threat.
In any such case, PRT will seek to limit the scope of the disclosure; restrict the disclosure to appropriate authorities; and disclose only the personal information reasonably required to fulfill the purpose of the disclosure.
Section 5 – How We Protect Your Information
Section 5 Summary: We understand your security concerns and strive to take appropriate precautions to protect your personal information. However, because the internet is inherently vulnerable, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
We take commercially reasonable precautions to protect your personal information from unauthorized or unlawful access or destruction.
For example, we encrypt certain communications through our Services.
However, no method of transmission over the internet or form of electronic storage is 100 percent secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your personal information.
If you have questions about the security of our Services, you can email customerservice@rideprt.org or contact PRT’s Customer Service Department at 412-442-2000 during the Customer Service Department’s operating hours.
Section 6 – SMS and Mobile Text Messaging
You can sign up to receive automated service alerts by setting up an account through TrueTime® on the Ready2Ride® app or on the TrueTime® webpage.
You can also receive one-time service updates through the PRT Text Arrivals service by texting certain prompts to 41411. PRT may also use 41412 when necessary, or other short codes that PRT determines are necessary in the future.
By texting requests for service status to PRT through the PRT Text Arrivals service, or by signing up for TrueTime® service bulletins and alerts and providing your mobile phone number, you authorize PRT to send text messages to the phone number you provide.
PRT does not charge for these services, but standard carrier charges for text messaging or data use may apply. Check with your mobile carrier for more information.
Message Delivery
PRT does not guarantee that all alerts or messages will be delivered.
Neither PRT nor any mobile carrier will be liable if alerts or messages are delayed or undelivered.
PRT’s TrueTime® service and PRT Text Arrivals service are provided as-is, and without warranty.
Messaging Frequency and Opting Out
You will receive only one text message in response to each request for an update that you text to 41411 or 41412.
You may receive two or more texts per day for the TrueTime® service bulletin.
You can customize the frequency of service prediction alerts by accessing your account in the TrueTime® app or on the TrueTime® website.
You may opt out of receiving messages at any time by texting CANCEL, QUIT, UNSUBSCRIBE, or similar language to 41411/41412 or by logging into your TrueTime® account and updating your settings.
If you experience difficulty unsubscribing, we can do it for you. Contact us using the information below and specify the phone number you want unsubscribed.
Customer Support
For customer support, please contact PRT via email at customerservice@rideprt.org or by contacting PRT’s Customer Service Department at 412-442-2000 during the Customer Service Department’s normal operating hours.
PRT Text Arrivals messaging is available only on participating U.S. cellular carriers.
Information Collected Through TrueTime® and Text Messaging
When you create a TrueTime® account, PRT collects your name, email address, and phone number.
When you text PRT to request service information, PRT collects your phone number.
PRT does not sell, rent, or share information collected from you in connection with service information or TrueTime® with third parties, except as specifically provided for in this Privacy Policy.
When you use TrueTime® or ReadyFare®, PRT may collect information about the computer or mobile device you use to access these services, including the hardware model; operating system and version; unique device identifiers; and mobile network information.
PRT may also collect data about the precise location of your device, but only after receiving your express consent.
After you have consented to PRT’s collection and use of your precise location, you may change or revoke that consent through the location-services preferences on your device.
Updating or Deleting Your Information
You may update, correct, or delete personal information about you at any time by logging into your online account; emailing PRT at customerservice@rideprt.org; or by contacting PRT’s Customer Service Department at 412-442-2000 during its normal operating hours.
If you wish to delete or deactivate your account, please contact PRT at customerservice@rideprt.org or by contacting PRT’s Customer Services Department during its normal operating hours.
Please note that we may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes.
We may also retain cached or archived copies of information about you for a certain period of time consistent with PRT’s record-retention policies.
Section 7 – Your Privacy Choices
Section 7 Summary: We offer various ways to opt out of certain information sharing and communications. PRT also does not utilize, and has no plans to utilize in the future, any type of facial recognition technology for our website, our apps or otherwise on PRT’s public transit system.
