Next HUGE transportation project (Pittsburgh, Charleroi: suburb, bike, transit)

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by Lobick

Originally the T expansion was to head further up through the residential neighborhoods, including a station at Federal and North.

The County politicians (R's at the time) redirected the route to better serve their constituents as a means to get to the North Shore entertainment district and specifically Heinz Field.

This usually needs to be re-posted from time to time.

http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsbur...nt?oid=1337712

[captainmidnight]

Originally Posted by Lobick

This usually needs to be re-posted from time to time.

http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsbur...nt?oid=1337712

Yes, that's a good history lesson. Interesting it mentions the Oakland-Hazelwood line via Panther Hollow.

While extending the T to Oakland is the Holy Grail of Pittsburgh transit and it would be great to have, keep in mind these things:

1) The city/region can't afford it by itself. We would need help. The region doesn't really have the tax base to support it since a massive tax increase would probably have to fund this.
2) The state can't pass a budget if their life depended on it, so probably no substantial help from the state.
3) The feds? Well.. House transportation bill keeps funding flat | TribLIVE

Federal transportation budget is set for $325 billion until the year 2021. No increase in funding while most of the nation's transportation infrastructure is crumbling. Included in that figure is a paltry $55 billion for transit. Basically $9 billion a year for the whole country's transit infrastructure. Ridiculous. So no room for ambitious new projects like the T to Oakland.

[Sciulli]

Originally Posted by Lobick

This usually needs to be re-posted from time to time.

http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsbur...nt?oid=1337712

damn! I just moved to the North Side and I work in Oakland. Honestly I don't mind the bus now... takes about 50 minutes to an hour so I get some good reading time in... but it would be nice if there was a T connecting the two.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by Lobick

This usually needs to be re-posted from time to time.

http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsbur...nt?oid=1337712

Reading that again makes me sick.

BS "Spine line is too city focused". Wow. Complete crap

[PIT2MAD]

Originally Posted by bmantz65

Yes, that's a good history lesson. Interesting it mentions the Oakland-Hazelwood line via Panther Hollow

Now that the rail line idea is dead for the foreseeable future, I think we should consider a "busway" along Boundary Street and Neville to connect with the current busway spur.

Neville would have to remain a shared space, with signal enhancements at the intersections and/or some other means to speed up the movement across here, but some upgrades to Boundary and a new section of road that would only allow transit and emergency vehicles through access would be much simpler and cheaper than working with rail.

The lynchpin would be new access to the valley at the bridge near the library to serve Pitt and CMU, as well as other stations at Forbes, Fifth, and Centre. And hopefully we'd see a Schenley Park stop at Panther Hollow Lake with a new connection over the tracks.

This also seems more feasible as a way to serve both PTC and Almono, and if you wanted to run a shuttle that serves the local streets in Oakland you could do that too, and enhancing the Lawn Street stairs (can you even walk to Bates this way?) and recreating the Rock Alley connection (http://www.opdc.org/wp-content/uploa...mary-Sheet.pdf) would all go a long way to connecting this area to the rest of Oakland and beyond.

[PIT2MAD]

Drivers irked by Route 28 traffic since widening | TribLIVE

"PennDOT is doing engineering work to determine what a reconfigured Route 28/Highland Park Bridge interchange would look like with two lanes inbound and outbound.

The goal is to add a second through-lane in both directions.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) includes $500,000 for pre-engineering work for the project. The TIP determines which highway projects get funding."



So the first step is getting this project on the new TIP which comes out in June. The earliest the project could start is 2019.



Meanwhile on the other side of the state:
Navy Yard Subway Extension Update: Funding for New Feasibility Study Secured | News | Philadelphia Magazine

The fact that they are even considering a project like that goes to show they are not afraid of funding big ticket public transit projects. Hopefully in the next few years the wheels get put in motion for one of the sorely needed projects in Pittsburgh to enhance our transit network

[PIT2MAD]

Turnpike to be widened between Irwin, Monroeville exits | TribLIVE

"What is now a four-lane section of the turnpike — which crosses through Monroeville, Murrysville, Penn Township, Manor, Irwin, North Irwin and North Huntingdon — will be expanded to six lanes, each 12 feet wide. Two overhead bridges on Trafford and Harvison roads in Penn Township and several on the turnpike will be replaced. Construction will begin in 2017 and be completed by 2024."

Just another part of the complete rebuild of the mainline turnpike that's been going on recently.

[MountainDewGuy]

Originally Posted by speagles84

Reading that again makes me sick.

BS "Spine line is too city focused". Wow. Complete crap

Wow. You have to be a complete moron to suggest something like the previously proposed "spine line" is too city focused.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by MountainDewGuy

Wow. You have to be a complete moron to suggest something like the previously proposed "spine line" is too city focused.

That is what the article claimed. I am/was pro spine line.

[MountainDewGuy]

Originally Posted by speagles84

That is what the article claimed. I am/was pro spine line.

I wasn't talking about you, just the folks who the article claimed made those comments. How could a rail line be too city focused when there currently is barely any rail presense? That's where the densest areas are located and where the rail will have the highest impact. Sometimes people are mind numbingly stupid.