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Allegheny County's sewage rates are going way up over the next three years.

Why it matters: Residents are already dealing with high gas prices, persistent inflation and local property tax increases.

The latest: The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) board voted late last month to increase rates in 2027, 2028 and 2029 to keep up with inflation and to finance the agency's federally mandated multibillion-dollar modernization project.

By the numbers: Sewage rates will increase by 14% in 2027.

Those three figures compounded mean rates will be 47.5% higher in 2029 than this year.

Zoom in: The average customer will see a monthly increase of about $8.40 on their bills next year, per ALCOSAN.

Zoom out: ALCOSAN serves 83 municipalities in Allegheny County, including Pittsburgh, Mt. Lebanon and Monroeville.

Flashback: Over the last several years, rates have typically increased each year by about 7%.

ALCOSAN officials said last month the agency is making cuts where they can and exploring federal and state grants that could help avoid future hikes, according to Public Source.

Context: ALCOSAN is still operating on a decades-old sewage system. This leads to billions of gallons of sewage overflow entering regional waterways during storms.

To comply with the federal Clean Water Act and ensure 7 billion fewer gallons enter the watershed per year, the agency is modernizing its system with a $3.7 billion upgrade.

Low-income homeowners under ALCOSAN's service can apply to the agency's Clean Water Assistance Fund to try to lower their bills.

What's next: Rate increases start Jan. 1.

ALCOSAN sewage rates to jump 47.5% by 2029

ALCOSAN approved three years of rate hikes starting in January 2027.

Illustration of a percent sign shooting upwards like a rocket.

Allegheny County&#x27;s sewage rates are going way up over the next three years.Why it matters: Residents are already dealing with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high gas prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/07/10/pittsburgh-gas-spending-pnc" data-vars-content-id="06875730-f028-4838-b7ea-7192eec80293" data-vars-headline="ALCOSAN sewage rates to jump 47.5% by 2029" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/07/10/pittsburgh-gas-spending-pnc" target="_self">high gas prices</a>, persistent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="inflation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/14/cpi-september-inflation-trump" data-vars-content-id="06875730-f028-4838-b7ea-7192eec80293" data-vars-headline="ALCOSAN sewage rates to jump 47.5% by 2029" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/14/cpi-september-inflation-trump" target="_self">inflation</a> and local <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="property tax increases" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/01/16/allegheny-county-property-tax-increase" data-vars-content-id="06875730-f028-4838-b7ea-7192eec80293" data-vars-headline="ALCOSAN sewage rates to jump 47.5% by 2029" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/01/16/allegheny-county-property-tax-increase" target="_self">property tax increases</a>.

News

The space industry is ready to take off, and partners representing Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia want in on the action.

Why it matters: The private sector space industry is attracting billions in investment, so regions across the nation are competing to become the next hub of innovation, manufacturing and investment.

Driving the news: Keystone Space Collaborative convened leaders in the space industry, government officials and business groups at its annual conference in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

What they're saying: The tri-state region is primed to compete with more well-known space powerhouses like Texas, Florida and Huntsville, Alabama, said Kate Rubins, a retired NASA astronaut who was appointed Pitt's Trivedi Institute for Space and Global Biomedicine director earlier this year.

"The demand and opportunity for Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia is already here," said NASA administrator Jared Isaacman. "You know hardware, you know software, and there is no need to wait for somebody in Washington to declare this as a space corridor because you already possess the strength required for missions NASA has been entrusted to achieve."

Speaker at a podium on a blue-lit conference stage, with a large circular Keystone Space Collaborative logo on the curtain and a projection screen to the right displaying slides; empty chairs in front.

Keystone Space Collaborative founder Justine Kasznica spoke at the collaborative's annual conference on Tuesday at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Downtown. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios

Zoom in: Pittsburgh's Astrobotic was acquired by Voyager Technologies in July, and now operates out of the North Side as Voyager Lunar Systems. The company was awarded nearly $300 million to carry out lunar lander missions.

Cleveland's NASA Glenn Research Center acts as one of the collaborative's research bases.

