Streetcars in Pittsburgh (Liberty, Smithfield: houses, neighborhoods, restaurants)

[I_Like_Spam]

Pittsburgh Railways, Port Authoritys Main Predecessor


Lots of pictures here from the 50's and 60's of Pittburgh streetcars and street scenes from various neighborhoods in Pittsburgh as well as a history of the different Pittsburgh streetcar routes and car barns.

[Impala26]

I always love the history of streetcars in Pittsburgh. Though comparable in capacity (and probably even slightly less efficient/flexible), I still think there is a certain "classiness" of streetcars as compared to buses.

I very much hope that if the Strip District streetcar proposal comes to pass that the cars used would be modern, but reminiscent of the iconic PCC cars of the mid 20th century.

[ebyrnes]

PCC cars are easily the most elegant ever designed, although I"m very fond of Toronto's trolleys (the current cars, not the new design). Have you been to the Home Lots of fun, even for kids.

I'd love to do a photo tour of the old Fineview line, since some of the "streets" were just trolley tracks with houses built on them - not paved for cars - and I wonder what they did after the tracks were removed. Maybe this weekend.

e

[MathmanMathman]

I remember the old streetcars in Pittsburgh. They scared me as a kid. They rumbled along, occasionally spewing a huge shower of sparks from its overhead line onto the street. And I think I recall the smell of ozone. Hard to tell what with the smell of sulfur from the steel mills.

[Copanut]

I hated the bus growing up, but loved the street car. A lot of good memories.

[PITairport]

One thing Pittsburgh is missing is a pedestrian "Main Street" running the length of downtown, closed off to vehicles.

It would have been great if the streetcar lanes on the Smithfield St. Bridge were kept, and Smithfield St closed off to vehicles except for street cars, becoming a 'main street' all the way past Mellon Park to Liberty Ave. The Streetcar could then go further and tie into the Strip District street car plan.

Memphis is known for Beale Street, but its real gem is Main Street with its street cars, and all the pedestrian friendly businesses that have moved in such as restaurants, etc.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by PITairport

One thing Pittsburgh is missing is a pedestrian "Main Street" running the length of downtown, closed off to vehicles.

You don't see too many of those. I like the idea but so often cutting off traffic means killing business along that street.

It would have been great if the streetcar lanes on the Smithfield St. Bridge were kept, and Smithfield St closed off to vehicles except for street cars, becoming a 'main street' all the way past Mellon Park to Liberty Ave. The Streetcar could then go further and tie into the Strip District street car plan.

Memphis is known for Beale Street, but its real gem is Main Street with its street cars, and all the pedestrian friendly businesses that have moved in such as restaurants, etc.

Might work in Memphis, but getting a strip like that started might be a challenge.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

You don't see too many of those. I like the idea but so often cutting off traffic means killing business along that street.

It wouldn't mean that downtown. Many patrons of downtown businesses are coming from their place of work, not their car. Even those that do come by car are unlikely to park directly in front of the business and walk right in; most people end up parking a block or two away.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by PITairport

One thing Pittsburgh is missing is a pedestrian "Main Street" running the length of downtown, closed off to vehicles.

Although it's not quite the same thing, I think they could cut off Market Square and the streets heading into it to traffic and have it remain an active commercial area. That's about it though.

[Herodotus]

Business owners usually hate having streets blocked off to traffic. Killed East Liberty, although the patient was already quite ill.