Quickest way to get around? (Penn Hills, Swissvale: homes, transfer to, construction)

[BMan_152]

Hello!
Currently, I live & work in the eastern suburbs (So that I dont have to contribute to rush hour traffic )

Lately, I have been finding myself needing to get from Forest Hills to Crafton during afternoon rush hour about once a week, but the parkway traffic is way worse than I remember it being.. When i used to do this trip every day, it never seemed to get past the Blvd of the Allies exit, now, it seems the new "normal" is at the end of the squirrel hill interchange

#1 - Is there a quicker (or at least less stressful) way to get from Forest Hills to Crafton than the Parkway? I'm fine with either driving or public transit..

#2 - What is causing the insane traffic?? Is it only the Liberty bridge construction? or is this just the new "normal"?

#3 - With all of the additional tax revenue the government has been raising for road improvements, why is this traffic issue being ignored?? Is there any way to voice my concerns and provide possible suggestions to the people in charge of planning road projects? (i am a "steering wheel engineer" lol.. I like to dream up of creative ways to fix road issues while sitting in traffic, and have many many ideas that could possibly help.)

[Lost_In_Translation]

Ouch, not sure where in Forest Hills you are, but is 28 an option? Maybe you can take 28 to parkway west or the west end (to get on 50 into Crafton). Otherwise, man I got nothing. That's a rough drive.

Edit: sorry, I was thinking Penn Hills. From Forest Hills you're really stuck with the parkway or trekking through a myriad of back roads. Carson street (837) going in may be an option but can't say it's a great one

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by BMan_152

Hello!
Currently, I live & work in the eastern suburbs (So that I dont have to contribute to rush hour traffic )

Lately, I have been finding myself needing to get from Forest Hills to Crafton during afternoon rush hour about once a week, but the parkway traffic is way worse than I remember it being.. When i used to do this trip every day, it never seemed to get past the Blvd of the Allies exit, now, it seems the new "normal" is at the end of the squirrel hill interchange

#1 - Is there a quicker (or at least less stressful) way to get from Forest Hills to Crafton than the Parkway? I'm fine with either driving or public transit..

#2 - What is causing the insane traffic?? Is it only the Liberty bridge construction? or is this just the new "normal"?

#3 - With all of the additional tax revenue the government has been raising for road improvements, why is this traffic issue being ignored?? Is there any way to voice my concerns and provide possible suggestions to the people in charge of planning road projects? (i am a "steering wheel engineer" lol.. I like to dream up of creative ways to fix road issues while sitting in traffic, and have many many ideas that could possibly help.)

1. No there isn't an alternate route unfortunately

2. Heavy volume. The city's infrastructure is substandard to begin with, and with more people moving here and working again the highways are crippled at rush hour.

3. The revenue is primarily going to fix substandard bridges at this time, and secondary to roadway resurfacing (permanently fixing potholes yay ) but leaving little for expansion projects and mass transit.

[RonSantoRules]

It usually sucks, but the Liberty Bridge work is exacerbating the issue. If you get off on Grant Street, you can take Smithfield Bridge to Carson Street, and then take Carson to up to where the West End bridge dumps off, and hop on 60 there and take that into Crafton. No easy way to do it, unfortunately.

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by Lost_In_Translation

From Forest Hills you're really stuck with the parkway or trekking through a myriad of back roads. Carson street (837) going in may be an option but can't say it's a great one

The only thing I can think of is 837 through Homestead, then picking up Second Avenue at the Glenwood Bridge to 10th St. Bridge to Carson, but that's not going to be much better.

[stremba]

By public transit, I'm not sure what routes there are in your area of F. Hills, but if you can get a bus into downtown, Crafton has a West Busway station. You should be able to transfer to a West Busway route in town and get to Crafton relatively quickly. Another alternative is driving to Swissvale to the East Busway station there. I believe they have a Park and Ride lot at the station. The East Busway route should get you into town fairly quickly.

[MountainDewGuy]

Perhaps take the Rankin Bridge over to 837, then Glass Run, then somehow make your way to 51, travel north on 51, then someone get over to Crafton.

Good luck.

[BMan_152]

Thanks everyone for your input! I really appreciate it

I know Ive tried many of these routes before & more, but you guys definitely gave me some good advice (never thought of trying 51 or the swissvale busway)..

Its ashame that pittsburgh can't figure out the basic concepts of road design.. they could really cut parkway traffic in half by merely fixing fairly simple & cheap issues on the other east/west arteries.. (effectively incentivizing people to take alternate routes)..
Example: rt837 would be a GREAT alternative to the parkway if they fixed the carson/arlington bottleneck..

[SteelCityRising]

I think a new bridge across the Mon linking Becks Run Road to Second Avenue would work wonders to help alleviate congestion on/around the Hot Metal Bridge, but then again what do I know?!

[BMan_152]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I think a new bridge across the Mon linking Becks Run Road to Second Avenue would work wonders to help alleviate congestion on/around the Hot Metal Bridge, but then again what do I know?!

I absolutely agree! Especially with the new development going in over there.