The collaborative is also using research universities like Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, Ohio State and West Virginia University for assistance.

Keystone Space recently partnered with statewide chambers of commerce in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia to boost investment.

By the numbers: The tri-state region has 1,124 space industry firms that have attracted more than $9.5 billion in federal contracts from 2022 to 2026, according to Keystone Space.

Between the lines: Keystone Space Collaborative founder and board chair Justine Kasznica said the region's strength lies in its supply chain with core companies manufacturing space systems, which are supported by research, robotics, engineering and software operations, according to the collaborative.

What we're watching: Kasznica said Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia submitted bids to be the home of the United States Space Academy, a proposed NASA-led academy to "develop a professional corps of civically grounded leaders prepared to advance American interests within the space domain," according to a letter signed by President Trump.

Kasznica said landing Space Academy would be "a transformational opportunity for our workforce," but acknowledged it's highly competitive. 

Several other states have also submitted bids.

What's next: Voyager Lunar Systems is set to launch Griffin Mission One — carrying payloads to NASA's moon base — no earlier than November.

Trivedi Institute for Space and Global Biomedicine

Why Pa. and neighbors want in on the space race

The tri-state region is leveraging 1,124 firms and $9.5 billion in federal contracts.

Illustration of a space rocket exhaust trending up on a grid.

The space industry is ready to take off, and partners representing Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia want in on the action.Why it matters: The private sector space industry is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="attracting billions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/pro/all-deals/2025/07/22/space-exploration-investment-lifts-off" data-vars-content-id="0bc69134-972d-4839-a4f8-3682e45b7e4c" data-vars-headline="Why Pa. and neighbors want in on the space race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/pro/all-deals/2025/07/22/space-exploration-investment-lifts-off" target="_self">attracting billions</a> in investment, so regions across the nation are competing to become the next hub of innovation, manufacturing and investment.

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

Philadelphia

Axios Philadelphia

Welcome to your Election Day cheat sheet.

Why it matters: Control of Pennsylvania's state government is on the line Tuesday, and Pittsburgh could play a part in that shift.

🏆 Top of the ticket: The gubernatorial election is the premier race on the ballot.

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is seeking a second term and is challenged by Republican Stacy Garrity and Libertarian Ken Krawchuk.

Yes, but: Shapiro has held significant leads in both fundraising and polls throughout the campaign.

📌 State races: All 203 seats in the state House are on the ballot and half of the 50 state Senate seats (those in even-numbered districts).

Dems currently hold a majority in the House while the GOP maintains control of the Senate.

🔁 Between the lines: Democrats see a potential opening to flip the Senate and win a trifecta in state government — control of the House, Senate and governor's mansion — for the first time in over 30 years.

👀 Races to watch: Most swing districts are located in the eastern part of the state, but the Pittsburgh area has a few to follow.

State Senate District 46 in Washington County has attracted a bevy of ad spending thanks to an intriguing independent challenge from Jodi Borello in Republican state Sen. Camera Bartolotta's conservative district.

In the Moon area, the state House District 44 contest between Democrat Hadley Haas and Republican state Rep. Valerie Gaydos is the swingiest in the region.

Races in state House District 12 in Cranberry and District 40 in the South Hills should also be on your radar.

🌉 In Allegheny County: Voters also face a ballot question of whether to give County Council members more flexibility to hire staff, open district offices and receive benefits.

🏛️ Congress: All members of the U.S. House are also up for election.

That includes the 12th and 17th Congressional Districts — where Democratic Reps. Summer Lee and Chris Deluzio are heavily favored — and 14th and 16th Districts — where Republican Reps. Guy Reschenthaler and Mike Kelly are also favored.

A handful of congressional races across Central and Eastern Pennsylvania will likely help determine the balance of power in Congress.

📨 Early voting: While many will head to the polls Tuesday in person, more than 1 million mail-in and absentee ballots had already been cast as of Monday, per the Department of State's website.

Of those, Allegheny County contributed over 131,260 as of Monday, the most of any county in the state.

🗳️ How to vote: Polls are open Tuesday between 7am-8pm. Find your polling place here.

