North Shore Connector: Positives (Philadelphia, Manchester: 2013, living, shop)

[Impala26]

I'm curious to see what those on this board think about the proposed plans for an East End "rapid bus" system that would be initially be composed of the 61, 71, 500, and 28X bus routes and would have a "trunk line" along Fifth Ave (possibly Colwell Ave through Uptown) starting in Downtown and would end near the Cathedral of Learning.

Personally, I think if done right, the project could be wonderful and be a great boost to the East End. I think it could be a great mid-term solution to the spine line issue, because who knows if that project will ever come to fruition. The problem I foresee is PAT not delivering it as it has been envisioned elsewhere in the world. The busways might serve as living testament to that, as in one report as I heard Pittsburgh's busway stations as described as little more than glorified bus stops rather than actual transit stations as classified by the rest of the world. The idea for this rapid bus apparently is to make it operate like a light rail with well-spaced "stations", off-board payment, real time schedules, high-platform boarding, "branded" buses and stations, more designated lanes, and potentially traffic signal priority.

I think we all would rather see the spine line light rail completed, but in a world of limited funding, this plan might work out fine... if implemented correctly, and that's a big if.

What are your thoughts on this? I believe there's an open forum meeting scheduled to discuss this sometime in September.

[BrianTH]

I think you have it exactly right--Rapid Bus could be great, but if not executed properly could be a big disappointment. And unfortunately, proper execution will require some cash--not Spine Line cash, but tens of millions. Right now the state is making that kind of investment impossible.

Edit: Oh, and I hope we keep putting in requests for Rapid Bus funding from the feds. It fits lots of the competitive programs that have been going by.

[neurodistortion]

With the North Shore Connector, in the event that it does get expanded, I can possibly see a segment of it running alongside the Route 65 corridor through the communities of Brighton Heights, Bellevue, Ben Avon, Emsworth and Sewickley, basically all the communities that border the Ohio. If they wanted to extend towards the airport, they could theoretically build a new crossing over the Ohio or use the existing Sewickley Bridge and then continue through Moon Township to the airport, although I would rather see a direct high-speed rail connection to Downtown Pittsburgh from the airport rather than have it built as an extension of the existing light-rail system. As for the northern suburbs, they could possibly expand the tunnel due north just before the westernly turn towards the PNC Park station, heading beneath the National Aviary and Allegheny Center, and continuing on towards Allegheny General Hospital where a station would be built nearby. Following the station, the rail would run at street level, roughly along the Route 19 and the I-279 corridors with stops in various North Side neighborhoods and north towards West View and Ross Township. The struggling Northway Mall could perhaps be revitalized if a new northern terminus/park and ride lot is built on that spot.

[bbrian12]

i wonder if the tunnel monster will make an appearance in the new tunnels or just stick with the ft. pitt, liberty and sq. hill tunnels

[pman]

North Shore Connector Project Nearing Completion « CBS Pittsburgh

[Blackbeauty212]

^^^ I really have a feeling the NEC is going to be the catalyst that Kicks things into high gear with Filling in Residential living on the North Shore.

[Craziaskowboi]

Hmmm, it's $10M under budget?

[BrianTH]

Seeing it emerging in person, I think the Gateway station is going to look very cool, and really fit well into that spot. And I agree the North Shore is basically just waiting for the NSC to get finished so it can start developing again.

Oh, and construction costs are relatively cheap these days (we really should be building more public works while costs are low, construction workers are otherwise unemployed, and borrowing costs are minimal).

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

...construction costs are relatively cheap these days (we really should be building more public works while costs are low, construction workers are otherwise unemployed, and borrowing costs are minimal).

Eh, who needs infrastructure and public works when you got puppet theaters, turtle tunnels, shrimp on treadmills, and research studies on the correlation between self-esteem and penis size in gay men to worry about first!

[pman]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

^^^ I really have a feeling the NEC is going to be the catalyst that Kicks things into high gear with Filling in Residential living on the North Shore.

it should benefit the casino area and allegheny west in particular. pnc is already so close to downtown that I don't know if it much matters (until it goes to the east end)except it may be what the city needs to push for more development. gateway station does look attractive.

plus the city needs this to work if it ever wants to do more. and what's not to like about living across from PNC?
one note on the construction, it's under the revised budget. I believe the original budget also included a tunnel to penn station.