Public Review Underway for Pittsburgh BRT Proposal

Melissa Daniels reports on the current state of the planning effort underway to connect Pittsburgh with the enclave of Oakland by way of a bus rapid transit (BRT) line.

"Plans for a proposed bus rapid transit system — known as BRT — between the neighborhoods continue to crystallize. The city is hosting public meetings Tuesday and Wednesday to hear opinions and answer questions related to the project and corresponding Uptown development along the Fifth-Forbes corridor. The meetings are required as part of an environmental review process for federal funding applications scheduled to be filed next year."

The article provides an introduction to BRT for the uninitiated and also presents arguments from project supporters and at least one local transit advocate who expresses skepticism about "whether those improvements would require a complete infrastructure overhaul or less costly options, such as dedicated bus lanes and stations." One thing everyone agrees on, the route has the potential to impact a lot of transit riders and neighborhoods.

Last Planetizen heard about the project was that it was proceeding too slowly, having been proposed over five years ago by a Port Authority of Allegheny County consultant, so the forward movement on exploring the idea is notable.