Mail-in ballots must be received by election boards no later than 8pm on Election Day, but it's too late to send via the Postal Service.

Turn in your mail-in ballot at the County Office Building at 542 Forbes Ave. Downtown between 7am-8pm Tuesday.

👀 What we're watching: Whether voters will turn out across the state.

The last midterm election with the governor on the ballot in 2022 drew 54% of eligible voters.

Worth noting: Voting complaints can be filed with Pennsylvania's Department of State election department online here or by calling 1-877-VOTES-PA (1-877-868-3772).

significant leads in both fundraising and polls

Election Day in PGH: What you need to know

Here's what to know about key races, polling hours and mail ballots before you vote Tuesday.

Animated illustration of a combination red, white, and blue political campaign button, reading "VOTE," and a compass. The compass needle is blue and spinning.

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

Illustration of an I voted sticker surrounded by fingers pointing in different directions

Welcome to your <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Election Day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/10/19/pennsylvania-voter-guide-shapiro-garrity-state-house-senate" data-vars-content-id="9239234c-e8c5-45ad-b8f2-45e5ae9dd68c" data-vars-headline="Election Day in PGH: What you need to know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/10/19/pennsylvania-voter-guide-shapiro-garrity-state-house-senate" target="_self">Election Day</a> cheat sheet.Why it matters: Control of Pennsylvania&#x27;s state government is on the line Tuesday, and Pittsburgh could play a part in that shift.

Election

Politics

The U.S. Department of Energy believes Cranberry-based Westinghouse can create cheaper nuclear fuel to power the next revolution in nuclear energy.

Why it matters: As electricity demand rises from homes and energy-intensive data centers, federal officials see expanded nuclear energy production as key to meeting the nation's needs.

Driving the news: Department of Energy (DOE) officials visited Cranberry last week and announced $50 million for eight projects across the nation that are advancing nuclear fuel technology.

Westinghouse's PowerBlock program received $7 million to develop nuclear fuel that is made faster and has more flexible uses.

Context: Developing nuclear fuel can take decades, making it more difficult to get new nuclear projects started, said Conner Prochaska, director of DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy department.

The DOE's goal is to help create nuclear fuel projects that can be completed within seven years, said Prochaska.

This could lower the cost of fuel and help spur a boom in nuclear reactor development, said Prochaska.

What they're saying: "This is investing in the next generation of fuel," said Prochaska.

Zoom in: Nuclear fuel demand is twofold, said Westinghouse chief technology officer Lou Martinez Sancho.

New microreactors — like Westinghouse's eVinci and Terra Innovatum's SOLO — are being developed and will need fuel when they're ready for implementation.

Conventional nuclear power plants — like the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station — are outlasting their initial estimated lifespans and will need more fuel to stay operational.

Zoom out: A nuclear revival is underway across the nation, as hyperscale data centers look to nuclear to power their facilities.

Even the controversial reactor at Three Mile Island in Central Pennsylvania is restarting to fuel a Microsoft data center.

The bottom line: Prochaska believes Pittsburgh is "an active center for the nuclear renaissance."

Westinghouse helps fuel nuclear energy revival

A $7 million award could help develop fuel for the next generation of nuclear reactors.

A man in a navy suit speaks at a podium in a conference, with an American flag, a Westinghouse banner, and a large turbine-like machine behind him; several suited panelists sit on stage.

Conner Prochaska, director of DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, speaks at the Westinghouse facility in Etna. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios

The U.S. Department of Energy believes Cranberry-based Westinghouse can create cheaper nuclear fuel to power the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="next revolution in nuclear energy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/06/25/westinghouse-loan-nuclear-reactors" data-vars-content-id="cbde5f7d-c556-4bef-b527-c02b5e2e62c9" data-vars-headline="Westinghouse helps fuel nuclear energy revival" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/06/25/westinghouse-loan-nuclear-reactors" target="_self">next revolution in nuclear energy</a>.Why it matters: As electricity demand rises from homes and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="energy-intensive data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/09/30/data-centers-grid-electricity-costs-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="cbde5f7d-c556-4bef-b527-c02b5e2e62c9" data-vars-headline="Westinghouse helps fuel nuclear energy revival" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/09/30/data-centers-grid-electricity-costs-pittsburgh" target="_self">energy-intensive data centers</a>, federal officials see expanded nuclear energy production as key to meeting the nation&#x27;s needs.

