First look: Pittsburgh's new bus rapid transit
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Bus driving up its new bus-only lane on Sixth Avenue in Downtown. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios
Bus rides through Downtown are getting a facelift with Pittsburgh Regional Transit's new bus-rapid-transit line.
Why it matters: The first phase opened Sunday, ushering in the region's newest mass-transit project, which should improve bus reliability, speed and riding experience.
🚏 Zoom in: Dubbed the University Line for its connections between several colleges along the route, red bus-only lanes now run on about a 1-mile loop on Sixth, Liberty and Fifth avenues in Downtown.
- That includes five new stations: Ross Street, William Penn, Market Square, Wood Street and Steel Plaza.
- Routes 61A, 61B, 61C, 71B and G2 will run along the entire loop, and the P1 will hit three of the five stations.
- New stations include shelter from the elements and seating, said PRT spokesperson Adam Brandolph.
What they're saying: "You are going from a pole in the ground to a shelter with benches, better lighting and real-time arrival screens later this year when they are installed," Brandolph said.
🚍 Catch up quick: When completed, the $291 million project will provide bus-only lanes on the Fifth-Forbes corridor through Downtown, Uptown and Oakland for an estimated 30,000 daily riders, according to PRT.
- The project will upgrade infrastructure along the way with modern stations, protected bike lanes, and improved pedestrian amenities.
- Spurs beyond Oakland will take buses to several destinations east and southeast of the city, with some buses using the East Busway and others riding on city streets.
- The goal is to improve travel times and reliability in one of the city's most heavily traveled corridors, Brandolph said. Downtown stations should see buses arrive every three minutes during peak weekday hours.
Yes, but: Don't expect bus routes that use the University Line to have faster speeds or more reliable schedules just yet, Brandolph said. With only 1 mile of the project completed, buses will still experience delays due to heavy road construction in Oakland and Uptown.
State of play: In addition to improving mass transit, the project also hopes to encourage development in Uptown, a largely empty neighborhood that has already started seeing development in anticipation of the University Line, Brandolph said.
💭 Ryan's thought bubble: The new shelters kept me and other riders dry as we exited onto Wood Street station during a Sunday morning downpour.
- Added seating is a boon for riders. The Steel Plaza station takes up an entire block, complete with 15 seats that stayed dry through the rain.
What's next: Phase 2 construction is already underway and is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
- It includes 18 additional stations in Uptown and Oakland, new bike lanes, and pedestrian improvements along the corridor.