MORGANTOWN — When SkyWest Airlines begins operations out of Morgantown Municipal Airport on Dec. 13, it will mark the end of daily flights to and from Pittsburgh.
The city’s new essential air service carrier will replace service to Pittsburgh with flights to Chicago.
Mountain Line Transit Authority is hoping to pick up what the airport is putting down.
“We’re going to reach out to the airport and make sure they’ve got our Grey Line information. Hopefully, we’ll be able to pick up some more trips that way,” Mountain Line CEO Maria Smith said.
Mountain Line’s Grey Line runs three trips daily from Morgantown to Pittsburgh at 7:48 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. That ride will cost you $15. Two of those – the morning and evening trips – are part of a larger route running from Clarksburg to Pittsburgh.
Complete route information is available at busride.org.
Smith said she’s reached out to Morgantown Municipal Airport Director Jon Vrabel to offer promotional materials and information to be included on the airport website.
Any increased interest in the Grey Line due to the change in flight schedules will bolster an option that appears to be taking off among local commuters.
Through September, 8,863 passengers have climbed aboard the Grey Line so far this year. That’s the highest number through nine months since 2018. Last year, the line saw 9,303 riders for the entire year and was sitting at 5,426 through September.
Transit Authority member Terri Cutright said catching a ride to the front door of the Pittsburgh airport is a lot easier than driving and trying to park there.
“The situation with the [Pittsburgh] airport, the way the parking is right now; it’s horrible. I think we should just offer a reminder to people how easy it is,” she said.
In other Mountain Line news, the transit authority will once again provide free rides on Election Day.
Riders will be able to board all local routes (excluding Grey Line) for free between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. while the polls are open.
If you know your polling location, you can visit busride.org/electiondayrides to find the corresponding bus routes.
