Future Pittsburgh T Lines (Beaver, Oakland: transfer, community college, live)

[airwave09]

Since we are in the discussion, here are some possible lines that would become heavily used and help immensely with lowering the cost per rider that PAT wants so desperately to happen:

Future Pittsburgh T Lines

Now we just have to convince the government to pay for it.

FYI: I had some real trouble trying to take the North Side Line on a useful path due to the NS Connector...

(Figured this deserved it's own thread)

[WhoIsStanwix?]

I just checked this out from the link in the other thread, and I really like it, especially the loop. I think if the loop were to be built first, and the East Busway remained in service, you have yourself a really good start.

I'm not sure how the North line works as I'm less familiar with the area, but what I do understand is the NSC kind of makes things tougher for the residental areas there.

Someone pull some $$ out of a hat!

[BrianTH]

I think those are good proposals. I might note I have seen that basic theme before--Spine Line plus a loop around the Hill that includes the South Side--and I mean that as a compliment: multiple sophisticated people have understood that those basic concepts would address some of our most pressing rapid transit needs.

Of course money is a huge issue--that is a multi-billion dollar capital project. But I also believe such investments would be warranted, and I think the coalition of people who share that understanding is gradually growing.

[Pitt Chick]

My husband and I thought that the Northside Station should have been put somewhere (Allegheny Center??) to serve as a Transfer station.
For buses and for a spine line that ran downriver towards Beaver County.

[MathmanMathman]

I prefer the big picture. Monroeville to Oakland to Downtown and out to the airport. That would do a lot. Really, it should be a lot more by now

Lost Tracks | Features | Pittsburgh City Paper

Cleveland's probably much further along and it connects up with the airport.

[pman]

Originally Posted by airwave09

FYI: I had some real trouble trying to take the North Side Line on a useful path due to the NS Connector...

(Figured this deserved it's own thread)

what if you extend the current nsc one stop into the chateau (north ave which may be reconnected), then treat the rest of the northside separately, diverging after the pnc stop, through (or under) the community college parking lot to brighton rd. alternately, skip general robinson as well, diverging north prior to the first north shore stop, and head under allegheny ctr with the first stop dead ctr in the commons, thence following federal to fineview. you are still using the tunnel and the nice new gateway station and reviving the old fineview trolley, in a sense.

[ML North]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

I prefer the big picture. Monroeville to Oakland to Downtown and out to the airport. That would do a lot. Really, it should be a lot more by now

Lost Tracks | Features | Pittsburgh City Paper

Cleveland's probably much further along and it connects up with the airport.

I really think that's a fabulous article. I've read it probably 20 times and still can't finish it without being angry.

[bradjl2009]

I heard that someday they wanted to extend the North Shore connector across the Ohio and to take it to the airport but I may be wrong too.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

I prefer the big picture. Monroeville to Oakland to Downtown and out to the airport.

That's the big mileage picture, but not necessarily the big ridership picture. Actual North Side (meaning where people live) to Oakland, for example, may be a lot fewer miles than the airport to Oakland, but it would likely serve a lot more riders.

In fact assuming money does not start raining from the skies, I'd suggest both of those end-points--Monroeville and the airport--are logically addressed with Busway projects: an extension of the East Busway to Monroeville, and completing the West Busway into Downtown.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by pman

diverging after the pnc stop, through (or under) the community college parking lot to brighton rd. alternately, skip general robinson as well, diverging north prior to the first north shore stop, and head under allegheny ctr with the first stop dead ctr in the commons, thence following federal to fineview.

Due to Monument Hill being in the way by the time you are at the North Side stop, I think the second plan (diverting north after the river for a straight run to Federal) makes more sense.