How is traffic at the Fort Pitt tunnel in the afternoon (inbound)? (Carnegie: home)

[DomerJen]

I'm trying to decide whether to take the T or drive downtown tonight for a holiday party. I'll have both of my children with me. On the one hand, the T is nicer for having access to them (they are both rear facing, and I have a newborn who can be fickle in the car) and my toddler loves to ride trains. On the other hand, the T only runs every 30min at night - I don't want to sit at the station if we accidentally miss a train for 30min.

How is traffic going to be on Banksville Rd and through the tunnel around 5/5:30? Better than morning traffic? It took us 30min one morning, and if it's more than that we'll probably just do the T.

Also, and tips/suggestions on evening parking downtown? The event is near Grant and 4th.

[fleetiebelle]

Banksville doesn't get really backed up in the evenings, though it's usually slow on the Parkway before the tunnels. The good thing is that you'll be merging into the mess at the last possible opportunity, so it will really only slow you down for a minute or two.

[Scott2187]

Banksville road shouldn't be too bad during the afternoon rush. You will hit some traffic right before the tunnels, but it won't be awful.

[youngabe]

Yeah, Banksville to the tunnel won't be terrible. Lately though, the Parkway West from Robinson to the tunnel is one big congested mess though during the evening rush. It has been generally slow or heavy congestion from before Montour Run to the tunnel lately. Sucks, sucks, sucks.

[Geeo]

Lots of parking available inthe Fourth and grant vicinity: the Macy's garages along Smithfield, the Oxford Center garage, and another city garage on Fourth between Wood and PPG Place. My favorite is the huge First Avenue garage off of Second Avenue behind the PNC operations center. Always has space. Wherrever you end up, make sure it's a Parking Authority garage - they're cheaper than the private ones. Although I'm not sure if the free weekend parking will be in effect tonight.

[Scott2187]

Originally Posted by youngabe

Yeah, Banksville to the tunnel won't be terrible. Lately though, the Parkway West from Robinson to the tunnel is one big congested mess though during the evening rush. It has been generally slow or heavy congestion from before Montour Run to the tunnel lately. Sucks, sucks, sucks.

I did that every day for a few months when I interned for USAir and lived in Oakland. I've sat a few times from where business 60 (now 376) merges back onto the parkway until the tunnel. At that time, it was due to a lot of construction at the Campbell's run/I-79 interchanges. There are back roads you can take around that mess into Carnegie, but I don't know road names.

Note: The absolute worst driving day ever is when the Fort Pitt tunnels had a bomb threat. It took 3 hours to get home that day.

[DomerJen]

I've never gotten downtown so quickly as I did tonight! Banksville Rd heading home at 5:20 did not look so fun, though.

Thanks!