Pittsburgh Council President Doug Shields said yesterday that he will hold a special council meeting on proposed public transit route cuts, probably on Jan. 18.

He said his Squirrel Hill-centered district alone would lose eight bus routes under a reduction plan outlined by the Port Authority on Wednesday, and employers have complained to him that their workers will have no way to get to their jobs.

"While everybody's looking at some of the issues about cost, and I certainly agree with that," he said, "we also have to understand that mass transit is a key component of economic development."

He said he'll invite Allegheny County, Port Authority, union and economic development officials to the meeting.

Council has no role in governing the Port Authority, but Mr. Shields said such a meeting would help bring the public's concerns to the fore.