The deficit is largely attributable to the expiration of COVID-19 relief funds. Other contributing factors include inflation, rising fuel and power costs, and a decline in ridership that began at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the habitual underfunding of public transportation and other essential services in the eighth largest metropolitan region in the United States.
Same thing here in Pittsburgh. If the funding cuts and subsequent route cuts happen, I’d go from walking about 200ft to a bus stop to over a mile.