Pittsburgh Fantasy Subway System (Harrisburg, Wilkinsburg: employment, neighborhoods, cost of)

[ML North]

I would add that the North Side neighborhoods seem to be somewhat under served. I see that the South Hills is also excluded, but I'm assuming that you're taking credit for the current T lines.

Also, while on the subject of commuter rail, I would suggest a line that ran through the northern suburbs, that would be accessible to residents in areas such as Bellevue, West View, Ross Township, McCandless, and perhaps Wexford. A lot of commuters coming from that direction.

In general, though, I think it's a nice start, and I like the idea of the Loop combined with something close to what the Spine Line may have been.

[Tinare]

Originally Posted by UKyank

What is to be mainly avoided is what I see as the main failing with the current 'T' system, that of it having so many stops & thus goes so slow, that it takes nearly as long to get to the city as does driving at rush hour & much longer at other hours.

If it's a fantasy why not add an extra set of tracks to be used by express trains that could bypass some stops at certain times.

[ctoocheck]

Also, I doubt the Schenley station could get enough traffic to be justifiable. Other stops aren't that much further. I'd have the grenn line diverge from the red at North Oakland.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by ctoocheck

Also, I doubt the Schenley station could get enough traffic to be justifiable. Other stops aren't that much further. I'd have the grenn line diverge from the red at North Oakland.

Yea, good point......North Oakland could be a large junction station with transfers available to all the lines. Duly edited & updated

[airwave09]

Originally Posted by UKyank

A friend of mine who is a consultant for transportation systems asked this evening that if Pittsburgh had virtually unlimited funds & was able to build a full service subway system what should it look like. I came up with this messing around: Pittsburgh Fantasy Subway System - Google Maps as a quick draft - any suggestions, critiques or otherwise are appreciated before I send it off to him to rip apart. Thanks

I like it! The Blue Loop would immediately become one of the heaviest used corridors in the U.S., there is no doubt in my mind.

In fact, it would be a crime if a loop like that line wasn't at least on a drawing board somewhere just waiting for the right time, money and interest to come into being.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by UKyank

the whole endeaver was basically trying to provide at least somewhat convenient access to most areas of the city while at the same time having as few stops as possible so that the train could get from one end of the city to the other as quickly as possible

That makes sense, and seeing the new map it occurred to me your way has a much more direct connection roughly N-S from Lawrencville/Bloomfield down to Oakland/South-Side. So I think it looks good! In fact now I might even bend the blue line back west one more stop (to North Oakland).

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by ML North

I would add that the North Side neighborhoods seem to be somewhat under served.

I agree . . . I'd at least suggest sending the red line over to Manchester for its termination, maybe with a stop in between.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Thanks, I took most of your suggestions into account & did some reworking. Shadyside can be a junction. I didn't however want to run the blue line all the way out to East Liberty as I think the Red Line services it enough.....the whole endeaver was basically trying to provide at least somewhat convenient access to most areas of the city while at the same time having as few stops as possible so that the train could get from one end of the city to the other as quickly as possible

I've long thought the intersection of Centre and Negley and Baum would make a great subway stop (didn't know others thought in these terms).

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I agree . . . I'd at least suggest sending the red line over to Manchester for its termination, maybe with a stop in between.

That goes mainly to my ignorance of the northside apart from the northshore & mexican war street areas as I havent explored the northside that much.... I am afterall seperated from there by not 1, but 2 rivers n'at
To Manchester it is.

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by UKyank

That goes mainly to my ignorance of the northside apart from the northshore & mexican war street areas as I havent explored the northside that much.... I am afterall seperated from there by not 1, but 2 rivers n'at
To Manchester it is.

West End Bridge cuts your river exposure in 1/2.