New report evaluates HSR routes, including PGH's (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: transfer, closing)

[SammyKhalifa]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I'd hope the train would stop both in Downtown and at the airport, thereby providing its own connection.

But if it were an express would "they" necessarily want two Pittsburgh stops? I'd like both, too.

[Scott2187]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I'd hope the train would stop both in Downtown and at the airport, thereby providing its own connection.

I agree with you on that point, but I sometimes think it would be more beneficial having a separate connector from the airport to downtown? I think a lot of business people could use a connector like that for daily travels.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Even if parking could be handled, the added congestion into downtown wouldnt be welcome, so I think an airport stop for the parking & ease of getting to & a downtown stop for the convenience of being downtown are great ideas.

Another thing you could do is beef up the park-and-rides along PAT's rapid-transit system.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Robinson service is pretty important, Brian. If you are in town during the morning, you could see a fair number of people are using Robinson busses to commute to jobs at the big retail and office complex in the Robinson/N. Fayette areas.

Sure, but as you note, you don't need to use the 28X to serve Robinson. In fact, the TDP consultants noted that using buses configured for airport service (with luggage racks and such) was not optimal for serving Robinson.

And I think a fair number of folks in Robinson already need rides to Pittsbugh International.

No, not really. Again when the consultants did the ridership study for the 28X, very little of the ridership was actually going between the airport and Robinson.

The reason they combine these routes is that doing so maximizes ridership per bus and saves a bit of money. But you would get better service both places by separating them, which is why in fact they did separate them originally under the TDP. But then they recombined them when the state slashed their funding, and saving money however they could became the highest priority.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by SammyKhalifa

But if it were an express would "they" necessarily want two Pittsburgh stops? I'd like both, too.

It isn't uncommon for HSR to do a stop in the city center and another stop out in the suburbs of major metros, for some of the reasons we have been discussing. And, of course, you can always schedule some "express" trains that skip some stops.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Scott2187

I agree with you on that point, but I sometimes think it would be more beneficial having a separate connector from the airport to downtown? I think a lot of business people could use a connector like that for daily travels.

We don't really get THAT much traffic between the airport and Downtown, and the 28X (minus the Robinson Loop) is a pretty good service for that purpose--it would be tough to meaningfully beat with anything but heavy rail operating at higher speeds.

[BettyTheHun]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

We don't really get THAT much traffic between the airport and Downtown, and the 28X (minus the Robinson Loop) is a pretty good service for that purpose--it would be tough to meaningfully beat with anything but heavy rail operating at higher speeds.

Yes. Minus the Robinson loop is key. There's definitely enough riders in that loop that would justify its own bus. Plus, it could probably be configured to encompass other ares in Robinson.

And there is potential for increased ridership from the airport. The problem is this psychological barrier that some people have with regards to riding buses. Worked at the airport eons ago, and when asked the best way to get downtown, I would suggest the 28X. This was usually followed with them asking the second best way to get downtown.

[ctoocheck]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

I would like to see Amtrak relocated to a new Station created over on the North Shore somewhere close to the NSC....I think the North Shore is going to be just as central a location as right in the heart of Downtown would be.

In my ideal dream world (well, plus or minus), Pittsburgh's central station would be just south of Allegheny Center. It would be an ideal (hypothetical) site: a fairly long, decently wide swath of land (at present mostly unused, or expendable) right at the junction of major lines going in the most significant directions, and close to (just on the edge) of the "greater" downtown. Plus it would hopefully create a catalyst for development on the Northside.

Of course, a lot of other stuff would have to happen to have the need for such a station. Alas!

[Blackbeauty212]

Here a relevant story.....So much for there not being demand for faster more frequent trains in the Keystone West.....but Amtrak is facing the same dilemma as PAT only on a nation scale.

For its 2012 budget, Amtrak asked Congress for $2.2 billion -- $616 million for operations and $1.6 billion for capital investments and debt payments.

A House Appropriations subcommittee this month recommended cutting Amtrak's operating grant to $227 million -- an amount Amtrak officials warned could be catastrophic.

Amtrak at crossing: Increasing ridership, declining funding - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

"If I get back on the board, you'll see train sets ordered real fast and a Pittsburgh airport train station on track," Carmichael said.

Amtrak ordered 130 long-distance cars and 70 electric locomotives, Hunter said, noting "Pennsylvania will see some of that new equipment."

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by ctoocheck

In my ideal dream world (well, plus or minus), Pittsburgh's central station would be just south of Allegheny Center. It would be an ideal (hypothetical) site: a fairly long, decently wide swath of land (at present mostly unused, or expendable) right at the junction of major lines going in the most significant directions, and close to (just on the edge) of the "greater" downtown. Plus it would hopefully create a catalyst for development on the Northside.

Of course, a lot of other stuff would have to happen to have the need for such a station. Alas!

I also think a North Side Station would make a ton of sense.

As you may or may not know, federal street on the North Side (roughly the location of the existing Post office south of Allegheny Center) was for many years the location of the major Pittsburgh area station of the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne and Chicago Railroad. When Lincoln visited Pittsburgh on his travel to the inauguration, this is where his train stopped. There's a small plaque on the Post Office building. In 1907 they built a new station. Below are some pictures of the first station and then the subsequent station.