Commuting from Mt. Lebanon (Pittsburgh, Washington: university, live, rating)

[boucher99]

Can anyone give me some idea of what the drive time would be to commute from Mt. Lebanon to Pittsburgh (specifically Chatham University) in the morning? Thanks!

[robrobrob]

Probably need to say from where in Mt. Lebanon.

[boucher99]

Actually not sure where yet, but looking at a place on Piper Drive, if that helps.

[I_Like_Spam]

Its difficult to say, it depends on when you start out.

An early commute is a lot easier- not only does it back up at the Fort Pitt Tunnels, but about 8 or 8:30 the students and the patients and doctors going to UPMC in Oakland backing up on Forbes Ave. can really make that trip slow going.

If you start out at 7 a.m. you should usually be able to get to Chatham within 30 via Banksville, the Parkway and Forbes and Fifth Avenues.

[PitHoyafan88]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Its difficult to say, it depends on when you start out.

An early commute is a lot easier- not only does it back up at the Fort Pitt Tunnels, but about 8 or 8:30 the students and the patients and doctors going to UPMC in Oakland backing up on Forbes Ave. can really make that trip slow going.

If you start out at 7 a.m. you should usually be able to get to Chatham within 30 via Banksville, the Parkway and Forbes and Fifth Avenues.

You might be better off just taking Washington Rd/West Liberty Rd. through the liberty tunnels, over the bridge, through crosstown boulevard to Bigilow Boulevard-->Baum Boulevard-->Negley-->Fifth. It's how i usually do it from the S. Hills.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by PitHoyafan88

You might be better off just taking Washington Rd/West Liberty Rd. through the liberty tunnels, over the bridge, through crosstown boulevard to Bigilow Boulevard-->Baum Boulevard-->Negley-->Fifth. It's how i usually do it from the S. Hills.

That's sounds like a good alternative for a later commute,-particularly after you make it through the Tubes, to avoid the Oakland mess. The main problem is the lights and traffic on West Liberty are a lot worse than what you would see on Banksville.

When I lived in Shannon in the 90s, and had to go to the city, I always went over Scott Road and down McFarland/Banksville through the Fort Pitt. I thought it was less frustrating and quicker than 88 to 51 or West Liberty.

[Hopes]

If there's a lot of traffic, I'd cut over Mt. Washington and avoid the tubes and tunnels all together.

You could also cut over Mt. Oliver and come down the slopes.

Main route traffic would have to be bad for me to take these alternates though.

I personally prefer the tubes to the tunnels when traveling between downtown and Mt. Lebo.

[ditchdigger]

Originally Posted by PitHoyafan88

You might be better off just taking Washington Rd/West Liberty Rd. through the liberty tunnels, over the bridge, through crosstown boulevard to Bigilow Boulevard-->Baum Boulevard-->Negley-->Fifth. It's how i usually do it from the S. Hills.

Or, the Blvd of the Allies into Schenly Park, catching Forbes by the golf course, and then approach Chatham from the Squirell Hill side. That would bypass Oakland, but the tunnels are still going to be the major headache...

[robrobrob]

What people haven't told you is that this is a pretty rough commute. Proximity to Oakland is the biggest knock on Lebo. Your commute to Chatham is even worse.

[fleetiebelle]

You can also cut through Beechview to Crane to 51, then cut up and over Mt. Washington to hit the Liberty Bridge to either do the Blvd of the Allies or the Bigelow routes.