Some 'T' stops being elimiated (Pittsburgh, Scott Township: transfer, costs, floor)

[fleetiebelle]

A couple of vacant properties near Hampshire and Broadway were thought to be next in line for redevelopment, but closing the station or reducing service could stifle that prospect, he said.

If people are so put out by walking 200 feet to the Fallowfield station, then that really doesn't bode well for a walkable business district to begin with.

[Blackbeauty212]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

While it makes sense to eliminate stops so close to one another, you have to wonder if this is step 1 in cutting more widely used stops.

Again like I said...I'm for getting rid of all Low Level Stops....and the low levels that are used highly or that are essential in spacing..convert them into High Platform stations with Booths/Connect Card Turnstiles so that the Double Trains can service them as well boarding and discharging can be much faster.

[Geeo]

This will speed things up fractionally and have no effect on costs, but there are far too many stops everywhere. Fitzgerald is starting to micro-manage the Port Authority with almost daily directives.

The original plan when they rehabbed the Beechview and Mt. Lebanon lines in the 1980s was for fewer stops, but when they went out to the communities with the plan they got the riot act. So most of the stops from the old trolley system remained when the line was rebuilt to new light rail standards.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

While it makes sense to eliminate stops so close to one another, you have to wonder if this is step 1 in cutting more widely used stops.

I think they are just implementing the recommendations of the TDP consultants. If that is so, then I don't think it is a precursor to anything else.

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

Again like I said...I'm for getting rid of all Low Level Stops....and the low levels that are used highly or that are essential in spacing..convert them into High Platform stations with Booths/Connect Card Turnstiles so that the Double Trains can service them as well boarding and discharging can be much faster.

I can't think of a way that converting the street-level stops in Beechview wouldn't completely destroy the streetscape and ruin traffic flow. There just isn't enough space to do that.

[Blackbeauty212]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

I can't think of a way that converting the street-level stops in Beechview wouldn't completely destroy the streetscape and ruin traffic flow. There just isn't enough space to do that.

First instead of getting rid of Neeld they should covert that to High Platform and get rid of Shiras...Boustead, Belasco, and Coast should be combined into one Station. Hempshire is right around the corner literally from Fallowfield Station. Then if peds keep crying I would look to divert a existing W. Liberty Ave Bus line to Broadway to service the immobilized with more stops and shuttle them to the stations while the bus continues onward to downtown.

and keep in mind I'm not just talking about Beechview...I mean the entire light rail system's low level stops should be done away with.

[pman]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I think they are just implementing the recommendations of the TDP consultants. If that is so, then I don't think it is a precursor to anything else.

I believe that is correct and more to the point, transit agencies generally need the support of politicians to make cuts like these (whether that be public or private support) since without it, a few loudmouths can get their way at the expense of everyone else.

Geeo-While it's possible there's no cash savings, it's unlikely there would be no impact on costs. for example, it may mean that an operator can make, say, 12 trips instead of 10 in their shift...and that may mean that fewer operators are necessary per day...freeing up operators for weekend service runs. I don't know PAT's scheduling, etc, but I find it hard to believe that time savings of 8 minutes wouldn't have any impact at all. if it ends up inducing ridership, there there is a net loss savings which is just as good as a cost savings. light rail vehicles are expensive assets and anything that can increase their utilization is going to have a positive impact on the bottom line as long as there are riders.

[airwave09]

I guess having the system here at all is nice, but it is not actually useful to at least 85% of the city. Just one... yeah ONE line to the east would be huge for the entire system. THIS IS WERE EVERYONE LIVES WHO ALREADY DEPEND ON/REGULARLY USE MASS TRANSIT. What's funny is it took someone as high up as the county executive telling them that they had to do this before they actually did it. I get the feeling that the Port Authority big wigs are the grown-up version of the kids from the Special Ed classes in high school.

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by airwave09

I guess having the system here at all is nice, but it is not actually useful to at least 85% of the city. Just one... yeah ONE line to the east would be huge for the entire system. THIS IS WERE EVERYONE LIVES WHO ALREADY DEPEND ON/REGULARLY USE MASS TRANSIT. I get the feeling that the Port Authority big wigs are the grown-up version of the kids from the Special Ed classes in high school.

Wait, are you saying that only people who live in the East/East End benefit from public transportation? Yeah, it would be great if the T were more comprehensive, sure, but it would also be great if there were more busways and HOV lanes, because right now only a small percent of the general population benefits from those as well.

[PghYinzer]

I agree....the East End is where everyone lives who regularly uses mass transit, with the exception of those who regularly use mass transit and live in the South Hills.