You aren't crazy: There has been more roadwork in Pittsburgh this year.

Why it matters: Road closures cause massive headaches for locals, disrupting commutes and limiting access to businesses and neighborhoods.

The big picture: Every year it feels like there's more roadwork than ever, but this year within the city of Pittsburgh there actually is.

Full road closures during the day on weekdays are up 31% from 2025 and 61% from 2024, according to city data analyzed by Axios.

By the numbers: There have been 2,313 such closures this year through Oct. 23.

There were 1,768 during the same period in 2025, and 1,439 in 2024.

Data: Department of Mobility and Infrastructure data published by The Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center; Chart: Ryan Deto/Axios

Zoom in: South Side Slopes (135), Sheraden (112), Troy Hill (103) and Bloomfield (101) have been hit particularly hard by closures.

Marlow Street in the West End has seen the most (26). They started on Aug. 19 and aren't scheduled to end until Dec. 4.

Penn Avenue had the most of any major thoroughfare, with seven.

Zoom out: It's not just full road closures; parking lane and sidewalk impacts are also high.

Sidewalk obstructions are up 21% compared with last year.

Parking lane obstructions are up 10% compared with last year.

The fine print: Axios looked at public data from the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure on full road closures between 5am-8pm on weekdays within the city of Pittsburgh.

Data from before 2024 lacks details about the daytime road closures, so it wasn't used for a direct comparison.

Yes, but: This year has the most full road closures regardless of time (2,376) than any of the last six years.

DOMI Obstructions Map (Beta) of Pittsburgh with blue lines for partial closures and red lines for full closures; legend on the right, Allegheny River to the left, and a bottom date slider.

The rolling road closures that hit Bloomfield, Lawrenceville, and Polish Hill over the last month. GIF: Courtesy of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure

Friction point: Residents and business owners have noticed.

Kevin Jirachertchoowong, of Thai Cuisine, said business was slower during the weeks crews were working on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield, according to WTAE.

Creative Chem Co. coffee shop celebrated the end of Friendship Avenue roadwork with a humorous spooky-season Instagram post.

What they're saying: City spokesperson Molly Onufer said an influx of funding from the Biden administration infrastructure plan, Pittsburgh Water's work to replace all residential lead pipes, and gas companies replacing old lines have converged for a busy year.

"These are important and much-needed investments in our city's aging infrastructure," said Onufer. "Our teams have also been out meeting with residents and business owners to work with them to alleviate the inconvenience as much as possible."

What's next: Roadwork isn't slowing down.

There are 37 new midday weekday full closures scheduled to start sometime before the end of the year, as well as 283 partial road obstructions.

Sound off: Tell us about how roadwork has impacted you this year. Are you frustrated? Or understanding since it is needed for utility work?

Department of Mobility and Infrastructure data published by The Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center

Pittsburgh Water's work to replace all residential lead pipes

Pittsburgh road closures surge 31% in 2026

City data confirms a sharp rise in weekday road closures, with more work on the way.

Street construction scene with a yellow excavator and workers in safety vests amid rubble. Brick storefronts with striped awnings, tangled overhead power lines, and a clear blue sky.

Roadwork on Friendship Avenue in Bloomfield in October. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios

You aren&#x27;t crazy: There has been more roadwork in Pittsburgh this year.Why it matters: Road closures cause massive headaches for locals, disrupting commutes and limiting access to businesses and neighborhoods.

Ryan Deto

Featured stories

Election Day in PGH: What you need to know

ALCOSAN sewage rates to jump 47.5% by 2029

Westinghouse helps fuel nuclear energy revival

Why Pa. and neighbors want in on the space race

Pittsburgh road closures surge 31% in 2026