Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area: Will we ever see another county added to the MSA? (Beaver: living in, commuting to)

[escilade18]

Originally Posted by speagles84

I agree with you completely. Lawrence County will be the first county to join the MSA, its already part of the CSA. I think the counties in the panhandle of West Virginia and far east Ohio may, once the southern beltway gets completed. It will help the infrastructure of east-west movement throughout the MSA. Greene... ehh I don't believe it will, simply on the fact that its 1) losing population still, 2) has no real job activity and 3) is the farthest of the areas mentioned.

I would have to agree. I lived in Greene county for a few years ( ) and from the people that I got to know, Pittsburgh seemed like a whole different universe. Of course you had the "yinzer sports fans", but the vast majority rarely if ever went north of Washington PA. The culture is still very rural and I see no real connections to the city being made from there any time soon

[bradjl2009]

I'm really surprised Butler wasn't part of the metro until 1993. Of course it can be rural but its right next to Allegheny County and much closer than Fayette.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by escilade18

I would have to agree. I lived in Greene county for a few years ( ) and from the people that I got to know, Pittsburgh seemed like a whole different universe. Of course you had the "yinzer sports fans", but the vast majority rarely if ever went north of Washington PA. The culture is still very rural and I see no real connections to the city being made from there any time soon

All a county needs in order to be metropolitanized is have at least 25% of its population commuting to a metropolitan county for jobs. That's how Fayette County is part of the Pittsburgh MSA, because lots of people commute to Westmoreland County for jobs. Greene County could conceivably become part of the Pittsburgh MSA if enough people commute to Washington County for jobs.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

All a county needs in order to be metropolitanized is have at least 25% of its population commuting to a metropolitan county for jobs. That's how Fayette County is part of the Pittsburgh MSA, because lots of people commute to Westmoreland County for jobs. Greene County could conceivably become part of the Pittsburgh MSA if enough people commute to Washington County for jobs.

That is true. Yet, like Fayette County, Green County has a very high unemployment rate (for the region mind you) and a very high percentage of elderly people. Those two factors bring in a low workforce number. With that said, I'd venture to say that a lot of the workforce in Greene is agriculture and small local businesses. I have a hard time believeing a large percentage travels to Washington for work. Even Washington County south of I-70 is very, very rural.

[jimmyev]

Originally Posted by speagles84

I agree with you completely. Lawrence County will be the first county to join the MSA, its already part of the CSA. I think the counties in the panhandle of West Virginia and far east Ohio may, once the southern beltway gets completed. It will help the infrastructure of east-west movement throughout the MSA. Greene... ehh I don't believe it will, simply on the fact that its 1) losing population still, 2) has no real job activity and 3) is the farthest of the areas mentioned.

Most of Lawrence County's commuter exchange is with Butler County, not Allegheny, and that exchange will probably only grow in the future. I really don't see people in Lawrence County commuting to jobs in Allegheny County in vast numbers when Cranberry is so much closer. I think the way BrianTH explained this, the commuter exchange would have to be with Allegheny County for Lawrence County to be considered part of the Pittsburgh MSA.

[JoeP]

I suppose many people in Lawrence county could be working near the airport or Robinson and it not be a bad commute.

I'm not sure any other area will be added or really should be. While on the surface having a larger population is nice, but most counties are losing population. Fayette etc are already going to be a drag on the now improving core of the MSA.

[greg42]

New Castle Area Transit does run a commuter route to Pittsburgh. Dunno how many riders daily, but it's still running, I see them daily, and it costs 4 bucks one way. Takes almost an hour and a half. They also run to the casino mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and looks like on weekends now too.

[jimmyev]

Originally Posted by greg42

New Castle Area Transit does run a commuter route to Pittsburgh. Dunno how many riders daily, but it's still running, I see them daily, and it costs 4 bucks one way. Takes almost an hour and a half. They also run to the casino mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and looks like on weekends now too.

Seven buses a day. Many of the riders get on in Butler County (Portersville and Evans City). I remember taking the bus home to New Castle and having to stand all the way to Evans City. They also have a bus that takes commuters to Boyers, another big employment base in Butler County.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by jimmyev

Most of Lawrence County's commuter exchange is with Butler County, not Allegheny, and that exchange will probably only grow in the future. I really don't see people in Lawrence County commuting to jobs in Allegheny County in vast numbers when Cranberry is so much closer. I think the way BrianTH explained this, the commuter exchange would have to be with Allegheny County for Lawrence County to be considered part of the Pittsburgh MSA.

No. If you read closely, if 25% of the workforce commutes to a county in the current MSA it becomes part of it. Look at this discussion on Greene County. They are talking whether enough goes to Washington or Fayette to become part of the MSA.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by JoeP

I suppose many people in Lawrence county could be working near the airport or Robinson and it not be a bad commute.

I'm not sure any other area will be added or really should be. While on the surface having a larger population is nice, but most counties are losing population. Fayette etc are already going to be a drag on the now improving core of the MSA.

This is true. But Allegheny County (and obviously Washington and Butler) are gaining enough residents finally where we have a net positive gain. It is only a matter of time til Beaver and Westmoreland join that. Unfortunetly, I don't see Fayette or Armstrong turning around soon. Lawrence will eventually start gaining again, just behind Allegheny and the others.