JUST IN. Century III Mall to close. (Pittsburgh, Penn Hills: low income, houses)

[captainmidnight]

I have an idea for something when/if Century III Mall closes up shop:

- Scrap the whole Jefferson - Pittsburgh leg of the Mon-Fayette Expressway, if it hasn't been done so by now.

- Extend the South Busway to the current location of Century III and make it a full blown station (Heck, name it "Century III Station") with ConnectCard machines, information, and a Park and Ride.

- Implement some Transit Oriented Development around Century III Station.

- Rename the Y1 bus route to, "Y1 South Busway - All Stops". It would run pretty much like the P1 route. If there is a ton of ridership, they could a "Y2 South Busway - Century III Station" and it would run similar to the P2.

- Re-route Y45, Y47, and Y49 to enter the Busway at Century III Station. Y46 would become more of a local route and serve all stops along Route 51 including stopping at the Large Park and Ride, which the Y1 would not serve anymore. Y46 would stop at Century III Station and riders could transfer to Y45, Y47, Y49, and Y1 if the rider wants to transfer to the T or go Downtown. Y46 would still enter the Busway at its current location.

Of course none of this will happen, but it is nice to dream.

[Clint.]

Good idea, Bmantz. Easy access to Downtown Pittsburgh would also benefit the residential needs there, which in turn would support any local businesses. Pittsburgh is really the economic engine of the region, and an easy way to get there is essential (usually) for an area to attract residents.

I'm thinking the angle should be a good way to get to Pittsburgh, not necessarily a good way to get from other areas to that part of West Mifflin. Nothing would beat a rail line. I used to ride the T in from SHV and that thing was packed every morning. Packed in a way a bus would not be.

[MissShona]

4.5 years after the original post, Century III is still open.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by bmantz65

I have an idea for something when/if Century III Mall closes up shop:

- Scrap the whole Jefferson - Pittsburgh leg of the Mon-Fayette Expressway, if it hasn't been done so by now.

- Extend the South Busway to the current location of Century III and make it a full blown station (Heck, name it "Century III Station") with ConnectCard machines, information, and a Park and Ride.

- Implement some Transit Oriented Development around Century III Station.

- Rename the Y1 bus route to, "Y1 South Busway - All Stops". It would run pretty much like the P1 route. If there is a ton of ridership, they could a "Y2 South Busway - Century III Station" and it would run similar to the P2.

- Re-route Y45, Y47, and Y49 to enter the Busway at Century III Station. Y46 would become more of a local route and serve all stops along Route 51 including stopping at the Large Park and Ride, which the Y1 would not serve anymore. Y46 would stop at Century III Station and riders could transfer to Y45, Y47, Y49, and Y1 if the rider wants to transfer to the T or go Downtown. Y46 would still enter the Busway at its current location.

Of course none of this will happen, but it is nice to dream.

There was a 2002 proposal to scrap that expressway, spend $2.7 billion on upgrading existing roads (specifically PA 51, 130, 148, 837, 885. & Lebanon Church Road and to run the 'T' from downtown to Oakland, to Century III mall, then out to Turtle Creek. The plan was rejected by the turnpike commission in Nov. 2003.

[Clint.]

Originally Posted by UKyank

There was a 2002 proposal to scrap that expressway, spend $2.7 billion on upgrading existing roads (specifically PA 51, 130, 148, 837, 885. & Lebanon Church Road and to run the 'T' from downtown to Oakland, to Century III mall, then out to Turtle Creek. The plan was rejected by the turnpike commission in Nov. 2003.

Booo! It's the Expressway From Nowhere. Unbelievable. Maybe it's worth revisiting that proposal. If the governor is going to work on some drastic transit overhaul legislation it might be the right time. I'm guessing there are some federal funds behind the Expressway? I wonder if they can be diverted...

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by Clint.

Booo! It's the Expressway From Nowhere. Unbelievable. Maybe it's worth revisiting that proposal. If the governor is going to work on some drastic transit overall legislation it might be the right time. I'm guessing there are some federal funds behind the Expressway? I wonder if they can be diverted...

The unfinished part is the only part that makes any sort of sense (at least the segment that bypasses the squirrel hill tunnel), but regardless I wish they would just make a decision to either scrap the thing or move foward with it once & forall rather then funding continuous studies wasting valuable highway money.

The whole thing has been a 30+ year boondoggle

[neurodistortion]

Has anyone seen the most recent commercials for Century III Chevrolet? Looks like they've finally cut out the part at the end of the jingle where they say "minutes from the mall."

[fleetiebelle]

Not specifically Century III, but the nearby Maxi-Saver Theater is closing: Bargain movie theater Maxi Saver 12 to close - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It was always packed, even though there were always rows of seats roped off and covered in plastic and the heat didn't work half the time.

[Clint.]

According to several of the Facebook comments, the inside rumor is that the building owner declined to renew the lease for the theater company, which is interesting if true.

[Caladium]

I wonder if they means they have other plans for the space? Or were they just sick of rowdy movie goers and gum on the floor?