The Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing Thursday at 10 a.m. on the economic impact of public transit cuts. State Representatives Dan Deasy and Matt Smith, both Democrats representing districts in Allegheny County, will co-chair the hearing.

"We have heard from many constituents on how the proposed cuts to the Port Authority will impact them, but the outcry from area businesses has greatly increased in recent months," Smith said. "They are being hit from both sides with reduced accessibility for customers and employees."

Under the proposed cuts that would be effective Sept. 2, weekday service to many neighborhoods would reduced or eliminated. The cuts would also eliminate the Collier Garage located off Route 50 near Bridgeville.

"In order for continued regional economic growth to occur, we must ensure that we have an effective and broad-reaching public transit system. Hearing from local businesses and experts on how we address our mass transit crisis will be invaluable as we move forward on this crucial issue," said Deasy.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and officials from Green Tree Borough, the Port Authority of Allegheny County, Amalgamated Transit Union, area non-profit organizations and numerous area property managers and businesses are scheduled to testify.

The public hearing will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the council chambers of the Green Tree Municipal Center at 10 W. Manilla Ave. For more information, see the Port Authority website.

This story originally appeared on Brookline-Dormont Patch