Port Authority Study Calls For More Equitable TOD in Pittsburgh

A study by the Port Authority of Allegheny County warns against displacement of low-income residents and calls for an increased focus on equity in developments around transit stations.

2 minute read

October 28, 2021, 11:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Pittsburgh

Tupungato / Shutterstock

The Port Authority of Allegheny County's "33-page self-evaluation of its five-year-old program to encourage transit-oriented development" concluded that "the agency should do more to make sure that development reaches those who need public transit the most," reports Ed Blazina.

"One of the main goals [of the program] is to increase population density around transportation stations with affordable housing so that those most likely to use transit have easy access, which would improve the quality of life for residents and ridership on public transit." Yet "the study shows that this type of development may be causing gentrification, drawing higher-income residents who don’t necessarily use public transit." 

The study urges the agency to prioritize equity. "It is not simply enough to build housing units adjacent to transit: We must ensure that those who are most dependent on public transit can live and work in these developments and are not displaced as a result of them," the study says. It also "encouraged Port Authority to work more closely with local communities to set zoning requirements and encourage affordable housing to be included in projects close to transit" and reduce parking requirements to make construction more affordable and encourage transit use.

"The agency is in the process of finalizing plans to refurbish three stations over the next few years that could have development benefits on its property and the surrounding neighborhood."

Monday, October 25, 2021 in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

April 28 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

April 28 - The Sacramento Bee