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90.5 WESA's collection of stories on race, diversity, LGBT, gender and age-related stories.

Port Authority Promoting Spanish Translation Services

As Allegheny County’s Latino population grows, the Port Authority is trying to make sure non-English speakers can access translation services.

To increase awareness, PAT is launching a campaign with billboards and brochures at bus shelters in neighborhoods with large Latino populations, including Brookline, Beechview and Oakland.

Allegheny County’sLatino population has grown by .3 percent since 2010, or roughly 3,000 people. The Port Authority offers Spanish translation for phone calls, its website and the real-time bus and rail tracker.

“We are proud in Allegheny County to be part of a larger effort to create a welcoming community so that we can maximize opportunities for economic growth, and position this region as a globally competitive, 21st Century leader,” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said it’s important that residents are able to integrate into the social fabric and providing translations enables that.

PAT also launched a webpage in Spanishdescribing how to purchase and use ConnectCards, as well as how to use the public transportation system.

Port Authority officials said the campaign may expand to other languages in the coming year.