Very sad to hear this, I was all for the T extension, but after reading this.... (Pittsburgh: how much, neighborhood)

[raynist]

Sorry if this was posted or discussed already, at work and didn't have time to look:

Port Authority's failures frustrate fans, runners - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Was planning on taking the T down to the game on 5/25, but it seems pointless......

I wonder if they will have extended service for Steeler games, otherwise why build the bridge from the Allegheny station to Heinz field??

[Paint It Pink]

...I was at Saturdays game. It took me a grand total of 6 minutes to WALK across the bridge.

Why the hell would anyone wait 45 minutes to take the T? I could see if it were snowing, raining hard, or so blistering-ly hot... but it was a cool, comfortable 70 degrees.

If you're gonna go to the game, go. And don't worry about the T if that's such a concern. Walk the bridge, it takes just a few minutes.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by Paint It Pink

...I was at Saturdays game. It took me a grand total of 6 minutes to WALK across the bridge.

Why the hell would anyone wait 45 minutes to take the T? I could see if it were snowing, raining hard, or so blistering-ly hot... but it was a cool, comfortable 70 degrees.

If you're gonna go to the game, go. And don't worry about the T if that's such a concern. Walk the bridge, it takes just a few minutes.

If you live near another T stop, it could potentially make more sense to just take the T the whole way, rather than to drive downtown and then walk.

[BrianTH]

The immediate short-staffing issue was obviously just a mistake, and the lack of funding for extended service isn't really a reflection on the infrastructure itself.

Still, I think people need to be realistic about exactly how much peak capacity you can squeeze out of a single light rail line, even with no funding constraints.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

The immediate issue was obviously just a mistake, and the lack of funding for extended service isn't really a reflection on the infrastructure itself.

Still, I think people need to be realistic about exactly how much peak capacity you can squeeze out of a single light rail line, even with no funding constraints.

I think politicians should have been realistic about it and put the new stops in actual residential areas, where a more steady stream of riders can be found. They placed the stations in areas that are conductive to infrequent, but high volume, bursts of riders, even though the system can't handle that very effectively.

That said, even living a 15 minute walk from either of the new stations I have used them a lot more than I expected. Since it's opened I've made 6 round trips, which isn't bad for only a couple months and considering that I don't use it for commuting. It's just too bad that they weren't placed where it could replace more bus commutes to downtown.

[Paint It Pink]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

If you live near another T stop, it could potentially make more sense to just take the T the whole way, rather than to drive downtown and then walk.

Or you could walk for 10 minutes and get to several bus stops, parking garages, or the T stops downtown.

I'm not familiar if all T's now go to the north shore, or if it's a separate line- I haven't been on it yet.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

I think politicians should have been realistic about it and put the new stops in actual residential areas, where a more steady stream of riders can be found. They placed the stations in areas that are conductive to infrequent, but high volume, bursts of riders, even though the system can't handle that very effectively.

That said, even living a 15 minute walk from either of the new stations I have used them a lot more than I expected. Since it's opened I've made 6 round trips, which isn't bad for only a couple months and considering that I don't use it for commuting. It's just too bad that they weren't placed where it could replace more bus commutes to downtown.

This is very true. As nice as it is for us to use the new section for free, building the new section just to PNC, Heinz, etc will mainly encourage use during games and events, and leave it relatively empty most of the time. Commuters give the most revenue, not a surge of riders a couple times a month.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Anyone who has ever been to other transit-heavy cities that are linked to the stadiums know how that can be. Ever tried to get to Fenway on the T in Boston? This is hardly a Pittsburgh issue.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

I think politicians should have been realistic about it and put the new stops in actual residential areas, where a more steady stream of riders can be found. They placed the stations in areas that are conductive to infrequent, but high volume, bursts of riders, even though the system can't handle that very effectively.

Indeed. Unfortunately (or fortunately, I guess), the relevant politicians are all long-gone.

But what we can do now is build the sort of neighborhood around the NSC that it should have gone to in the first place. Not ideal, but not worthless either.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

While we're on the subject of the new T stops, has anyone else noticed that the new north shore T stop smells like a moldy cellar? Do they not have proper ventilation in there or what?