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Pittsburgh Transit Blog
Topic Started: Aug 27 2009, 06:50 PM (21,945 Views)
Tritransit Area
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Jayayess1190
Sep 26 2012, 03:48 PM
Hearings scheduled on Downtown-East End rapid bus plan

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Groups pushing for development of faster bus service linking Downtown, Oakland and the East End will hold four meetings starting this week to gather public input.

More than 30 diverse organizations support creation of a bus rapid transit system, which has been described as comparable to a light-rail line but with much lower development costs. The Port Authority currently is studying options for such a system.

The upcoming meetings will include discussion of possible route alignments, stations and street configurations and a film clip will show how the system would operate.

In bus rapid transit, extra-long buses operate between above-ground stations that are farther apart than typical bus stops. The vehicles usually run on dedicated bus lanes, with priority at traffic signals. Patrons pay fares in the stations, and screens display real-time information about the next arrivals.

A rapid bus line developed in Cleveland has been credited with sparking $4 billion in development along its path. The Pittsburgh project has received endorsements from Pittsburgh and Allegheny County government officials, Oakland universities and hospitals, and organizations including Sustainable Pittsburgh and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.


This has been in the works since I first got to Pittsburgh in 2009!
I find it amazing that this city so quickly dismisses the THREE limited access busways that it operates, which puts most if not all of these "BRT" projects in the US to shame.

At the same time, a limited stop service definitely would be great for that side of town. At the same time, where would/could a Light Rail Line operate in this area that doesn't just run on the street and could connect with the other lines underground and to Allegheny Station?
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Jayayess1190
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^Originally the East Busway could have been light rail, and it would have gone underground at Penn Station. As for now, I really don't know where a light rail line would go, there is no room on the street. It would have to be elevated.
Edited by Jayayess1190, Oct 1 2012, 03:23 PM.
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ctrabs74
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Oct 1 2012, 12:06 PM
I find it amazing that this city so quickly dismisses the THREE limited access busways that it operates, which puts most if not all of these "BRT" projects in the US to shame.

At the same time, a limited stop service definitely would be great for that side of town. At the same time, where would/could a Light Rail Line operate in this area that doesn't just run on the street and could connect with the other lines underground and to Allegheny Station?
Don't forget Fifth Avenue outbound from Downtown to Oakland, which is a de-facto busway (no other vehicles permitted), or more accurately, a contra-flow bus only lane (the other lanes on Fifth is one-way inbound).
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Jayayess1190
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Experts say Pittsburgh transit system has potential

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Pittsburgh has the ingredients for a "smart" transportation system but a ways to go to get there, a panel of visiting experts said Friday.

Much more can be done to compile and share such transportation data as traffic volumes, transit schedules and parking availability, which can be valuable to city planners for big-picture development decisions or the average Joe trying to figure out the fastest way home on a Tuesday evening.


Pittsburgh eliminates two light-rail stops

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Sharlene McCombs scowled on Friday afternoon as Port Authority of Allegheny County crews worked to remove concrete islands at two former light-rail stops along Broadway Avenue in Beechview.

Port Authority in June closed the stops and nine others in an effort to make its T system run more efficiently. That didn’t appease some riders who lost convenient stops adjacent to their homes and businesses.
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Jayayess1190
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Tonight was Pittsburgh's Light Up Night. It is basically the start of the holiday season in the city. There are ice carvings, the skating rink opens, and more. There are also fireworks. I saw the fireworks from the North Side, took the T there and back. First, going there it seemed like the train moved the fastest I ever experienced going to the North Shore. Very few stops for signals. Coming back was different. We passed up Wood Street and Steel Plaza because the first car was full. So we were express from Gateway to First Ave. This was a Blue Line to Library. People were cursing as we passed the stations, even heard a " you". I was in the second car and there was room for people.

Crazy. Also when we pulled into First Ave, the driver made a very Pittsburgh announcement complete with "Yinz".
Edited by Jayayess1190, Nov 17 2012, 12:06 AM.
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