7.1 Updating Your Account Information
If you create a ReadyFare® or Ready2Ride® account, you may update or change your information by logging into your account and accessing your profile.
If you create an account for rider news and service updates, you may update or change your information by logging into your account and accessing your profile.
7.2 Opting Out of Communications
If you no longer wish to receive communications from PRT, you can do so in several ways.
Click the “Unsubscribe” link within the promotional email you received. For Apps, follow the instructions in the application to cancel your account.
Communications you have opted into at RidePRT.org
You can change your preferences by emailing customerservice@rideprt.org or contacting PRT’s Customer Service Department at 412-442-2000 during its operating hours.
Text messages
Reply CANCEL, QUIT, UNSUBSCRIBE, or similar language to the applicable text message.
Please note that you cannot opt out of initial or service communications.
7.3 Location
Most mobile devices allow you to turn location services off or disable them.
Turning off location services will prevent real-time location data from being sent to us.
If you turn off location services, not all features of the Services will function.
7.4 Cookies
As described in Section 2.7, if you do not want to receive cookies, you can change your browser settings on your computer or other device.
Please note that certain portions of the Services will not work properly without cookies.
7.5 Contacting PRT About Your Information
You may contact PRT by emailing customerservice@rideprt.org or by contacting PRT’s Customer Service Department at 412-442-2000 during its operating hours to find out what personal information we have about you; or change your personal details.
7.6 No Facial Recognition Technology
PRT does not utilize, and has no plans to utilize in the future, any type of facial recognition technology for PRT’s website; PRT’sapps; or PRT’s public transit system.
Section 8 – Our Do Not Track policy
Section 8 Summary: Some browsers offer a “Do Not Track” (“DNT”) privacy preference. PRT’s Website does not currently respond to DNT signals.
Some browsers offer a “Do Not Track” (“DNT”) privacy preference. Generally, when a user turns on the DNT signal, their browser sends a message to websites requesting that the user not be tracked. PRT’s Website does not currently respond to DNT signals.
Section 9 – Other Important Information
Section 9 Summary: We cannot control the privacy practices of any third-party websites to which we may provide links. Please review those companies’ privacy policies and terms carefully. We will notify you if we make significant changes to this Privacy Policy.
PRT is an Allegheny County, Pennsylvania-based transit system, our services are not intended to be accessed from outside the United States. PRT is not subject to many privacy laws of other states.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact customerservice@rideprt.org or PRT’s Customer Service Department at 412-442-2000 during its normal operating hours.
9.1 Links to Other Websites
The Services may contain links to other sites or services offered by third parties.
PRT is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those other websites or services.
We encourage you to be aware when you leave the Services and to read the privacy notices and terms of use for each website that collects personal information.
This Privacy Policy applies only to personal information collected by or on behalf of PRT.
9.2 Notification of Changes
We may occasionally change this Privacy Policy.
PRT encourages you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how PRT is protecting your information and to monitor changes to the Policy.
If we make material changes in the way we treat your personal information, we will provide notice through the Services or by other means, such as by sending an email to the email address associated with your Services account or by posting details in this Privacy Policy.
Please review these notices carefully.
If you object to any of the changes, please delete the Services from your devices and stop using the Services.
Using our Services after a notice of changes has been communicated to you or published through our Services constitutes consent to the changed terms or practices.
Our current Privacy Policy applies to all information that we have about you through our website and apps.
9.3 Services Provided in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States of America
PRT provides local transit services in the U.S. metropolitan area of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The Services are not intended for users based outside this region and, specifically, outside the United States. If you reside outside the United States, you acknowledge that your personal information is processed within the United Statesand agree to the processing described in this Privacy Policy.
9.4 Applicable Laws
PRT is an agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a public body. As such, PRT is not subject to certain U.S. state privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act.
9.5 Contact Information
If you have questions about anything in this Privacy Policy, email PRT at customerservice@rideprt.org or call PRT’s Customer Service Department at 412-442-2000 during its normal operating hours.